Sports Beat column - August 3, 2006

Sports Beat
August 3, 2006

Sports Beat by Bill McCaffrey

Saturday the DC Divas play in the NWFA Championship game in Pittsburgh. The game will be played at the North Allegheny High School with the kickoff slated for 7 p.m. The Divas are unbeaten this season and hope to remain so. For more information on the DC Divas go to www.DCDivas.com.

GOLDEN GREEK DIES

One of the DC areas boxing legends passed away on July 26th when Steve Mamakos passed of complications from Alzheimers disease.

Mamakos known as the â¤¦Golden Greekâ¤? was among the best and most talented boxers ever in the DC area. His fights with Tony Zale are fights that live forever with the fight fans of this area.

He lost a split decision to Zale in early January 1941 then six weeks later fought Zale in a scheduled 15 round middleweight championship fight, losing but not before the fight world took note of his top, tough abilities.

He was a boxing coach later at the Southeast Boys Club where he touched many folks like Frank Shore, John Linticum, Charlie Sokol, and a host of others. When I lived in the Southview Apartments his brother Jimmy â¤¦the Waiterâ¤? Mamakos lived there and we became friends. Some other former SE, NE and SW folks lived there also like Charlie Wright, George Irwin, Edna Schnider, Sue Chatman, Harry Diehl, and Bette Powell.

BAYSOX REPORT

After the Erie SeaWolves came within two runs of tying the ballgame in the eighth inning, the Bowie Baysox held on for a 7-5 win over the SeaWolves in front of 6,634 fans at Prince George's Stadium.

The SeaWolves scored first after Kurt Airoso drew a lead-off walk in the second and then came around to score on Chris Maples' double two batters later.

Bowie took the lead a half-inning later. Noah Hall led off the inning with a single up the middle and came around to score on Dustin Yount's third home run of the season, which hit the right field foul pole. Baysox Manager Don Werner said of Yount's performance tonight, "Dustin swung the bat well tonight and has really improved since he moved up to Double-A." Werner added, "Yount has hit the ball off of thier starter (Nate) Bumstead well this year, he is one of our best guys in the lineup when we face him."

Kelly Hunt then tied the game 2-2 in the third with a lead-off solo shot.

Again the Baysox would answer the SeaWolves' scoring with runs in their half-inning. Cory Keylor hit a single up the middle to begin the drive. Leo Daigle drove in Keylor on a double to left field then advanced to second on Hall's single through the left side of the infield. Hall stole second and advanced to third on a Dustin Yount groundout to second base. Rayner Bautista plated Hall with the Baysox fifth run of the game on a broken bat double.

With two outs in the fifth, Yount singled to center and advanced on two consecutive wild pitches. He then came around to score on Ryan Hubele's triple to deep center. Bautista drove in Hubele on an infield hit to extend the Baysox' lead to 7-2.

Meanwhile Bowie starter Eric DuBose was cruising only giving up two runs on three hits through the first five innings.

Richard Stahl relieved DuBose in the eighth and surrendered three straight walks to start off the inning. He then walked Nook Logan to make the score 7-4. Jason Pearson relieved Stahl and struck out Vince Blue. Jackson Melian then reached first on a Bautista error, which allowed Hunt to score from third. Erie then trailed by only two runs after Andrew Graham came around to score later in the inning.

After the Baysox went quietly in the eighth, Pearson struck out Maples to start the ninth and then gave up back-to-back singles. Pearson then got two outs to preserve the win for Bowie and record his second save of the season.

With the win, DuBose improves to 6-1 and 3-0 against the SeaWolves this season. Nathan Bumstead (7-8) took the loss for Erie.

Bautista went 4-for-4 in the game with three singles, a double and two RBI. Hall, Yount and Hubele each had two hits for the Baysox.

ON DECK: After an off day on Monday, Bowie closes out the home stand with a three-game series against the Connecticut Defenders. RHP Radhames Liz will get the start against RHP Garrett Broshius in the first game of the series Monday at 7:05 p.m. Liz recorded his second AA win against the Defenders on July 26 with a 7.0 inning performance, retiring eight while walking just two. Tuesday is also a "Dollar Dayz" game, courtesy of the Pennysaver.

