Sadler a big hit in home run contests

Harbor Park in Norfolk and The Diamond never looked so small.

Softball slugger Paul Sadler made those International League baseball stadiums look like little-league fields in a pair of home run contests.

On June 27 in Norfolk , Sadler swatted 11 homers in 15 swings to win the competition against Todd Pease (five homers) and Don Clatterbough (four). On June 29, Sadler nailed 13 homers to defeat Clatterbough (six) and Pease (three) at The Diamond.

All of Sadler's Richmond blasts cleared the double-decker billboards in left field, with some traveling well over 400 feet.

Another championship for Complex Blue

The Virginia Sports Complex Blue U-13 baseball team has spent its summer collecting first-place trophies.

Coach Ray Pauley's squad of Henrico, Hanover and Chesterfield boys recently won the Morgantown, W.Va., Marathon for its fourth title this season. Overall, the team is 34-10.

Blue has qualified for the AAU, USSSA and Triple Crown Nationals, but will probably play only in the AAU national event July 19 in Virginia Beach.

3-on-3 event set for July 26-27

You got game? Here's your chance to show it.

The U.S. Army 3-on-3 Summer Hoops basketball tournament will be held July 26-27 at Innsbrook Office Park.

The Sports Backers-sponsored event will include 3-on-3 competition, broken into several divisions, plus contests for speed dribbling, shooting and dunking.

To register, call 285-9495 or go to www.sportsbackers.org.