Summer notebook

Region - Definitely the dog days of summer on the local sports scene. The next few weeks are arguably the slowest. But things will quickly pick up as fans and players look forward to the fall. With a chance for a breather, it's a good time to clear out the notebook.

Softball tryouts set

Last week, I featured a new, but quickly successful area ASA softball program, the Riptide. Shrewsbury's Jay Hummer says three tryouts are now set. The first is Aug. 25 and 26, Walsh's Dunning Field in Framingham, 10 a.m. to noon for ages U10 and U12, noon to 2 p.m. ages U14 and U16.

Shrewsbury's Coolidge School will be the site of Riptide tryouts Sept. 1 and 2, 2 to 4 p.m., U10 and U12, and 4 to 6 p.m. for U14 and U16.

The final tryouts are Sept. 9 at Bellingham's High Street Fields, 1 to 3 p.m., U10 and U12, and 3 to 5 p.m. U14 and U16.

For more information, contact Hummer at hjhum@ aol.com.

Marlborough

9-year-olds take

Western Mass

Baseball state title

Marlborough Youth Baseball's 9-year-old all-star team, coached by Paul Short, Chip Plank and Pete Coppola, recently captured the Cal Ripken Western Massachusetts State Championships behind the outstanding pitching of Ryan Gibbons, Jose DeLaCruz and Austin Echevarria.

Marlborough Youth Baseball's 9-year-old all-star team members celebrate their recent Cal Ripken Western Mass. State Championship. PHOTO/SUBMITTED

Marlborough defeated Hadley, 2-1, to win the title behind the pitching and several nice defensive plays, including those by Michael Gould, Johnny Leatham, Kyle Marshall, Cam Plank and Nick Coppola.

DeLaCruz pitched shutout baseball into the fifth inning before Echevarria came on in relief. Haldey tied the game, 1-1, late, but Marlborough won the game on Owen Capopadonna's double in the sixth inning.

In the state tournament, Marlborough had advanced to the finals by defeating Littleton 6-4, Williamstown, 7-6, and Milford.

Other players on the team include Kevin Murphy, Matt Bertochi, Brian Short and Wily Terwedow.

The win advanced Marlborough to the New England Regionals earlier this month against the best from Eastern Mass., Maine, New Hamp- shire, Vermont, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Calling Westborough

hoop coaches

Westborough's youth travel basketball program, the Warriors, is asking all those interested in coaching in the 2007-2008 season to apply. Coaches will be selected by Sept. 1 by the newly formed nine-member board of directors, which includes John Favorito, John Vicidomino, Dan Kelley, Dave Diamond, Mike Shunney, Bill Photos, Janine Gould, Pat Lambert and Bill Walthall.

Coach application forms are available at the Web site, www. westborowarriors.net.

Tryouts are expected to begin the week of Sept. 6 and run for a couple of weeks. There will be two tryouts per grade/ gender.

Send mail and sports ideas to ronwoodcock@charter.net.