DEFENDERS BULLPEN HOLDS, BEATS BAYSOX, 8-5

In game one of their only road trip the Connecticut Defenders bullpen outpitched the Baysox bullpen to take an 8-5 victory. Cory Keylor led the Baysox with four RBI and his ninth home run of the season.

Both starters gave up five earned runs before they were relieved by their respective bullpens. Radhames Liz lasted only 1.1 innings and gave up two home runs and six hits before being replaced by Carlos Jan in the middle of the second inning. Jan, Brian Forystek, and Nick McCurdy each contributed one earned to the Defenders eight runs.

Down 2-0, the Baysox put three on the board in their half of the first frame on Keylor's three run shot to right field. Consecutive hits by Bryan Bass, Jeff Fiorentino and Keylor gave the Baysox two more runs as Keylor picked up his fourth RBI of the game and his 52nd of the season. It was the first four RBI game for Keylor and the most RBI he has had in a single game since he recorded eight on July 9 versus Harrisburg.

With the score tied 5-5 Connecticut's bullpen proceeded to shutout the Baysox the rest of the way, allowing only three hits and one walk. Meanwhile, Travis Ishikawa, who tripled in the fifth scored on a sacrifice fly to give the visitors the one run lead. Connecticut struck again in the sixth with a Brian Buscher bases loaded RBI ground out and once more in the ninth as Tyler Von Schell came around to score from second on an infield bunt that was mishandled by Dustin Yount at first for an error.

Billy Sadler pitched the ninth and picked up his 15th save for the Defenders. In order to make room for James Hoey, who was promoted from Class A Frederick on Monday, the Orioles announced that reliever Richard Stahl was released. The former Rider University star is currently second in all of minor league baseball with 29 saves, which he has amassed between Delmarva and Frederick this season.

BAYSOX BATS, PITCHING DUMP SEAWOLVES, 7-4

The Baysox extended their season series record against the Erie SeaWolves to 12-7 on Saturday night in front of 7,960 fans at Prince George's Stadium. Cory Morris came down from Ottawa to take the rotation spot of James Johnson who was called up to Baltimore last night.

Erie's Jackson Melian put the SeaWolves on the board with a first inning solo home run off Morris but two doubles in the Baysox second tied the game. RaÃºl Chavez doubled into the left field corner, rounded third and scored on Rayner Bautista's RBI double down the left field line to even the score 1-1 and never look back. Cory Keylor added a second run with his eighth home run of the season and the Baysox put up four more in the fourth to take commanding 6-1 lead.

Chavez stroked his second double of the game to lead things off in the frame and after Dustin Yount walked, Bautista drove in both runs with a double to deep center and reached third on the throw. Erie starter Jair Jurrjens walked Bryan Bass and then gave up an RBI single to Keylor as Bautista scored the sixth run of the game. Reliever Mike Nannini loaded the bases and walked Noah Hall allowing the Baysox sixth run to score.

Yount led off the fifth by doubling into right field and scored on Jeff Fiorentino's RBI single up the middle to increase the Baysox lead to six runs. Morris tied his season high with seven strikeouts and came within one out of matching his season high for innings pitched. Five of Morris' seven strikeouts caught Erie batters looking as he went 5.1 strong innings, allowing just the Melian home run in the first inning.

Brian Forystek relieved Morris in the sixth, walked in Vince Blue with the SeaWolves' second run of the game but stranded the rest of the runners to end the visitors' threat. Chris Maples chipped at the Baysox lead with a two run home run in the eighth but that would be all the visiting team would pick up against Bowie.

McCurdy retired the side in the ninth to pick up his second save of the season. Keylor was 3-for-5 with a homer and two RBI while Chavez went a perfect 3-for-3 with two doubles and two runs scored. Bautista added three RBI in the Baysox victory.

BAYSOX SPLIT DOUBLEHEADER VS. ERIE, 6-0 & 3-4

On Friday evening, Bowie and Erie met for the 17th time this season and the second doubleheader between the two clubs. A day after the SeaWolves hit five home runs against the Baysox, Bowie launched five home runs of their own as they split the twinbill in front of 4,673 at Prince George's Stadium.

In game one Garrett Olson (pictured) led the Baysox with a strong performance complete with seven strikeouts while RaÃºl Chavez launched his first home run of the season. Things didn't get started well for Erie as SeaWolves starter Bobby Jones suffered an injury in the bottom of the second and had to be replaced by reliever PJ Finigan. Finigan found himself in trouble during the fourth and fifth frames as the Baysox jumped out to a three run lead.

