Sports Beat column - June 21, 2008

Sports Beat

June 21, 2008

Sports Beat by Bill McCaffrey

Tiger Woods put on an amazing performance in the US Open. A bad knee hobbled him throughout the tournament and the lead was held during the course by several different golfers but in the end Tiger prevailed in overtime to beat Rocco Mediate. Woods now will miss the rest of the year and maybe as much as six more months in 2009. He showed a lot of guts, first in playing the Open and then in finishing it even though the doctors suggested he withdraw. Tiger Woods showed he was a true champion in this one.

CELTICS CHAMPS

The Boston Celtics won the NBA Championship downing the Los Angeles Lakers four wins to two. The NBA MVP Kobe Bryant was a non-factor in the sixth and final game. Bryant is a great talent but he¹s no Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, or Elgin ³Rabbit² Baylor. Team work and defense helped the Celtics take the title and you have to give a lot of credit to GM Danny Ainge and Coach Doc Rivers . Anige put the team together and Rivers mapped the plays out, a great combo! The Wiz could use a good center and if they get a good one they could get a bump up and challenge the Celtics.

BOXING NEWS

Jake Smith¹s Baltimore Pro Boxing held a great show at Baltimore ¹s ³DU² Burns Arena. Jessie Nicklow upped his record to 18-0-1 with a unanimous decision over Jayson Champion. Demetrius Davis is now 18-14-5 after an eight round draw with Thomas Karpency (11-0-1). Mark Tucker, Jr. scored a first round TKO over Kahalil Fairah. Robert McConnell, Jr. recorded a majority decision over Octavius Davis. Keith Gross TKO¹ed Alando Pugh at three minutes of the third round. Jimmy Lubash ( 7-1-0 ) took a unanimous decision from John Terry. Good card and a good crowd.

BOWIE STATE¹S BARRETT AND TONEY NAMED ARTHUR ASHE JR. SPORTS SCHOLARS

Senior Angelica Barrett and junior Tiffany Toney have been named to the 2008 Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports Scholar Award winner by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education magazine ( May 29, 2008 - Volume 25, No. 8). Barrett, a member of the Lady Bulldogs tennis team, was a Second Team selection and maintains a 3.58 cumulative grade point average. The Psychology major from Lancaster , South Carolina played No. 5 and No. 6 Singles and ended the season with a 6-5 individual record. Toney was named to Volleyball Second Team but also participates in Softball and Track & Field. The Abilene , Texas native wrapped up the 2007-2008 academic year with a 3.31 cumulative grade point average in her Broadcast Journalism major. Some of Toney's other 2008 accolades include All-CIAA (Softball), CIAA Player of the Year (Softball) for the second consecutive year, CIAA All-Tournament (Softball) and CIAA Commissioner¹s All-Academic Team Second Team. Diverse: Issues In Higher Education established the Sports Scholars Awards to honor undergraduate students of color who have made achieving both academically and athletically a winning combination. To be included, students had to compete in an intercollegiate sport; maintain a cumulative grade point average if at least 3.2; and be active on their campuses or in the community.

LADY BULLDOGS SOFTBALL RECIEVES COUNTY COUNCIL PROCLAMATION

Council Member Ingrid M. Turner presented a proclamation on behalf of herself and the Prince George ¹s County Council to the Bowie State University Women¹s Softball Team for their achievement of winning the CIAA Championship. ³Teamwork is so very important from beginning to end in order to accomplish goals such as this², said Turner. ³What makes this even more special is that these ladies not only won the CIAA Championship this year, they also won it last year as well.² The Lady Bulldogs (25-14) captured their second consecutive CIAA softball championship title (4/19) and advanced to its second straight NCAA softball regional. ³We try to use college athletics to allow our student-athletes to learn about life as they go through this process of participating in athletics,² said BSU Athletic Director Derek Carter. ³They have a tough schedule trying to maintain an academic standard we hold them accountable for and expect them to be championship minded teams.²

From: SABR Member D. Bruce Brown mailto:bbrown8870@aol.com
The Bob Davids Chapter Night at the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

Saturday August 9, 2008
3:30 P.M. Program, 6:35 First Pitch
Dinner/Game: $29 ($24 12/under)
Keynote Speaker: Butch Hobson, Former Red Sox Player/Manger

There¹s a new professional team in town, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, and a new ballpark you probably have not seen yet, Regency Furniture Stadium. This is your chance! The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs are in the Atlantic League, an independent minor league. For more info on the Blue Crabs, go to www.somdbluecrabs.com. Regency Furniture Stadium is in Waldorf, MD, just a few miles from the DC Beltway. Our main speaker will be Blue Crabs Manager Butch Hobson, major leaguer with the Red Sox, Angels, and the Yankees, and his manager with the Pawtucket Red Sox, the Boston Red Sox, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, and the Nashua Pride. He will address us beginning at 3:45 . We will also have additional presenters and events. We will have dinner at the covered Red Hot & Blue picnic pavilion, the perfect setting to eat, watch the game and mingle. Enjoy a marvelous 2-hour all-you-can-eat buffet picnic with Red Hot & Blue BBQ pork, hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, cole slaw, potato chips, banana pudding, and soft drinks. The pavilion is located behind the left field wall. Send the form below (or facsimile thereof) to chapter secretary Don Seaman at 8332 Moline Pl ace Springfield , VA 22153-3314 .

