Local sports shorts

A Minnesota Sports Federation will conduct a softball umpire clinic 7:30 p.m. April 3 in the Brainerd High School cafeteria.

Anyone who wishes to umpire in Brainerd softball leagues must attend.

For more information contact the Brainerd Parks and Recreation office at 828-2320.

Region boxing tourney in Wadena

The southern part of Region 4 will have its Golden Gloves Boxing regional tournament 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Wadena Armory.

Boxers in junior, novice and Class A divisions from Wadena, Brainerd, Bemidji, St. Cloud, Willmar, Fergus Falls and Frazee will be matched.

Winners of this tournament will face champions from the Northern part of Region 4 at Palace Casino 6 p.m. March 29 and 1 p.m. March 30.

The Northern Minnesota Box-off Tournament between the Northern and Southern parts of the region will be 7:30 p.m. April 12 at Wadena Armory.

Karate meet conducted at Aitkin

The Northland Karate Invitational was conducted March 15 at Rippleside School in Aitkin.

Youth Intermediate -- 3-Ciara Pritschet, Brainerd.

Youth Advanced -- 1-Katrina Paschelky, Brainerd; 3-Emma Reeves, Aitkin.

Junior Intermediate -- 3-Brantley Tyson, Nisswa.

Junior Advanced -- 2-Alex Goble, Aitkin; 3-Eric Heimark, Aitkin.

Adult Novice -- 2-Brantley Tyson, Nisswa; 3-Becky Cook-Blue, Brainerd.

Adult Intermediate -- 2-Glen Ruis, Aitkin; 3-Keith Reeves, Aitkin.

Adult Advanced -- 1-Bruce Backberg, Ironton; 2-Amanda Anderson, Aitkin

Adult Black Belt -- 2-Dave Pritschet, Brainerd.

Phillips to play in all-star series

Jake Phillips of Brainerd will play for the green team in the 2003 Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Boys' Basketball Series.

The series will be played April 4 at St. Cloud State's Halenbeck Hall and April 5 at Concordia-St. Paul.

Games are set for 7 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. April 4. Three-point shooting and dunk contests will be conducted both days.

Area girls teams academic champs

Two area girls' basketball teams have won winter academic section championships.

Verndale won the Section 6, Class 1A title with a 3.7 grade-point average. Staples-Motley won the Section 8, Class 2A honor with a 3.787 GPA.