The consecutive hits put the Baysox on the board as Bryan Bass led off with a single to right, followed by a Jay Gibbons double to right and Leo Daigle's 50th RBI of the season - a single into right field that sent Gibbons to third. The Orioles' designated hitter came in to score as Cory Keylor grounded into a double play. Ra&ucuate;l Chavez added the Baysox third run of the game, leading off the fifth with a sky-high home run to left field, his first of the season. Tim Byrdak relieved Olson in the sixth and retired all three batters he faced, striking out two in the process.

After Gibbons drew a lead-off walk in the sixth, Bowie struck again as Daigle jacked a two run shot out of the ballpark. It was the 14th home run of the season for the San Diego native. Two batters later Noah Hall knocked Finigan out of the game with his ninth home run to give the Baysox a 6-0 lead. Nick McCurdy took over for Byrdak in the seventh and retired the side to perserve Olson's fourth win of the season. The 6-0 shutout was the Baysox tenth of the season and the fourth against the SeaWolves.

The SeaWolves struck first in game two with a Don Kelly RBI ground ball but Dustin Yount tied the game in the second inning with his second home run as a member of the Baysox. Jeff Fiorentino untied the score in the fifth with a two run homer to deep right field that left the ballpark, giving the home team a 3-1 lead. Erie tied the game in the top of the seventh on a two out, two RBI single into center field, driving home both Kelly and Brent Clevlen. In a last ditch effort to win the game in regulation, Bowie sent Pete Shier, Todd Donovan and Bass to the plate to face SeaWolves' reliever Chris Homer.

After Shier lined out to first base and Donovan popped up, Bass drilled a pitch into deep right-center and legged out a double. With the game winning run in scoring position and two outs Erie brought in lefthander Ian Ostlund to face the left-handed Fiorentino, who struck out swinging on five pitches. Beau Hale pitched all seven innings of regulation and was replaced by Jason Pearson in the eighth. Hale allowed four hits, struck out five and walked just two in his sixth start in Bowie. In the Baysox fifteenth set of extra innings this season, Pearson retired all three he faced in the 8th with a little help from the defense.

With one out Vince Blue stroked the ball to deep center but was thrown out trying to stretch a double into a triple. Jackson Melian followed Blue and was rung up on strikes. With one out in the bottom half of the eighth Hall tripled into the right field corner and Daigle, pinch hitting for Yount, was intentionally walked. With two outs and two on Gera Alvarez struck out swinging to end the Baysox threat.

Kelly led off the Erie ninth with a double to center field off Pearson, who then intentionally walked and hit the next two batters to load the bags with one out. Former Baysox outfielder Kurt Airoso pinch hit for Erie and drew a walk bringing in the go-ahead run in the form of Kelly. In the ninth Shier reached on a fielding error and was sacrificed to second by Donovan. After Ostlund intentionally walked Bass, Fiorentino struck out for the second time against Ostlund. Keylor flew out to left field to end the game as the Baysox dropped a heartbreaker.

ST. GREGORY THE GREAT GOLF

Good report from Charles â¤¦Countermanâ¤? Grant on the first annual St. Gregory the Great Church Golf Tournament that was held on June 17 at the Pine Ridge Golf Course. Winners of special awards include: Delegate Cathy Pugh â¤³ longest drive (female) George Leder â¤³ longest drive (Male) MTA Light Rail Team â¤³ lowest team score Breezy Bishop â¤³ closest to the pin Dee Wilson almost won the â¤¦Hole-in-Oneâ¤? contest when she came within 6 inches of the hole. She would have won a 2007 Chevy Tahoe from Jerryâ¤s Chevrolet. A great tournament and great people, I predict this annual tournament will grow and grow.

BIG TRAIN NEWS

Tuesday August 1: Express 7, Big Train 4. Three teams have been eliminated, and the CRSL Championship Series is now down to the three teams from Montgomery County. Fittingly, the championship game Wednesday night will be video-taped for later showing on Montgomery cable television. Wednesday August 2: Big Train v. T'Bolts at Povich Field at 4 p.m. Winner of the T'Bolts/Big Train game plays the Express at 7:30 p.m. If the Express wins Wednesday night, they will have won the League Championship Series. If the T'Bolts or Big Train win Wednesday night, the championship game will be played Thursday at 7 p.m. at Blair Stadium. Both of Wednesday's games will be webcast -- go to www.bigtrain.org for the link.

