Kyrene School District officials Monday said new, lower rates for use of facilities, namely for youth sports organizations will be presented in early next month.

Seeking to keep fields accessible and available to some 4,000 kids in and around Ahwatukee, various youth sports leagues met with the Kyrene School District on Monday after add-on costs to the Ahwatukee Foothills Pony Baseball Association caused heated community concern.

Ahwatukee is a pretty tight community especially when sports involved.

With just over a month left in the spring regular season in most sports, it is time to take a look at where local teams stand with hopes of making the postseason.

The major league scouts who surrounded Mountain Pointe’s baseball field on Tuesday should have come back Wednesday morning to truly see what Zach Cordova is about.

Packed inside Kyrene de la Sierra’s multipurpose room, hundreds of first- through fifth-grade students raised their right hands and patted themselves on the backs and collectively said to themselves, “Good job.”

Desert Vista senior defensive lineman Lorenzo “Zo” Melvin gave his verbal commitment to continue his career at Northern Arizona in the fall after taking an official visit to Flagstaff last weekend.

Jontar Coleman's name was unfamiliar to me until this weekend when he surfaced as an interim head coach for the Desert Vista girls program.

The 21st annual Molina Celebrity Baseball Game will be on Jan. 27 at Scottsdale Stadium, 7408 E. Osborn Road. Tickets are $10 for 17 and over.

The 21st annual Molina Celebrity Baseball Game will be on Jan. 27 at Scottsdale Stadium, 7408 E. Osborn Road. Tickets are $10 for 17 and over.

Why do I get the feeling we just saw Tim Lincecum walk out the door?

Ahwatukee Foothills has long been a hotbed for youth baseball. Hundreds of young ball players hit the diamond every year for Ahwatukee Little League. Hundreds more play with the Ahwatukee Pony League during their seasons. And still, hundreds more play baseball year-round with what are called club or travel teams.

For the past month at Pecos Community Center, a handful of retirees have taken to a growing sport in the area: Pickleball.

By all accounts, Clara Jenck and Ben Fitch performed beautifully.

After five strikes, 6-year-old JayC bunted the ball and stood still on home plate. The crowd cheered and yelled for him to run, and after some gentle one-on-one coaxing — off he went. Three outfielders waited for him at first base, but with an enthusiastic high five, JayC was deemed safe.

After five strikes, 6-year-old JayC bunted the ball and stood still on home plate. The crowd cheered and yelled for him to run, and after some gentle one-on-one coaxing -- off he went. Three outfielders waited for him at first base, but with an enthusiastic high five, JayC was deemed safe.

Jackson, a 3-year-old American Pit Bull mix, can be a little shy at first, but when he realizes that you aren’t going anywhere he is a very sweet and wiggly boy. Jackson is energetic and loves to play. His favorite toy is the Frisbee. And when he’s not playing he loves to cuddle and kiss. Jackson may get along with cats, but it’s not recommended that he be housed with other dogs or children younger than junior high age.

The ABC Project, a grassroots movement by local little league baseball advocate Ron Passmore, is still trying its best to find land in Ahwatukee Foothills for a new facility for baseball and other outdoor activities.

Whenever Kaimarr Price had his doubts, and there were many, he always found something to refocus on his goals.

On May 20, 1980 an angel was brought onto this Earth in Phoenix — his name was Scott Michael Drew. On Aug. 30, 2012 our Lord returned him to Heaven peacefully after a long courageous fight with Cystic Fibrosis.

Desert Vista senior two-way lineman Cole Preston was named the AIA Scholar Athlete of the Month.

It can be hard to imagine Brent Miller as a little guy considering he was 6-foot-5 and 237 pounds during his playing days.

We love our local businesses and their unique impact on our community. Saturday, Aug. 18 is dedicated to driving sales to small businesses at one of the slowest times of the year. Cash Mob Saturday is the time to come out and support local small businesses in your community and boost the economy in the process.