Please make your check payable to SABR Bob Davids Chapter
Name(s)           ___________________________________________________
Address           ___________________________________________________
City, St, ZIP   ___________________________________________________
E-Mail ___________________________________________________
Phone ___________________________________________________
Adult dinner/game tickets      _______ x $29 =        $________
Youth (12 and under) dinner/game tickets     _______ x $24 =        $________
Total cost.       $________

Big Train Offense Rakes in 29 Runs Thursday Night in Doubleheader Sweep!

In a first game that took six days to complete, the Big Train's bats came alive in a dominant 15-6 victory. In the second game, the Big Train kept their bats warm by swinging early and often, chasing pitcher after pitcher from the game in a 14-2 romp. The 29 runs scored by the Big Train was their most ever in a doubleheader, and Zach Kim set a record of his own by reaching base ten times in the doubleheader and also hit the Big Train's first homer of the season. Fans, you NEED to get out to Povich to experience the excitement of Big Train baseball this season! The Big Train have now won three-in-a-row and are 5-2 on the season.

Big Train Offense Explodes in Doubleheader Sweep
Friday, June 13, 2008
by Zach Stone, Will Sisco, and David Biel
e-mail the Big Train writers at writers@bigtrain.org

GAME ONE:
It only took the Big Train six days to finish off the Thunderbolts, but a win's a win. In the "longest" game of the year, the Big Train defeated the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts, 15-6. Back on June 7th, the game was suspended after two innings due to electrical problems with the Big Train leading 3-1. The final seven innings were played in the late afternoon today, as part of a double-header with the regularly scheduled contest against the Thunderbolts. The Big Train were excellent on both days. Justin Wright (Virginia Tech) held the Thunderbolts to one run on no hits in the first two innings. The Big Train were able to put three runs on the board in the 2nd inning, before the lights went out. Zach Kim ( San Francisco ) singled with the bases loaded, plating Luke Adkins ( Mississippi State ) and Ben Jones ( Auburn ). Scott Schneider (Saint Mary's) "started" the game when it resumed today. Jeff Jones' 2-run homer accounted for all of the runs Schneider allowed in 3 and 2/3 innings. Schneider was able to make up for his one mistake by himself. He had three run-scoring singles to lead the Big Train offense. The Big Train had five multi-run innings, including four runs in both the sixth and eight innings. Clutch hitting across the lineup powered the Big Train offense. Four errors from the Thunderbolts helped as well. Drew Lee ( Morehead State ) delivered the knockout punch, with a 2-run single in the 6th increasing the lead to 11-3. Just like Schneider, Bill Murphy ( Rutgers ) was victimized by Jeff Jones. Jones' solo homer was the only run Murphy allowed in his inning and a third. The fifteen runs for the Big Train were the most they've scored so far this season, narrowly beating out their 14 runs in the nightcap.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Thunderbolts 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 2 0 6 8 1
Big Train 0 3 2 2 0 4 0 4 - 15 18 4

W: Schneider (1-0)
L: Trent (0-1)

