Newtown Babe Ruth Softball will hold its second annual travel softball winter training sessions starting Sunday, January 8.

Any girl registered with Newtown Babe Ruth Softball and who is eligible, by age, for the travel programs U10 through U16 is welcome to sign up. This program is designed to provide advanced skills training for the competitive fast pitch player who intends to try-out for a travel team. The fee for this training is $100 per player.

Training sessions will begin Sunday, January 8, and continue for five 90-minute sessions though February 5 at the Western Connecticut State University O’Neil Gymnasium and Center. All U10 and U12 players will start at 6 pm while U14 and U16 players will start at 7:30 pm. Times may change due to WCSU basketball games.

Alicia O’Brien, the head softball coach at WCSU, her assistant coaches and college team players will lead Newtown players through a variety of skills and strategies needed to compete at a higher level. The sessions will focus on infield play (January 8); base running, stealing and outfield play (January 15); hitting, bunting and slap hitting (January 22); pitching and catching (January 29); offensive and defensive situations (February 5).

Early registration is necessary so as to plan for group sizes. Due to the nature of the training, registration is limited to 50 girls, so please sign up early. To register, the forms can be found on the Newtown Babe Ruth Softball web site http://eteamz.active.com/newtownbrgirlssoftball/index.cfm?

Registration deadline is January 3. Any questions, call Newtown Babe Ruth softball travel director Nancy Bowen at 426-7101.

Spring Softball

Registration for the 2006 spring season will be held on three dates at the Newtown Middle School cafeteria. The dates are Saturday, January 21, from 9 am to 3 pm; Tuesday, January 24, from 6 to 9 pm; and Saturday, January 28, from 9 am to 3 pm.

Visit http://eteamz.active.  com/newtownbrgirlssoftball/index.cfm? for further information.