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By Sonny Jones

How can you tell that spring is about ready to be sprung? High school baseball, softball, soccer and track have started seasons. Dixie Youth Baseball is cranking up. Middle school baseball and softball will be underway in just over a week.

And, the surest sign of all, golf tournaments are coming up. Check out these two. More will follow in the weeks ahead.

• Elizabethtown Christian Academy Legacy Tournament: Saturday, March 18, Vineyard Golf at White Lake. Four-person Captain’s Choice teeing off at 9 a.m. Entry $80 per person. Information: Jessica Singletary at 910-862-3427.

• Vineyard Golf Masters 3-Man Super Ball Tournament: Saturday, April 22, Vineyard Golf at White Lake. 1 p.m. shotgun start. Entry $50 for members, $70 non-members. Entry deadline April 19. Information: 910-247-6132.

• Southeastern Fellowship Golf Association opener Tuesday, March 21 at Land ‘O Lakes Golf Course in Whiteville at 10 a.m. The organization has 34-tournament schedule. All tournaments on Tuesdays. Information, southeasternfellowshipgolf.com or John Blake at 910-641-2819, Linwood Hedgepeth at 910-734-7161, Rob Conway at 910-640-9249 or L.R. Odham at 910-770-2449.

• Elizabethtown Rotary Club Tournament: Friday, May 19, 9 a.m. shotgun, Vineyard Golf at White Lake. More details forthcoming.

Other items found under the cushions:

• Is the Campbell men’s basketball team going to its first NCAA tournament since 1992? The Camels have the opportunity today in the Big South tournament title game against UNC Asheville. It tips at 1 p.m. on ESPN2.

• Bladen County Recreation Department’s girls softball registration continues through March 17. There will be leagues for ages 5-7, 8-10, 11-12, and 13-15. The player’s age as of January 1, 2023 will determine the age group. The fee is $35 per player. Registration can be completed online (Registration Link) or in person at the Bladen County Parks and Recreation Office, 803 West King Street, Elizabethtown.

• The Lu Mil Wine Run 5k is scheduled Saturday, April 8 at the vineyard located on the outskirts of Dublin. Proceeds will benefit the Dublin Peanut Festival. The event will start at 9 a.m. Registration fee is $60 and includes a T-shirt, wine glass, finisher medal, race bib and, of course, a pour of wine. Click here to register. Lu Mil Vineyard is located at 438 Suggs-Taylor Road, Elizabethtown.

• Four County Electric Membership Corporation offers all-expense-paid summer basketball camp scholarships for middle school students (rising sixth and seventh graders) to the Carolina Basketball School for boys and Wolfpack Basketball Camp for girls. Students can download an application by clicking here for boys camp and clicking here for girls camp. (READ MORE)

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY

• 2004 — Ottawa and Philadelphia combine for an NHL-record 419 penalty minutes, with the Flyers setting a single-team mark with 213. There are five consecutive brawls in the final two minutes, including one involving both goalies. The previous record for penalty minutes was 406 by the Minnesota North Stars and Boston Bruins in 1981. The Flyers beat the Senators 5-3.

POTATO PICKS TO WATCH TODAY

• PREMIER: Everton at Nottingham Forest, 9 a.m., USA

• FORMULA 1: Bahrain Grand Prix, 9:55 a.m., ESPN

• PREMIER: Manchester United at Liverpool, 11:30 a.m., USA

• PGA: Arnold Palmer Invitational, 12:30 p.m., GOLF and 2:30 p.m., NBC

• NBA: Phoenix at Dallas, 1 p.m., ABC

• ACC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT: Virginia Tech vs. Louisville, 1 p.m., ESPN

• BIG SOUTH MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT: Campbell vs. UNC Asheville, 1 p.m., ESPN2

• MLB: Miami vs. Boston, 1 p.m., MLBN

• NFL: Scouting Combine – Offensive linemen, running backs, 1 p.m., NFLN

• XFL: St. Louis at D.C., 1 p.m., FX

• PGA: Puerto Rico Open, 2:30 p.m., GOLF