Copmpiled by Gary Herron

Save 80 bucks on flag football tournamentThe first Corbin Hayes Memorial 4 on 4 flag football tournament at Rio Rancho High School the Fourth of July weekend is filling fast and organizers were persuaded by Observer sports editor Gary Herron to cut Rio Rancho teams a break.

To reduce the entry fee from $180 to $100 for your six-player team, go to the Web site (rioranchoflagfootball.com), type in Gary in the promo code — and the cost is $100 for a team, instead of $180. (It will say you have not paid total due on the Web site, but you will be registered and paid in full for $100.) Storm conditioning for soccer beginsCleveland High School boys soccer conditioning for tryouts will be held at Rio Rancho Middle School (Mid-High) Monday through Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m. throughout the summer.

All interested players must have sports physical and should call coach Shaun Gill 870-2389 or by e-mail at sgill@rrmh.rrps.k12.nm.us for details.

Rams’ distance boys start running tomorrowRio Rancho High School boys’ cross country workouts are being held Monday through Thursday at 7 a.m. or 6:30 p.m., beginning tomorrow.

Runners are encouraged to attend one of the two practice sessions. The team meets at the high school track. For more information, call coach Sal Gonzales at 603-2110.

Storm start runningThere will be a parent/athlete meeting for boys and girls interested in running cross country for Cleveland High School on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Rio Rancho Middle School, formerly the Mid-High.

Practice will begin on Monday July 6, at Rio Rancho Middle School at 8 a.m. and be held Monday through Friday.  All athletes will need to have an up-to-date physical before they can begin summer workouts. 

For further information, call head coach Larry Chavez at 301-6756.

Beat the summer heat; skate at cool BladesBlades Multiplex Arenas is offering a hot summer special for those interested in learning to skate.

Classes for Snowplow 1 (ages 3-6), Basic 1 (ages 7-adult) and Hockey 1 will be held on Saturdays, July 11-Aug. 1, from 11:30 a.m. till noon.

The cost of the four-week session is $49. Those interested may register in person, over the phone or online at bladesnm.com. Call 892-9222 for further information.

Rio Rancho Soccer Club schedules campsThe Rio Rancho Soccer Club offers six camp options to sharpen kids’ skills and to fit most summer schedules.

Monday Night Skills Session run for eight weeks through July 20; the Striker, Goalkeeping and Speed Camp is set for July 13-17; Pre-Season “Team Camp” runs Aug 3-7: or jump-start your fall season with a pre-season camp, such as Individual Goalkeeper Training with Jeff Tolley, director of goalkeeping, or Soccer Specific Training, with Junro Narita, to improve speed, agility, fitness and ball skills.

Learn more at rioranchosoccer.com or by calling 892-4652.

RRSC is dedicated to developmental soccer, offering a place to play for all kids from ages 4 and up. No matter your age or where you play, at RRSC you will have the support of one of the best coaching staffs in the Southwest, which features coaches who have found great success on the field, in the classroom and in life. The overarching goal is to create lifelong active youth through the beautiful game of soccer.

Over the past three years, RRSC has grown its scholarship funding by 513 percent, from $400 to $2,450. With the economic climate, RRSC is working hard to sustain similar scholarship funding in 2009-10. The key message is to discourage financial constraints or tight pocket books that could prevent anyone from playing soccer in 2009-10.

Cibola needs diamond coach; resumes dueCibola High School has an opening for a head baseball coach.

Anyone interested should send a letter of interest and resume to CHS athletic director Phil Schroer at the high school or via e-mail at schroer@aps.edu.

Schroer can also be reached at 897-0110, ext. 20278.

Tuesday is the final day to apply.

Speaking of Cougars …A golf tournament is being held to benefit the Cibola High School football team is being played at Desert Greens Golf Course.

The July 24 tournament will start registration at noon and tee off at 1 p.m.

The four-player scramble costs $100 for individuals, $400 for a four-person team. Mulligans are available for $5.

Sponsorships are available. There will be a dinner and awards ceremony following the tournament, and awards will be handed out.

For more information, call Butch DeFillippo at 250-5689 or send an e-mail to cheriede@msn.com.

Yipes ... they need stripesThe Albuquerque Football Officials Association is recruiting officials for the upcoming season.  Games will be available for Young America Football League games, plus high school freshman and junior varsity games.

Training for new officials begins July 6 at the New Mexico Activities Office, 6600 Palomas, near San Pedro and Paseo del Norte. 

For more information, contact Lilly Hill at 281-3359 or by e-mail at zebralilly@mac.com, Donny Sanchez at 228-3286, or Dana Sanchez at the NMAA at 923-3277.

Swimmers sought for city teamThe Rio Rancho swim team has tryouts every Monday through Friday at 8:30 a.m.

Interested team members should visit the Rio Rancho Aquatic Center on Loma Colorado Drive. See any of the coaches on deck. There are four levels and the costs vary per level.