MONDAY JULY 31 CRSL PLAYOFF GAMES
Maryland Redbirds (# 6 seed) defeated Youse's Orioles (# 3 seed) 3-1 at Povich Field. SS-T Tâ¤Bolts (# 5 seed) defeated College Park Bombers (# 4 seed) 10-6 at Blair Stadium. Youse's Orioles defeated College Park Bombers 2-1 (10 innings) at Shipley Field. College Park Bombers eliminated. Bethesda Big Train (# 1 seed) defeated SS-T Thunderbolts 9-2 at Povich Field. Rockville Express (# 2 seed) defeated Maryland Redbirds 8-5 at Blair Stadium.

TUESDAY AUGUST 1 CRSL PLAYOFF GAMES
Youse's Orioles (#3 seed) defeated Maryland Redbirds (# 6 seed) 7-6 at Blair Stadium. Maryland Redbirds eliminated. SS-T Tâ¤Bolts (# 5 seed) defeated Youse's Orioles (# 3 seed) 7-6 at Blair Stadium. Youse's Orioles eliminated. Rockville Express (# 2 seed) defeated Bethesda Big Train (# 1 seed) 7-4 at Povich Field. For game summaries and box scores of all 8 games, log onto: http://www.ripkensrcollegebaseball.org/

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 2 CRSL PLAYOFF GAMES
SS-T Tâ¤Bolts (# 5 seed) vs. Bethesda Big Train (# 1 seed) at 4 p.m. at Povich Field. Rockville Express (# 2 seed) vs. winner of T'Bolts/Big Train game at 7:30 p.m. at Povich Field.

A TALE OF TWO GAMES: BIG TRAIN FALLS 7-4
It was a classic pitchers duel between the starters in Tuesday night's winners bracket game, but when the relievers came in the game in the late innings it got a bit wild and crazy. Matt Wickswat (Santa Clara) went six innings for the number one seed Big Train, allowing just six hits and no earned runs. The Express starter Kyle Brown (UC-Santa Barbara) was just a little bit better, allowing no earned runs and just three hits over seven innings and leaving the game with a 2-1 lead.

The Express took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fifth on a single, a double by Derek Mechling (Duquesne), a Big Train error in center field, and an RBI groundout. Brown retired 17 of the first 18 Big Train batters he faced (with the only runner reaching base as a result of an error). With two out in the bottom of the sixth, Cory Lane (UNC-Charlotte) broke up the no-hitter with a single to right and Nick Cleckler (Jacksonville State) followed with a double down the line.

Brown walked Matt Long (Santa Clara) to load the bases but then induced an inning ending groundout. A three-base throwing error by Brown and an RBI single by Brian Dozier (Southern Mississippi) brought the score to 2-1 after seven. Phil Boscarino (UC-Riverside) led off the top of the eighth with a double.

When Boscarino was thrown out at the plate by Lane, it looked like the Big Train might escape trouble. A two-out RBI single by Ivor Hodgson (Mount Saint Mary's) broke it open for the Express. By the time the dust had settled, Rockville had a seemingly overwhelming lead of 7-1. But in the bottom of the ninth, the Big Train battled back. Luke Adkins (Southern Mississippi) led off with a double. Josh Dietz (Bowling Green) walked. Dozier doubled home Adkins. Adam Redd (Virginia Tech) singled home Dietz. Lane singled home Dozier.

A walk to Long loaded the bases and brought the winning run to the plate. But it was not to be, and the Express had secured the important winners bracket victory that will keep them in air conditioning Wednesday afternoon as the Thunderbolts and Big Train slug it out in the heat and humidity of a Bethesda afternoon in August.

