Youth sports notebook: Registration begins for Spokane Hoops EBL, formerly Spokane AAU basketball

Registration is underway for Spokane AAU basketball, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a jazzy new name – Spokane Hoops EBL.

“It’s the same AAU program and the same people,” executive director Matt Santangelo said.

Only the name has changed.

“We’re Spokane Hoops EBL,” added Santangelo, explaining that EBL is an acronym for Elite Basketball League.

Registration for the 2018-19 season for boys and girls in fourth through eighth grades runs through Sept. 21. Players register through the spokaneaau.com website. Follow the link under “News & Events.”

The season will start Nov. 3-4 with the annual Boo Ball tournament and finish the first weekend of March with the Spring Shootout. Around the holidays they’ll work in the Santa Slammer.

Softball

Liberty Lake Lightning 18U defeated Washington Thunder 16U from Tacoma 9-2 to win the bronze medal at the 2018 Hot August Nights girls fastpitch tournament for 16U/18U teams in Selah, Washington, Aug. 10-12.

Victory in the Bronze Batt’n Beauties game capped a 5-0 tournament for Lightning, earned it fifth place overall and a minibat for each player to get autographs of their teammates. They were one of five teams to go undefeated in pool play and one of three to finish unbeaten.

There were five other area teams in the tournament that attracted 18 teams to play games that started from 7 p.m. to 3:45 a.m.

Valley Outlaws lost to Yakima Tigers 16U in the Donut Bowl special windup game. The teams were drawn by lot and the players received donuts as their “trophy.” Outlaws pitcher Jozie Fennen, in her last game of select ball, pitched every inning in five games before they gave her a rest in the last inning of her last game. Outlaws had a 2-3 record.

Spokane Valley Bandits, Spokane Scream and Spokane Stealth were all 1-3 and INW Edge 16U was 0-4.