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Jr. Super Showcase | Freshman Showcase
15U Div. II | Open (formerly 19U)

ORLANDO — It’s summer time. That means the beach, barbecues and AAU Basketball.

The 2008 AAU Girls’ Basketball season is underway and some have the opportunity to be the first to compete at the new Jostens® Center at Disney’s Wide World of Sports® Complex.

Twenty-four, specially invited squads will play to win at the Junior Super Showcase July 5 through July 9. Six teams will be divided into four pools and winners will move on to compete in Gold, Silver and Bronze championship bracket rounds.

Two days later, the Freshman Showcase will begin July 7 and last until July 10. Twelve teams were invited to participate in preliminary rounds. The top teams from each team will have the chance to reach Gold and Silver championship rounds.

Back at the Milk House, the 15 and Under Division II National Championship will kickoff July 5 and last through July 11. Pool play will determine which of the 29 squads will reach the final round.

Then, July 7 through July 13, the Open Division Girls National Championship will take place. The competition was formerly known as the 19 and under age division.

AAU National Championship medals will be awarded to the first eight teams and team trophies will be awarded to the first four teams in the championship bracket.

Each game is open to the public. Tournament passes may be purchased at Disney’s Wide World of Sports® Complex box office. For more information and complete results from these events, visit www.aaugirlsbasketball.org.

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WHITE SOX STARS JIM AND THOME AND JOE CREDE SELECT INAUGURAL PAIRINGS

CHICAGO (July 1, 2008) – Chicago White Sox stars Jim Thome and Joe Crede joined representatives of eight youth baseball organizations—as well as a contingent from host city Memphis, Tennessee—at U.S. Cellular Field Tuesday to conduct the seeding draw for the inaugural “National Youth Baseball Championships” tournament.

The four-day tournament will be played at Gameday Baseball’s First Tennessee Fields in Memphis from August 21-24 and will crown national champions in the 10-under and 12-under divisions, which include more than 100,000 teams. Future plans call for the tournament to include as many as eight different age groups.

The “National Youth Baseball Championships” will be the initial effort of the “Major Youth Baseball Alliance, LLC.” The MYBA is a newly formed company comprised of eight major youth organizations, including AABC (American Amateur Baseball Congress), AAU (Amateur Athletic Union of the United States), Babe Ruth Baseball, Dixie Youth Baseball, NABF (National Amateur Baseball Federation), Pony Baseball, Super Series Baseball of America and USSSA (United States Specialty Sports Association).

In a home-plate ceremony, Sox third baseman Joe Crede pitched in to draw the names of the participating organizations for placement in the 10-under division’s two pools while first baseman/DH Jim Thome did the honors for the 12-under division. Young players from those organizations assisted the players by randomly selecting each organization’s position in the tournament’s two pools.

“This is really a great day for youth baseball,” said Eddie Einhorn, Interim Executive Director of the Major Youth Baseball Alliance and Vice Chairman of the White Sox. “To have these two great players, both alumni of long-established youth baseball organizations, participate in our first-ever tournament draw is truly an honor.”

10-YEAR-OLD DIVISION

(Drawn by Joe Crede, Chicago White Sox)
POOL A

1. SUPER SERIES
2. NABF
3. AABC
4. AAU

POOL B

1. USSSA
2. DIXIE
3. PONY
4. BABE RUTH

12-YEAR-OLD DIVISION

(Drawn by Jim Thome, Chicago White Sox)
POOL A

1. SUPER SERIES
2. PONY
3. AAU
4. BABE RUTH

POOL B

1. NABF
2. USSSA
3. AABC
4. DIXIE

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Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | Level 6
Level 7 | Level 8 | Level Mod Opt. & Ladies | Men

ORLANDO — Nearly 1,400 gymnasts flipped their way into Disney’s Wide World of Sports® Complex for the 2008 AAU Age-Group National Championships which was held June 30 through July 3.

Boys and girls ages 6 to 18 and up competed throughout the week in four events, including the uneven bars, balance beam, floor exercise and vault.

The week began with a Parade of Champions where athletes were introduced and walked onto the competition floor inside of the Milk House. Music was provided for the celebration for athletes, coaches and families which followed the parade.

