Merced United to hold soccer tryouts this weekend

Merced United FC will hold soccer tryouts on Saturday and Sunday at Merced High School and on Feb. 23-24 at Hoover Middle School and Merced High.

The club is looking for players for the boys 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2000 competitive teams and the 2003-08 girls teams. Times can be found at www.mercedyouthsoccer.com.

Atwater baseball to host clinic, alumni game – The Atwater High School baseball team will host a youth clinic on March 12 at Memorial Ballpark. The clinic is open to children ages 5-13 and will run from 9 a.m. to noon. The cost is $20 per child and includes lunch and a T-shirt.

An alumni game and home run derby will be held April 9. The derby begins at 1 p.m. with the game to follow at 2 p.m., also at Memorial Ballpark. A fundraiser dinner will follow the game. For more information, contact coach Jarrod Pimentel at jpimentel@muhsd.org.

Youth football signups – Merced Blue Devils Youth Football and Cheer will hold signups on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Big 5 on Olive Ave.

The event will include a barbecue, prizes and free T-shirts. For more information, call 209-354-4355.

Holyfield coming to Livingston – Boxing legend Evander Holyfield will be the guest of honor at the fourth annual Gloves Not Drugs Boxing Show.

Put on by the Carlos Vieira Foundation, Gloves Not Drugs is scheduled for March 12 at Livingston High School. Gym doors open at 1 p.m., and the competition begins at 2 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at www.carlosvieirafoundation.org. Holyfield will offer an opening announcement, watch the bouts and then provide fans with a photo meet-and-greet opportunity.

Gloves Not Drugs was established to provide at-risk children from Livingston, Atwater, Delhi and Planada a safe place to go after school to learn about boxing. The program has partnered with the Merced County Sheriff’s Activities League.

Youths learn about discipline, teamwork, sportsmanship and responsibility.

For more information about the Carlos Vieira Foundation, call 209-394-1444.

Merced Hall of Fame Dinner approaching – Merced High will host its second Hall of Fame Dinner on March 19 at Yosemite Hall at the Merced County Fairgrounds. The event is scheduled to start with a no-host bar at 5 p.m.

Merced High will induct its second Hall of Fame class, comprised of 20 people and two teams. The inductees include John Sykes III, Wendell Mathis, Brian Fuentes, Anthony Volsan, Bill Halpin, Duke Fergerson, Dave Contreras, the 1980 state championship wrestling team and the undefeated 1950 Valley championship football team.

Tickets are $50, which includes dinner, dessert auction, induction ceremony and an opportunity to reunite with alumni and friends. Tables also can be purchased.

Tickets are available at the Merced High student body office or www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2462541. For information, contact Merced High athletic director Paul Hogue at phogue@muhsd.org.

Youth softball clinic – Merced High will host a youth softball clinic on March 12 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the varsity field.

The clinic will be run by the Merced High coaches and players, including senior Madilyn Nickles, who played on the 2015 USA Junior National Team and will play this summer on the 2016 Team USA Elite squad.

The cost is $30 if registered by Feb. 27, $35 if registered between Feb. 28 and March 11, and $40 on the day of the clinic. Lunch will be provided.

Clinic fliers can be picked up at the Merced High student body office. Payments can be mailed to Merced High or dropped off at the student body office.

For information, call Merced coach Bart McAfee at 209-385-6488.

Merced City’s March Madness – The Merced City School District will host a coed basketball tournament for fifth- and sixth-graders. The tournament is scheduled for March 9-11 with round-robin games at each middle school (Hoover, Cruickshank, Tenaya and Rivera). The winning team at each school will advance to the semifinals at Golden Valley High on March 14.

The championship game is set for March 15 at Golden Valley.

This story was originally published February 19, 2016 at 5:19 PM with the headline "Merced United to hold soccer tryouts this weekend."