Sports Briefs

16th Hot Stove

The Santa Clara Valley baseball community will gather for the 16th annual Hot Stove Banquet on Feb. 1, 6 p.m., at the San Jose Elks Club, 444 W. Alma Ave.

Gary Radnich will serve as the master of ceremonies at the event that will honor outstanding area baseball players, including Mike Macfarlane of the Oakland A's and Rick Helling of the Texas Rangers.

Tickets for the night's event are priced at $35 ($300 for a reserved table for 10), and festivities will begin with no-host cocktails at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. The awards presentation begins at 8 p.m.

Proceeds from the banquet benefit youth baseball programs in the area. Call 446-3443.

Sports grants

The Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame announces that applications are available for the organizations 2000 Youth Fund grants. Non-profit youth organizations and schools are eligible to apply for the grants which provide needed sports equipment.

The deadline for returning completed grant applications is Jan. 31. For more information, call 415.352.8827. Grants will be distributed in the summer of 2000.

Pony Baseball

The Sunnyvale-Cupertino Pony Baseball program is accepting registration for players ages 7-18. The league also needs adult volunteers to become board members. For more information, call 408.245.7669.

Public Safety

Nicknames, even cheesy ones, serve a purpose

Sports Briefs

High school wrestling

Little League registration