GAME TWO:
In the evening portion of the double header, the Bethesda Big Train crushed the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts 14-2 in front of a large crowd of 679 at Shirley Povich Field. The Big Train got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning. Third baseman Michael Cipolla (Saint Mary's CA) started the two-out rally with a groundball single through the right side of the infield. Designated hitter Scott Schneider (Saint Mary's CA) then walked to move Cipolla into scoring position before second baseman Jordan King (Meridian) drove in the run with a hard-hit line drive single into the outfield. In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Big Train blew the game open as they sen t ten batters to the plate. Right fielder Eli Boike ( Michigan State ) led off the inning with a triple into right field. Back-to-back RBI singles by center fielder Zach Kim (San Francisco) and shortstop Steven Leach (Jacksonville State) made the score 3-0. First baseman Danny Stienstra ( San Jose State ) then walked before catcher Dylan Tonneson ( California ) doubled in the third run of the inning. Left fielder Luke Adkins ( Mississippi State ) became the sixth consecutive Big Train batter to reach base as he tripled of f the right field wall to score two more runs. Schneider then doubled to score Adkins and make the score 7-0. The Thunderbolts cut the deficit to five with two runs in the top of the sixth but the Big Train came back with three runs of their own to increase the lead to eight runs. Kim led off the inning with a solo shot for the Big Train's first homer of the season. Leach and Stienstra then both singled and Tonneson walked to load the bases. Adkins made the score 10-2 as he drove in two runs with an RBI single into center field. The Big Train tacked on three more insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh. Kim walked and Leach reached on a fielder's choice before Stienstra drove in a run with a single. Tonneson then drove in the second run of the inning with an RBI fielder's choice before he scored on a single of the bat of Adkins, his fifth RBI of the game. Starting pitcher Derek Caldwell (Rider) earned th e win tonight as he allowed just two runs in his six innings of work, earning Caldwell the "Big Train Player of the Game" honor from the webcasters. "My job was just to go out there and throw strikes and keep us in the game," he told them. (Fans should be sure to listen after the finish of each home game for an interview with the player of the game.) In relief, Quinn Ewert ( Illinois State ) and Matt Hiserman ( San Francisco ) combined to close out the game with three scoreless innings. Hiserman struck out the side in the ninth with stuff that could best be described as "filthy"--Hiserman has now struck out 7 batters without allowing a runner to reach base in three innings on the season. Zach Kim set what is assumed to b e a league record for reaching base ten times in the doubleheader. Every Big Train batter had at least one hit in tonight's game. "It was a total team effort. We played every at-bat well and pitched great," manager Sal Colangelo said. Game Notes: Tonight was BCC Baseball night, and the Big Train welcomed all the BCC athletes who came to the game. The BCC Blaze were welcomed on to the field to take part in the opening ceremonies...The Big Train also welcomed Nationals' mascot Screech to the field tonight...Tonight's sponsor was FAB Electric...The Non-Profits of the Night were BCC Baseball the Montgomery County Collaboration Council.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Thunderbolts 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 7 5
Big Train 0 1 0 0 6 3 3 1 - 14 17 0

W: Caldwell (1-0)
L: Trent (0-2)

BIG TRAIN 2008 SEASON SPONSORS

Thanks to these organizations for their generous support of Big Train baseball for the 2008 season: Chevy Chase Bank, Grossberg CPAs, Hopkins & Porter, Ledo Pizza, Miller & Long Co., Ourisman Automotive, and Sandy Spring Builders

CAL RIPKEN, SR. COLLEGIATE BASEBALL LEAGUE

Summer 2008 is the fourth season of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League. The league consists of eight teams, the Alexandria Aces, Bethesda Big Train, College Park Maryland Bombers, Herndon Braves, Maryland Redbirds, Rockville Express, Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts, and Youse's Maryland Orioles. The teams play a 42-game regular season from early June to the end of July. The Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball Leagu e has a license agreement with the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation for the use of the name Cal Ripken, Sr. and is not affiliated with nor sponsored by the Foundation or Ripken Baseball. For information, please log onto www.ripkensrcollegebaseball.org.

CURRENT CRSL 2008 REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS
Team      W/L    GB
Orioles    5-0    ---
T-Bolts    2-1    2
Aces       3-2    2.5
Big Train 5-2    2.5
Bombers 2-2    2.5
Braves    2-3    3
Redbirds 1-2    3
Express   0-5    4

THE MONTGOMERY CUP PRESENTED BY THE GAZETTE
Bethesda Big Train 3-0
Rockville Express 0-2
Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts 1-2

Log onto http://www.ripkensrcollegebaseball.org/ for up-to-date boxscores and standings. Sign-up for CRSL email alerts here.

Cal Ripken, Sr., used to say, "Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect."
Regards, David Ireland, General Manager
Michael Groeneman, Assistant General Manager
Bryan Oringher, Public Relations Manager

