HAWKS ESSAY CONTEST:

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Hawks announce the launch of the 2013 Poetry Slam Contest for high school students in grades 9-12 who attend school within 75 miles of Philips Arena. Through Feb, 15 students can submit either a written poem, consisting of 200 words or less, or a DVD recording, which cannot exceed 90 seconds, of their poem that captures the “MY ATLANTA” theme. Finals will be held on March 21 at Hard Rock Café in Downtown Atlanta. Participants are encouraged to share the people, places and experiences in Atlanta that makes it unique to them.

To enter, students can visit www.hawks.com/education and submit a written piece or DVD recording entry, mail entries directly to the Atlanta Hawks Attn: Andrea K. Carter, 101 Marietta Street, Suite 1900, Atlanta, Georgia 30303 or fax submissions to (404) 878-3480 through Feb. 15. Each entry will be judged on Connection to the Topic “MY ATLANTA,” Overall Message and Originality/Creativity. To date, the Poetry Slam judging panel includes Atlanta Hawks guard Lou Williams and AJC reporter, Devika Rao.

After review of all entries by the judging panel, the top 15 finalists will be announced on Feb. 25. All finalists will participate in a two-hour poetry workshop on March 9 and perform their poetry pieces for final judging on March 21. The contest will award a first-, second- and third-place winner with prizes for each to include Atlanta Hawks signed merchandise, electronics such as a laptop and TV, and tickets to a Hawks game.

For a complete list of rules and submission details, please visit www.hawks.com/education..

LITTLE LEAGUE:

Registration for the Spring 2013 season is going through Feb. 9. If you need to register in person, you can do so at AMBUCS Park. Fee to play this year is $125 for baseball and $75 for softball, but you can get a discount if sign up online and pay in full.

Tryouts dates and times for baseball are as follows: 5/6 Division, 6:30 p.m., Feb. 11; 7/8 Division, 6:30 p.m., Feb. 12; 9/10 Division, 6:30 p.m., Feb. 14; and 11-13 Division 6:30 p.m., Feb. 15. Drafts for baseball will be 6:30 p.m., the day after tryouts, excluding 11/13 Division which will be right after tryouts and 3/4 Division will be at 6:30 p.m., Feb. 11.

Tryout dates and times for softball are as follows: 7/8 Division, 10 a.m., Feb. 16; 9/10 Division, 11:30 a.m., Feb. 16; 11/12 Division, 1 p.m., Feb. 16; and 13-&-up Division, 2:30 p.m., Feb. 16. Drafts for softball will follow tryouts excluding the 4/6 Division which will be at 10 a.m., Feb. 16.

Opening day is March 9 for baseball and March 16 for softball. For more, go to www.spaldingcountylittleleague.com.

YOUTH SOCCER:

The Griffin Soccer club will conduct registration for the spring 2013 season from 9 a.m., to 3 p.m., on Saturdays in January at Wyomia Tyus Park snack bar in Griffin.

You can also register online at www.griffinsoccer.org. For more, phone (678) 608-0534.

GHS BASEBALL ALUMNI:

New Griffin High School head baseball coach Kevin Mobley is looking for all GHS baseball alumni. If you played baseball for GHS or know someone who played GHS baseball (1 year or all 4 years), please get in touch with coach Mobley as soon as possible. Contact him by email (kevin.mobley@gscs.org) or by phone (678-340-5617).