The week’s events proved exciting for 10-year-old Brooke Hogard of the Shooting Starz gymnastics team.

Along with her parents, grandparents, and little brother, Brooke traveled to Orlando from Missouri to compete for the first time in the tournament.

“It makes me very proud,” said Brooke’s mom, Dana who attends all of her daughter’s competitions. “I really get into it. I do all of the cheering.”

All athletes received an All-Around individual award. In addition, the competition followed the half-plus-one formula to award national championship medals.

Brooke had much to burst into backflips about. Overall, she had the second highest score in her group for all of the four events.

“I was a little nervous, but I’m very excited,” the gymnast said.

For complete results from this event, visit www.aaugymnastics.org.

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KENNER, La. – The Tennessee Team Pride can call themselves national champions as they won the final game in the 9 and Under Division I Girls’ Basketball National Championship.

The event which featured 16 squads from across the country, took place at the Pontchartrain Center from June 23 to June 30.

The Tennessee Team Pride defeated the Arkansas Mavericks 32-29 in the final game of the best-of-three championship series.

For complete results from this event, log on to www.aaugirlsbasketball.org

Click here for results - 8U | 13U Div. I | 13U Div. II

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – More than 200 squads have gathered in The Volunteer State as AAU Boys’ Basketball wraps up three championship tournaments July 6.

The national championship for Boys’ 8 and under as well as both Division 1 and 2 Boys’ 13 and under began June 29.

For each age division, teams competed in pool play competition where the top two teams from each pool advanced to a single elimination bracket. It all leads to the championship game that will be played July 6 at 4 p.m. The remaining teams in the pool advanced to the Classic Tournament, and the Final Four teams automatically receive bids to next year’s championship.

Special activities planned for players and coaches includes one, free hour of miniature golf at The World’s Largest Putt-Putt Golf and Games Family Park.

Closing ceremonies and award presentations will follow the championship games.

Tournament passes for spectators are available at the game sites. For more information and complete results from these events, visit www.aauboysbasketball.org.

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas AAU will host the Division II 15 and Under National Championship as well as the Division II 16 and Under National Championship. This event will run from July 7 to July 12.

More than 80 teams who became eligible through winning at AAU qualifying tournaments will be competing in these week-long events.

Teams will be separated by the pool play system where each team will play three games. The top two teams from each pool will advance to a single elimination bracket and play their way into the championship bracket.

Teams that place 1st through 4th in each tournament will receive a choice of an automatic bid to next year’s Division II Championships or to the Division I Championships. The teams that finish 5th through 12th place will automatically get bids back to the Division II Championships.

Both tournaments are NCAA certified, so there will be learning opportunities such as a NCAA Educational Session at The Statehouse Convention Center. The session will be Monday at 7:30 p.m.

For more information and complete results from these events, log on to www.aauboysbasketball.org.

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ORLANDO — Although seventeen-year-old Jonathan Akanbi has only been running track for two years, his goal is to make it to the 2008 AAU Junior Olympic Games.

He would get his opportunity under cloudy skies and high temperatures.

Akanbi and his three teammates of the Orlando Roadrunners were apart of the nearly 3,000 athletes who participated in the AAU National Club Championships held at Disney’s Wide World of Sports® Track and Field Complex June 30 through July 5.

The event is in its twelfth year and it continues to grow. Athletes were grouped in nine age divisions to compete in more than 20 individual, relay and multi-events.

“When you’re little, you have all the energy in the world, but when you get older you have to work for it,” said Orlando Roadrunner Jackie Wallace who participated in the 200 and 400 meter dash as well as the 400 meter hurdle events.

In the 90 degree weather, participants raced in semifinal event heats throughout the week hoping to make it to the final rounds on the last day of the tournament.

“I have to push myself and practice and don’t slack up,” said 18-year-old Dreanna Wallace, who qualified for the finals race in the 800 meter dash and will also compete in the 1500 meter run.

Due to what is at stake, many of the athletes have set very specific goals for themselves.

National championship medals will be awarded to the 1st through 8th place finishers for each event per age group. National championship awards will be presented to the 1st through 3rd place clubs/teams in each age division and gender. Finally, a national championship award will be presented to the club/team with the highest overall point total of all age divisions and gender combined.

The icing on the cake comes from the next competition that the at