For more information, call Tom Burke at 440-2494.

Bisbee gets golf ‘hat trick’Jim Bisbee notched the seventh hole-in-one of his career on Chamisa Hills Country Club’s No. 7 Muirhead West course on June 13.

Using a 9-iron to ace the 15-yard hole, it marked the third time Bisbee has aced that hole.

Rio Rancho’s Madigan wins sectional qualifierFormer Rio Rancho High School golfer Tim Madigan, who was the Class 5A individual state champion and led the Rams to the state title in 2007, shot a pair of 70s last week to win the USGA Amateur Public Links sectional qualifier at Sonoma Ranch Golf Course in Las Cruces.

Madigan, who now plays for New Mexico State University, qualified for the 156-player U.S. Amateur Public Links championship July 13-18 at the University of Oklahoma. Madigan said he planned to play in six tournaments this summer.

Tennis, anyone?Rio Rancho High School tennis coach Nick Morris is holding tennis clinics and private lessons this summer at the Corrales Recreation Center.

Call Morris at 315-0966 for more information.

Rio Rancho Jr. Open approachesThe eighth annual Ranches Junior Open is set for the Chamisa Hills and Rio Rancho High School tennis courts June 26-28.

The United States Tennis Association Southwest Section sanctioned event is open for youngsters competing in boys and girls singles and doubles, starting with 10-under through 18s. Medals will be awarded to first- and second-place winners in every flight.

The entry fee is $35 and includes a T-shirt and admission to the 5 p.m. pool party on June 27.

For more information, call CHCC tennis pro Fred Abbott at 896-5014.

Jeanie Donovan Memorial Golf Tourney here July 24It’s that time of year again – time to dust off the golf clubs, for many local businessmen and businesswomen, anyway, and play in the Rio Rancho Regional Chamber of Commerce’s annual golf tournament.

The name was changed to the Jeanie Donovan Memorial Golf Tournament after the death of the longtime, effervescent chamber employee.

A silent auction and kickoff dinner will be held July 23; the tournament itself is the next day. Shotgun starts will be at 7:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on the 24th at Chamisa Hills Country Club.

Entry fee is $175 a person, or $700 for a foursome. Sponsorship opportunities, ranging from $200 to $5,000.

For more information, visit rrrcc.org or call Paul Barabe at 892-1533.

Summer volleyball camps in Rio RanchoRams volleyball camps are scheduled for July 30-Aug. 1 and Aug. 3-5 at Rio Rancho High School. These camps are open to all interested individuals.

July 30-August 1, 2009 (Grades 4-8)

Ram Camp No. 1 (July 30-Aug. 1) is designed for those players in grades 4-8 who are interested in learning the game of volleyball. Emphasis of the camp will include fundamentals and techniques for all basic volleyball skills. No experience necessary! All participants will receive a camp T-shirt. The camp runs from 6-9 p.m. the first two days and from 9 a.m. till noon on Aug. 1. The cost is $80.

Ram Camp No. 2 (Aug. 3-5) is designed to prepare players in grades 7-12 for tryouts in their respective grade. This camp will emphasize volleyball skills and drills to prepare them for school tryouts. Fundamentals and techniques for all basic volleyball skills will also be emphasized. Additional time will be focused on small and large group team play. All participants will receive a camp T-shirt. Camp for grades 7-12 will be from 6-9 p.m. daily. All participants will receive a camp T-shirt. The cost is $80.

For more information, call Toby Manzanares at 896-5685, or Ken Carpenter at 277-2829. To download a camp flyer, go to http://critical.unm.edu

Ten Star all-star basketball camp infoApplications are now being evaluated for the Ten Star All Star Summer Basketball Camp.

The camp is by invitation only. Boys and girls from 10 to 19 years old are eligible to apply. Past participants include Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Vince Carter, Jerry Stackhouse, Grant Hill and Antawn Jamison. Players from all 50 states and 11 foreign countries attended the 2008 Camp. College basketball scholarships are possible for players selected to the All-American team.

Among this year’s camp locations is Phoenix. There is also a summer camp available for boys and girls ages 9-18 of all skill levels. For a free brochure on the summer camps, call 704-373-0873 or visit tenstarcamp.com.

Swing Fore the HouseThe sixth annual Swing Fore the House, benefiting the Ronald McDonald House Charities of New Mexico, will take place Aug. 10 at Tanoan Country Club.

There will be 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. flights. Entry fee is $100 for a non-participating partner, $125 for an individual golfer and $500 for a foursome. Sponsorship packages are also available.

For more information, or to reserve a slot in the tournament, call Melissa at 842-8960.

Meet Lobo baseball playersThe second annual Lobo Baseball Fundraiser golf tournament is set for Aug. 22 at Chamisa Hills Country Club.

There will be a shotgun start at 1:30 p.m.

Additional information is available at the CHCC pro shop.