Baysox Walks Set Up Boucher Walk-Off

The Baysox squandered several promising chances before scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth to steal a 4-3 victory from the Harrisburg Senators. Bowie 's Jason Berken pitched six solid innings, giving up three runs on six hits while striking out seven hitters. Run support was hard to come by however, as the Baysox left nine men stranded on base through the first seven innings and fourteen in the game. Harrisburg wasted little time in jumping out to a 1-0 lead on Mike Daniel's leadoff homerun. Senators starter Jordan Zimmermann worked 5.1 effective innings, giving up just one run on three hits and striking out four. Zimmermann did allow four walks in his 5.1 innings. The Senators extended their lead in the top of the fourth inning. Ofilio Castro led off with a base hit into left field and Andrew LeFave walked. Seth Bynum advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt and the Senators had men on second and third with one out. Castro came in to score on a groundout by Garrett Guzman and Mike Daniel drove LeFave in with a single up the middle, putting Harrisburg ahead 3-0. Bowie managed to get on the board in the bottom of the sixth when Carlos Rojas led off with a walk. Lou Montanez reached on a fielder's choice on a ground ball to third base, erasing Rojas. Jeff Nettles and Nolan Reimold each followed with walks to load the bases. With Ryan Finan at the plate, Montanez came in to score on a wild pitch, advancing the runners to second and third and cutting the lead to 3-1. Finan drew the fourth walk of the inning, loading the bases again with one out, but Brian Peterson struck out looking and Sebastien Boucher grounded out to the pitcher to end the threat. The Baysox drew eleven walks over the course of the game, but struggled to turn them into runs. The Baysox had another opportunity to cut into the Senators lead in the bottom of the seventh. Blake Davis led off with a double into center field and Mike Rodriguez grounded out to second base, moving Davis up to third. Carlos Rojas drew a walk to put runners on the corners with one out. Lou Montanez popped out to the catcher in foul territory on a 2-0 count and the inning ended on a Jeff Nettles flyout to left. The tide turned in the bottom of the ninth when Carlos Rojas got things going with a single into left field. Lou Montanez grounded out to the first baseman, advancing Rojas to second. Jeff Nettles cued one off the end of his bat toward third base and managed to reach on an infield single. With men on first and second and one away, Nolan Reimold lashed a line drive over the shortstop's head and into center field, plating Rojas. Nettles held at second base and was pinch-run for by Travis Brown as Jonathan Tucker came in to hit for Ryan Finan. Tucker managed to draw a walk to load the bases, but Brian Peterson struck out looking and Bowie was down to its last out. Sebastien Boucher, playing in his first game in ten days, chopped a 2-0 pitch over the mound and into center field, bringing in Brown and Reimold for the walkoff victory, 4-3. Blake Davis went 3-3 with a walk and two doubles in the game, his second three-hit game in a week. Davis has been on a tear lately, but he doesn't see his recent hitting prowess as a surprise, "Just feeling good. Just trying to ride this hot streak right now. Right where I need to be. I think I've shown a little bit more of what I can do with the bat, not too many people know about it, but I've just gotta get in there and do what I can do." Boucher was a little shaky to start the game, coming back from over a week on the inactive list. He found his stride quickly, however, "At first I started the game and I was a little uncomfortable, just had to get my timing down and everything. But as the game came along I started to get comfortable a little bit. That last at-bat, I was just looking for a fastball and I got one 2-0. Just looking for a fastball I could put out in the outfield and I was able to do it."

Baysox Slip In Sloppy Game

The Baysox scored two unearned runs to take a late lead, but Julio Manon could not slam the doors as Bowie fell to the Senators 4-3 on a rainy night at Prince George 's Stadium. 6,580 fans came out for Negro League Tribute Night despite the rainy weather. Bowie starter Brad Bergesen threw 7.2 solid innings, pitching well enough to earn the win. He scattered eight hits over that span, giving up two runs and striking out two. Senators starter Adrian Alaniz made his AA debut a good one, throwing 6.0 innings of three hit, shutout baseball. The Senators got on the board early on an RBI single by first baseman Luis Jimenez in the first inning. Bergesen was shaky early as catcher Brian Peterson came to the mound for several short conferences, "I was moving a little too quick, my tempo wasn't there and he (Peterson) just told me to relax and get to work." Bergesen got down to business after that, shutting down the Harrisburg offense through the seventh. The Baysox didn't score until the bottom of the seventh inning. Jeff Nettles led off with a base hit to left field and Nolan Reimold followed with a single of his own. With men on first and second and no outs, Ryan Finan attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt but catcher Luke Montz fielded it and fired to third base in time to cut down Nettles. Now with runners on first and second and one out, Brian Peterson got a base hit into right field to load the bases. Sebastien Boucher followed with a ground ball to the second baseman William Bergolla. Bergolla threw to first for the force out, but Peterson got hung up between first and second allowing Reimold and Finan to come in to score. Finan's heads-up baserunning gave the Baysox a 2-1 lead, "I got to third base, turned and saw that Peterson who was on first had stopped and didn't get tagged. So I know that a rundown is gonna be coming. And the idea behin d that is you're supposed to wait until the first baseman gets the ball because he'll be running away from home plate. I saw the middle infielder point to second I took off for the plate." Bowie's lead disappeared in a flash in the top of the eighth. Mike Daniel led off with a base hit into right field and Marco Yepez moved him to second on a sacrifice bunt. Daniel advanced to third base on a groundout by Roger Bernardina. With Daniel on third and two outs, Bergesen was lifted in favor of closer Julio Manon. Luke Montz crushed Manon's first pitch for a homerun over the wall in dead center to give Harrisburg a 3-2 lead. Two pitches later, Luis Jimenez followed with a blast of his own to center field. The Baysox scratched out one more run in the bottom of the eighth when Mike Rodriguez led off with a double and came in to score on a two-out throwing error by Ofilio Castro. Beltran Perez allowed just one hit in the final 1.2 innings, closing the book on the Baysox. Bergesen got a no-decision for his efforts, but wasn't dwelling on that after the game, "It's always tough, but that wasn't my main concern obviously. With them right behind our tails, every game counts so that was more my concern." With the loss, the Baysox move to 40-27 on the year.

