sports

Saturday morning under clear blue skies and above deep blue water, athletes as graceful as swans practiced one by one and two by two perfecting their dives off the 45-foot dive tower at the Marguerite Aquatics Center.

South Mission Viejo Little League has rolled out a new the Little League Challenger Division designed to provide kids with physical, intellectual or developmental challenges the chance to play ball. 

This adaptive baseball program is free and open to players ages 4-14.  Athletes in the Challenger Division are accompanied during each game by a "buddy" who is a mainstream Little Leaguer. This buddy helps the athlete in every aspect of the game while stressing safety and fun. 

Members of the professional Orange County Soccer Club will be on hand Monday, July 24 for opening day of the 2017 Soccer For Hope Camp in Mission Viejo.

Designed to raise funds for childhood cancer research, the camp is from 9 a.m. to noon July 24-28 at the World Cup Soccer Field, 27301 La Paz Road. Boys and girls ages 7-13 can participate, and teens 14-19 are encouraged to volunteer and earn community-service hours.