VICTORIA, Texas — Baseball got a bold new twist this weekend at the Youth Sports Complex, as local teams embraced the fast-paced, fan-favorite style of “Banana Ball.” The tournament, hosted by the National Championship Organization, brought out young athletes from across the Crossroads eager to compete in this fun and unconventional format.

Unlike traditional baseball, Banana Ball is designed to keep the action moving and the fans engaged. The rules? A strict two-hour time limit, scoring based on innings won (one point per inning), no walks or bunting, and yes — fans can catch foul balls for outs! In true Banana Ball fashion, batters can even steal first base on a wild pitch or passed ball.

The electric atmosphere and unique gameplay had everyone buzzing. And with fans getting directly involved in the action, it’s no surprise the tournament has been a major hit in the community.

Here’s a breakdown of this weekend’s champions by division:

• 8U Division: Buzz Lightning Baseball Academy (Victoria) narrowly defeated AKC in a thrilling 6–5 finish.

• 10U Division: Cuero Stars took home the title with a 5–3 win over the Cardinals.

• 11U Division: Hurricanes held off the Angleton Assassins for a 3–2 victory.

• 12U Division: Marucci Elite Texas shut out AKC with a dominant 6–0 performance in the championship.

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First Look

Beloved Chattanooga Mocs mascot Scrappy is on the lookout for recruits to the nest for the 2025-26 athletic seasons. Once described by “Late Night” host Jimmy Fallon as “a sledgehammer wielding mockingbird with a heart of Blue & Gold”, Scrappy looks share his competitive passion for all things Mocs with the next generation of Scenic City sports enthusiasts.
 
Membership
$20 membership fee that remains valid through June 30, 2026. Open to kids from toddler to 8th grade.
 
Exclusive Benefits

• Official t-shirt
• Official membership card & lanyard
• Access to one free ticket to select home football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball games
• Free admission to all home regular season wrestling matches
• Free admission to all home regular season softball games
• Clear drawstring bag
• Sticker
• Color-in bookmark
• Scrappy’s Kids Club Flag

 
Additional perks include monthly newsletters with updates on the Mocs, coloring pages, activities, seasonal content and more. Invitation to build a stuffed animal during our Make a Moc game (while supplies last). Invitations to other members-only events. Access to take part in special events and opportunities.
 
How to Join
Scrappy’s friends can register here on GoMocs.com. Previous Scrappy’s Kids Club members must re-register to receive the 2025-2026 Kids Club benefits.
 
GoMocs.com is the official website of the Chattanooga Mocs. Buy officially licensed gear in our online store. The Mocs can also be followed on their official Facebook page or on Twitter. Find out how to join the UTC Mocs Club and support more than 300 student-athletes by clicking here. NIL opportunities with Chattanooga Mocs student-athletes can be found here.

TUCSON, Ariz. — Amy Denet Deal began the Diné Garden Skate Project in 2021. The initiative using skateboarding to inspire young kids on the Navajo Nation.

“A lot of our kids live in this remote area over 27,000 square miles,” Denet Deal said. “They suffer four times the normal rate of teen suicide, depression, diabetes and it just made me realize the need. The need to give them access — equal access — to the sport.”

Over the past three years, Denet Deal has led the effort to build the only skate park on the Navajo Nation, while also giving out more than 7,000 helmets and skateboards.

“You get to hand the equipment and they look at you and they’re like, ‘can I keep it?’ And you get to say, ‘it’s just for you,'” Denet Deal said.

The non-profit also has mentorship programs that teach the kids how to skate.

“I don’t know any other sport that I’ve seen this reaction from children where they cannot wait to get on that skateboard,” Denet Deal said.

The project has secured 2,000 skateboards for this year and they’re now raising money for helmets.

“Bringing joy to these kids, there’s just nothing like it,” Denet Deal said. “To know it’s going to be there with them for the rest of their life and for them to know a Navajo woman, a Navajo agency and a Navajo distribution team, to know they have their own people taking care of them.”

Denet Deal and her team will have their first distribution event September 3rd in Window Rock, Arizona.

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Some young basketball players in New Hampshire had the chance to learn from NBA skills trainer Chris Brickley during the third annual Chris Brickley Day on Sunday.

The event was held at Wolfe Park on Harvell Road in Manchester and included a free-throw contest for charity.

Participants were split into groups, and winners from each group received a prize.

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“My goal has always been to inspire the youth,” Brickley said. “When I was coming up playing basketball, there were certain people I looked up to, and if I were to be able to come to something like this, that would have made my day. So that’s my goal to do.”

All proceeds from the event went to the Lids Foundation, which helps support people to live more active, healthy, and productive lives.

Since 2019, the foundation has donated more than $6 million to communities across the country.

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