Hernandez Humbles Harrisburg

David Hernandez threw a gem, allowing one hit over six innings, as the Baysox beat the Senators 5-2 Sunday. With the win, the Baysox improve to 41-27 and regain sole possession of first place in the Southern Division. The lone hit against Hernandez came with two outs in the sixth inning. Roger Bernadina hit a line drive back the mound and Hernandez deflected it towards second base. Carlos Rojas fielded the ball and threw to first, but Bernadina beat the throw. Hernandez also allowed five walks in the game, but the Baysox played great defense behind him and turned a pair of double plays. The Baysox took an early lead when Carlos Rojas scored on a single by Jeff Nettles in the first inning. Bowie would add two more runs in the third inning. Carlos Rojas led off the bottom of the third with a walk and moved to second when Lou Montanez singled to left. Jeff Nettles drew a walk to load the bases and Mike Rodriguez hit a one-out double to left, driving in Rojas and Montanez. Bowie would add another pair of runs in the sixth inning. Blake Davis led off the inning and broke his bat on a chopper up the middle. Second baseman Marco Yepez fielded the ball on the grass behind second and threw to first, but he had no chance to retire Davis . Jonathan Tucker drew a walk and Davis advanced to third on a wild pitch before Carlos Rojas drew another walk to load the bases with nobody out. Lou Montanez grounded into a double play, scoring Davis and moving Tucker to third. Tucker scored the Baysox final run on a wild pitch with Jeff Nettles at the plate. Harrisburg scored both their runs in the top of the eighth inning on a homerun to right by Mike Daniel, but Julio Manon retired the Senators in order in the ninth to record his seventeenth save.

Aeros Blast Into First At Baysox Expense

The Baysox managed nine hits but couldn't make them count as the Aeros took game one of a three game set, 7-2. Bowie 's starter Chorye Spoone struggled in his second start back from a shoulder injury. He went just three innings, allowing three runs on four hits and walking four. Akron 's Kevin Dixon went seven strong innings, allowing just two runs on six hits. He got support from three Aero homeruns and his bullpen combined for two shutout innings to close the door on the Baysox. The Aeros struck quickly with runs in each of the first three innings. They opened the scoring with one out in the top of the first when Jonathan Tucker had trouble turning a double play with men on first and second. He took the flip from shortstop Blake Davis, but was knocked down by the sliding Chris Gimenez and his relay attempt sailed over first baseman Ryan Finan's head, allowing Josh Rodriguez to score. With one out in the top of the second, Brandon Chaves drew a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Jose Constanza brought him in with a base hit up the middle to give the Aeros a 2-0 lead. Wes Hodges made it 3-0 with a leadoff homerun in the top of the third. The Baysox got on the board with a two-out rally in the bottom of the third. Blake Davis got things going by drawing a walk and Mike Rodriguez singled up the middle, moving Davis to second. Jonathan Tucker managed to draw a walk to load the bases, and Lou Montanez served a looping liner down the right field line that just stayed fair. Montanez was standing on second with a bases-clearing double when the umpires came together and ruled the play a ground-rule double. The ball got stuck in the outfield fence momentarily and brought Jonathan Tucker back out to third base. Jeff Nettles grounded out to end the inning, but Bowie cut the lead to 3-2. The Aeros pulled away in the fourth inning. Jason Burch came in to relieve Chorye Spoone and Jose Constanza welcomed him with a base hit. Constanza then stole second and moved up to third on a single by Trevor Crowe. Crowe stole second and Chris Gimenez smashed a homerun to right center, putting Akron ahead 6-2. The Aeros added another tally in the sixth on Josh Rodriguez's leadoff homerun. Spoone had his second rough outing in a row since returning from a month and a half recovering from a shoulder injury. Baysox pitching coach Mike Griffin was not discouraged, "He just didn't have his good stuff tonight. Good curveball and good changeup but his fastball command was a little off. His mechanics were off at times, he's gotta get his feet back on the ground right now. I saw signs of it tonight. I saw progress with the changeup, and with the curveball no question. Just the fastball command tonight was a little off and when your fastball command is off, it can offset your other pitches. But it just wasn't Chorye's night tonight."

