E.V. briefs: QB Germaine signs with Rattlers

Quarterback Joe Germaine signed with the Arizona Rattlers on Thursday.

Germaine, a second-team All-Arena Football League selection in 2008 for the Utah Blaze, played prep football at Mesa Mountain View and junior college ball at Scottsdale Community College.

With Utah, Germaine averaged nearly 5,000 passing yards, a 68.1 completion percentage and more than 100 passing touchdowns in two seasons before the league temporarily folded. He also played for the Rattlers in 2004 and 2005 and for three NFL squads from 1999-2002.

“Joe’s a guy that fits into our system,” Arizona coach Kevin Guy said. “He’s been a very productive player for the last few years. We’re looking forward to him being a part of the Arizona Rattlers.”

The Rattlers also signed offensive lineman Steve Mascorro and defensive lineman Alex Gurerrero, bringing the total number of players on the roster to 25. Mascorro will be entering his fifth season as a lineman with Arizona.

TRACK AND FIELD

The Arizona Cheetahs Track Club will host a free clinic for youths ages 6 to 18 at 9 a.m. Saturday at Chandler High School, 350 N. Arizona Ave. All levels of athletic ability are welcome as the emphasis is on setting personal goals and training to attain those goals. There are no tryouts, and anyone can join. The club’s goal is “to encourage and help young people develop physically, emotionally and socially.”

Regular practices are held at Chandler High School on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 11. For more information, contact the Cheetahs at azcheetahs@yahoo.com.

YOUTH FOOTBALL

The Gilbert Pop Warner Avengers’ season came to an end last weekend with a 6-0 loss to the Murrieta Thunderhawks. The Avengers, competing in the Midget Division, won the state championship and finished the year 11-1. They scored 290 points while only giving up 42.

TENNIS

Judy Stark of Phoenix will be inducted into the USTA Southwest Section Hall of Fame as part of the 2009 class.

Stark helped form the Maricopa County Tennis Association in 1997, and served in a variety of roles for CAZ, including president from 1993-94. She also served as both treasurer and vice president of the USTA Southwest Section in the mid-1990s.

A former national Eve Kraft Service Award winner and a Central Arizona Hall of Fame member, Stark is a longtime volunteer in Valley tennis, especially in the junior realm.

A yearly Central Arizona scholarship for juniors in her and her late husband Bill’s name, as well as a tennis center bearing the Stark name at Xavier Preparatory High School, are just two examples of that support.