Summer Sports in full swing

The Euclid Recreation Department is finishing up another successful summer sports season as the youth leagues draw to a close. After a rain-filled spring, the beating sun cast down on the participants for an enjoyable 2011 summer season.

The girls slow pitch softball teams, who participated in the Willowick Softball League, finished the regular season with a bang in an extra inning, walk-off victory as Stimburys Accounting came out ahead of Dick's Sporting Goods. Stimburys Accounting fell just shy of a playoff birth, with Dick's Sporting Goods fighting for a league championship July 27. After a season away from Euclid, softball coordinator Ben Perpar is excited to bring the girls back to Euclid for the 2012 season in an effort to bring Euclid back to its softball rich tradition.

The girls fast pitch teams proudly represented the city of Euclid in the Hillcrest Softball League as both teams finished at the top of the league. The Euclid Rockettes, mostly 10 and 11-year olds, finished fourth in the 12-year old division, and were knocked out of the playoffs by inner city rivals, the Euclid Panthers. The Panthers finished the season with an undefeated record and won the 2011 Hillcrest League Championship.

Entering its final week of play as the 2011 season draws to a close is 4x4 soccer. The 3 to 11-year old league battled all the elements as the boys and girls played through chilling rain and scorching sun. As this recreational league winds up, the Euclid Youth Soccer Organization is getting set for its fall season.

Panther Hoops teams are in mid season at the Euclid Sports Plant, as the participants play through the intense heat that ranges well over 100 degrees on the court. Regardless of the temperature, hundreds of family members and friends fill the stands to watch the competition. In a league that includes 5 to 18 year olds, including a 9 to 14 year old girls division, the Summer Panther Hoops program continues to run full throttle into the fall.

Panther swim team has been able to enjoy the hot weather in the pool as they continue to make a splash in the Suburban Swim League. The Panthers are sitting in the middle of the league as they prepare for championships in Mentor in early August.

The fall season is quickly approaching, so don't forget to check out www.cityofeuclid.com/recreation to find out what’s available for the kids. If you have any questions please feel free to call (216) 289-8114, option 8.

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Volume 2, Issue 6, Posted 4:30 PM, 08.09.2011