Rain Delays The Inevitable

The Baysox got another great outing from starter Chris Tillman but could not get to Akron 's pitching, dropping their second straight to the Aeros, 4-0. Adam Loewen pitched two innings in relief, allowing a run on one hit. Rain delayed the start of the game almost two hours before play began, but the game was completed without further interruption. The Baysox picked up three of their six hits in the bottom of the first, but failed to capitalize. Jonathan Tucker led off with a single, but was caught attempting to steal second base. Lou Montanez and Jeff Nettles each picked up base hits to left, but were stranded on first and second when Nolan Reimold popped out to end the inning. The Aeros opened the scoring in the top of the second. With two outs, Matt Whitney drew a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch by Tillman. Stephen Head brought him in with a single up the middle and Akron went ahead, 1-0. Tillman settled down after that, allowing just the one run on three hits while striking out six. Akron picked up some insurance in the top of the eighth when Trevor Crowe led off with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball by Brian Peterson. Crowe moved up to third on a groundout by Josh Rodriguez and Chris Gimenez brought him in with a sacrifice fly, increasing the lead to 2-0. The Aeros added two more in the eighth. With one out and designated hitter Matt Whitney on first, Brandon Chaves singled to left field. Jose Constanza slapped one up the middle, moving Chaves up to third and bringing Whitney in to score. Felix Romero made a wild pickoff attempt to first, allowing Chaves to come in and score the final run of the game. Baysox starter Chris Tillman picked up his second loss of the season, despite another impressive outing. He never let his team's lack of run support affect his approach on the mound and didn't lay the blame on his offense, "I did what I could, I focus on what I need to do and I let them take care of their job. Can't worry about them. I just didn't get it done tonight. I had all my pitches but I just didn't get it done." Loewen made his first appearance for Bowie after beginning his rehab in Frederick 's bullpen. He had been limited to one inning in previous outings, but went two innings Wednesday, "This was my first time going two innings in my rehab assignment. My location wasn't there tonight, I was throwing strikes, but I was all over the zone. But everything went well, I felt fine so that's the main thing."

Baysox Swept From First

The Baysox scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth Thursday but it was too late to stop the charging Aeros from completing a three game sweep of Bowie. Jason Berken pitched well for the Baysox but only lasted four innings and was charged with his third loss of the year. Akron's Steven Wright made his AA debut and dominated the Bowie lineup, going 5.2 innings and giving up just one run on four hits. Thursday marked the first time Baysox starting pitchers have gotten losing decisions in three consecutive games. It was also the sixth sweep in twelve series at Prince George's Stadium this season, the Baysox have won three of those series and lost three. The last time Akron came to Bowie the Baysox were on the other side of the fence, sweeping the Aeros in a three game set. Baysox pitching coach Mike Griffin was not discouraged by Berken's short outing and insisted that it had nothing to do with a nagging groin injury, "He threw a lot of pitches. I thought he had decent stuff tonight, I thought his changeup was real good. He used both sides of the plate with the fastball pretty good. He mixed in all of his pitches, it's just that he went deep in the count. He got ahead of a lot of hitters tonight, he just drew the counts out deep. That's all." Akron scored first in each game of the series, including two runs in the third inning Thursday night. With one out, Trevor Crowe hit a single up the middle and Josh Rodriguez walked, putting men on first and second. Brandon Sardinha smacked a double into left field, plating Crowe for the first run of the game and advancing Rodriguez to third. Berken got Wes Hodges on strikes but then Rodriguez came in to score on a passed ball by Steve Torrealba, making it 2-0. The Baysox cut the lead in half in the bottom of the sixth on Lou Montanez's solo blast over the fence in left. Rommie Lewis kept the Baysox in the game, throwing 2.2 scoreless innings in relief. The Aeros struck again in the top of the eighth with Kam Mickolio on the mound. Ryan Goleski hit a one out double to right field on a 1-2 pitch. Brandon Pinckney struck out looking for the second out, but Damaso Espino crushed a double into the gap in left-center, bringing Goleski in to score. Jose Constanza followed with a base hit that drove in Espino and he came around to score on Trevor Crowe's double to right, making the score 5-1. Despite the rough outing, Griffin felt the statistics did not tell the whole story for Mickolio, "I thought Kam had good stuff tonight. I thought Kam threw the ball better than the numbers indicated tonight. I thought he had a good, live fastball and he threw some good sliders. I thought he threw some good changeups tonight, just got a little snake bitten tonight, that's all." Bowie rallied in the bottom of the ninth when Ryan Finan drew a one out walk and Jonathan Tucker looped a pinch-hit single over the second baseman's head. With men on first and second and one out, Steve Torrealba mashed a double into straightaway center field, bringing both runners in to score and cutting the lead to 5-3. Aeros closer Randy Newsom got Blake Davis to ground out and struck out Mike Rodriguez looking for his 20th save of the season. After the sweep, the Baysox fall to 41-30, two games back of Akron for first place.

SPORTS NOTES

Akron third baseman Wes Hodges is the winner of the Bank of America Eastern League Player of the Week Award and Erie Left-hander Daniel Christensen is the winner of the Bank of America Eastern League. The New York Mets didn¹t handle the dumping of Willie Randolph as manager in a class way, firing him at 3:00 a.m. in the morning. But again are the Mets known as a class organization or a class-less one? I think it¹s the latter. The Yankees have signed ex-Oriole Sidney Ponson who had been released by the Texas Rangers recently. It¹s a minor league contract for Ponson. I wonder where they are: Joe Eller, Jack Ellis, JoAnn Loftus, Shirley Lohr, Bobby Cooper, Jack Pitt, Chris Chaconas, Frances Stringfellow, Dina Walton, Dennis Walton, Cheryl Potts, John Moyer, Sue Posey and Don Posey? Is the Brooks Robinson High School All-Star game going to move to the Blue Crabs stadium in Waldorf next season? Are the Orioles going to trade George Sherill soon? Don¹t rule it out! The Nats released Rob Mackowlak. Billy Werber recently celebrated his 100th birthday, he is the oldest former major leaguer still alive.

Our deepest sympathy goes to the following:
Warren David ³WD² Harding (retired DC Metropolitan policeman).
Bill Reichenbach (McKinley (DC) Tech HS grad and drummer with big bands also led the house band at the Lotus Restaurant and played in the Loew¹s Capital theater band).
William G. Nicholson (Cardozo (DC) HS grad).
James Michael Roof (DuVal HS grad).
Peter Neilson Woods (Bishop O¹Connell HS and U. of MD grad).
Cyd Charisse (actress and dancer, great who paired with Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly in the movies).
Donald L. Bishoff (former head softball coach at Anne Arundel Community College ).
Charlie Jones (nationally known sportscaster).
Tim Russett (top political TV personality and ³Meet the Press² host).
Emil B. Pielke (former member of MD House of Delegates).
John Ranch (former Georgia U. All-American QB and NFL coach with Oakland and Buffalo ).

Eleanor Roosevelt¹s track coach is leaving to become an assistant coach with the University of Maryland Men¹s Track team. The Orioles are chalking up wins against the weakest National League teams. The Pirates and Astros are terrible, so you might say the Orioles are the best of the worse. The Yankees are starting to leave the Birds in their dust. In golf at Old South recently the winners were Steve Chipsouras and Camilio Dilodiyco. No truth to the rumor that Colonel Bud is dating Ali Larter. I understand the Hoagie Man, T.T,, P.P., and Norris Walker are entered in July 4th¹s Nathans Coney Island Hot Dog eat off contest. Paul Lo Duca is off the DL and back with the Nats. Seattle fired their GM, is the manager next? The GM was Bill Bavasi then they fired their manager. Is Manny Acta being led to the plank? Next week we will have a look at Christan Guzman and how he compares to former Washington shortstops like Cecil Travis, Joe Cronin, George McBride, Pete Runnels, Eddie Brinkman and a few others who have patrolled that position for Washington in the past. The first name for Monica Pence ---Ed Brown!

WE GET LETTERS

Bill, Launch of the NEW Michael¹s 8th Avenue Website Check out www.michaelseighthavenue.com and check out the difference in the new site. Hope you enjoy and that it is helpful. Think of us for all your party and catering needs. Scott Wagner

Bill, Terry, It was fun sharing your boyhood memories. Thanks guys.

My area was 5th street , between Hamilton and Ingraham. We went to Truesdell Elementary, then Paul Jr. High, then Roosevelt because of a boundary change. I had the hots for this cute blonde boy when we were at Paul, Max Wasserman, who finally told me to leave him alone, ha ha ha (then stopped to say hi one day a couple years later when there was a Roosevelt/Coolidge football game in our stadium but I had no time for him by then - I was trying to see how many of the good looking jocks I could date and think I did break the record. On my list were Phil Perlo, Jack Pitt (I was bonkers about him but he had eyes for Nancy only), Don Cohen - my longtime steady, Charlie Stirling (wish we could find cute Charlie, he was also the sweetheart of our Emanon sorority in my senior year, 1953), Bill Hampton, P aul Willett, Phil Gonzales if anyone remembers him from the class of 50 or 51), and various others I just missed, ha ha ha. Don took up almost 2 years of my time at Roosevelt until his dad had a father/son talk with him, too funny but true and I was dropped like a hot potato, otherwise my list would have been much longer.

Around the corner on Ingraham street were the Simi family - Norma, Bobby and Barbara who was my age and handsome Louie Parent who all the girls at Truesdale got to try him out, me included. His family was French tho and were into saving money on soap so Louie was a short romance for me.

Also on Hamilton was Joan Lyon Harris (Tom Harris beautiful bride) and Sandi Tudge and the neighborhood bully Gloria Corvelli. On 5th across from me were the Morellis, Doris and Frances who was dating Duke Pantos I think. Also Patsy and Bobby Belt, Frank and Margaret Fletcher, Harvey Barsky.

My cousins Sandra, Linda and Brenda Land lived on Decatur street at Georgia Avenue but then moved to Hamilton street at 14th in a really nice big white house with huge floor to ceiling wide windows that looked out into their beautiful backyard. It had a portal at the front door with brick stoop and a couple of steps and how I lived visiting in that house. Nice neighborhood and of course Rock Creek Park was not that far from them.

Do you guys remember the Park when it snowed and we could sled down snake hill, but that walk back up was killer, ha ha ha. I remember once some of us were invited to Nancy Crow's house at Grant Circle where her mom had hot chocolate to warm us up. Nancy and I would bop downtown to use the heated pool at the Ambassador Hotel in the winter. Janet Bruchie and I were at Murphy's downtown on F street for something and I can see Janet eating her cherries on the stem on the bus ride home, which we got from Murphy's. Janet and I were students at Madeline Smithson Hodgson's School of Dance on Delafield Place at Georgia Avenue . She had the cutest voice besides her dancing talent and I can see her this very minute in the cutest cowgirl outfit with white hat and cowgirl shirt and orange shorts and white boots singing "Sioux City Sue". She will kill me for this, ha ha ha.

Elsie Robinson Dick lived nearby on 8th street and she and Barbara Simi and I were Campfire Girls together which was fun. The Simi family took me to Nativity Church with them and Barbara and I made our First Holy Communion and Confirmations there. The Robinsons are - Katherine (Kitty), Elsie and younger brother Ernie. Louie and Eddie Parent, Elsie, the Simis, Gloria Corvelli and others you would not know loved playing "Olley Olley Oxen Free" and kick the can in the back alley and I remember at least one invitation from one of the boys inviting me to meet him secretly in one of the garages. No, ha ha ha, I passed that one up but got into trouble when my parents found the detailed note from that loverboy Louie. Never mind why.

Fun things to do in our neighborhood also was the Takoma Swimming Pool next to Coolidge HS, the Kennedy Movie Theater where my uncle Claude Land was manager, browsing in the five and dime next to the theater, gobbling up ice creams from Doc Bassachus Drug Store on the corner of 5th and Kennedy or High's on Kennedy at 4th and reading comic books at Doc's drug store. Also making vehicles with orange crates on old skate wheels and throwing pebbles at cars and then high tailing it on 5th street for the boys, and for the girls - skating with our skatekey on a shoestring around our necks, playing jacks and pick up sticks on our front porch or steps, hopskotch on the sidewalks.

We loved hopping on the J2 Takoma Park bus on any corner on 5th street to go downtown on Saturdays (with my grandma when I was small) to Woodies, Kanns, Hechts, Murphy's, Garfinkel's, the Capitol and Palace Theaters, Peoples Drug and Federal Bakery for lunch. Rich's shoe store for back to school shoes in late August - school always started up in the fall just after Labor Day, right? Teen (a word we never used, it was coined around 7 years later I think when teens had money to buy stuff on their own like magazines and records) guys got their clothes from the National Shirt Shop I think and I just googled it, it is still there on 14th street downtown, amazing.

I saw Betty Hutton once, Judy Garland another time, at the Capitol stage downtown, remember Sam Jack Kaufman who came up from the floor with the Capitol orchestra for the stage shows? And the entire Roosevelt student body skipping school once to see Johnny Ray, at the Capitol I guess. Principal Elva Wells was not amused. But then I never saw her smile, ever. Bill, this is too long for the column but if you like I could pick out a highlight or two to spark up some memories for the friends and send it to you. Love ya guys, Dale

Dale, Good memories. Bill

Bill, Don't know what was said about Mike Miller or his son, but the guy who wrote that letter you posted is dead right, and I personally can attest to everything he said from experience. John

John, As you know Mike Miller is the greatest. Bill

SUPPORT MARYLAND SPORTS!!