Rockville Express (2-0)
0 0 0 0 2 0 0 5 0 -- 7 11 3
Bethesda Big Train (1-1)
0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 -- 4 7 4

WP: Brown
LP: Wickswat
Save: Kennedy 2B: Orloff (RE), Mechling (RE), Boscarino (RE), Cleckler (BBT), Adkins (BBT), Dozier (BBT)
Attendance: 310
Time: 2 hours, 50 minutes

Big Train Notes: The Big Train defeated the Express in five of the eight games played between the teams this summer... In last season's League Championship Series, the Big Train lost the winners bracket game to the Thunderbolts 9-1 and came back to win two more games and force an "IF" game with the Thunderbolts for the championship. The final game was rained out.

MONTGOMERY TELEVISION TO AIR CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
CRSL Championship Game (Live to tape event 8/2/06) will appear on Access Montgomery
Channel 21:
Sunday, August 06, 2006, 9:00 PM
Tuesday, August 08, 11:00 PM

Ripken Senior League All-Star Game Highlights Program
AM21 Running time 4:45
Monday, August 07, 2006, 8:00 PM
Thursday, August 10, 3:00 PM

CRSL FINAL REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS
Bethesda Big Train 28-12 .700 -- Rockville Express 25-15 .625 3 Youse's Orioles 23-17 .575 5 College Park Bombers 20-20 .500 8 SS-T Thunderbolts 14-26 .350 14 Maryland Redbirds 10-30 .250 18 The Montgomery Cup sponsored by The Gazette: Bethesda (11-5), Rockville (10-6), Silver Spring-Takoma (3-13). Monday July 31: Big Train 9, Thunderbolts 2. Tuesday August 1: Big Train v. Express at Povich Field at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday's game will be webcast -- go to www.bigtrain.org for the link.

BIG TRAIN BEATS THUNDERBOLTS 9-2 IN PLAYOFF GAME
There was a reason why the teams in the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League fought so hard all summer to finish first or second in the regular season standings. And the reason became crystal clear to all Monday afternoon. The bottom four seeds battled each other in the heat and humidity of afternoon games (the temperature on the Povich Field scoreboard hit 102 degrees). The top two seeds had the afternoon off and waited to take on the winners. With upsets in both afternoon games, the number one seeded Big Train then routed the Thunderbolts 9-2 and the Express beat the Redbirds 8-5. The afternoon losers teed it up at Shipley Field at night, and the Orioles won a 2-1 ten inning game that eliminated the College Park Bombers from the playoffs.

At Povich Field, Evan Frederickson (Virginia Tech) provided the arm and Brian Dozier (Southern Mississippi) and Cory Lane (UNC-Charlotte) provided the bats as the Big Train wore down the understandably weary T'Bolts. Frederickson gave up but three hits and a single run in five innings while striking out five. Thunderbolt starter Jeremiah Meiners (Coastal Carolina) got himself in a jam in the bottom of the second by hitting Preston Pehrson (Texas) and walking Luke Adkins (Southern Mississippi) and Josh Dietz (Bowling Green) to load the bases. Meiners struck out the next two Big Train batters, but Dozier doubled in Pehrson and Adkins. Lane then singled home Dietz and Dozier to give Bethesda a 4-0 margin.

The T'Bolts got one back in the fifth when leadoff batter Tyrone Wethers (New Orleans) doubled and scored on a double play groundout. In the bottom of the sixth, Adkins led off with a triple, scored on a single by Dietz who scored on a single by Dozier. Lane then doubled home Dozier and scampered home on a throwing error. Chris Cullen (Michigan State) gave up but one unearned run in four innings of effective relief to pick up the save. Steven Leach (Jacksonville State) walked to lead off the eighth and scored on another double by Lane. Lane was 3-for-5 with four RBIs, and Dozier was 2-for-3 with three RBIs.

SS-T Thunderbolts (1-1) 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 -- 2 8 2
Bethesda Big Train (1-0) 0 4 0 0 0 4 0 1 x -- 9 11 2

WP: Frederickson
LP: Meiners Save: Cullen
3B: Adkins (BBT)
2B: Dozier (BBT), Wethers (SST), Lane (two) (BBT)
Attendance: 410
Time: 2 hours, 35 minutes

Big Train Notes: Some time before 7:30 p.m. Monday night, the 15,000th fan entered Povich Field to see a Big Train game this summer... The Big Train averaged 626 fans at the 20 CRSL regular season games at Povich Field in 2006. In 2005, the average for 20 home league games was 601. In 2004, the home average for 21 league games was 615... Because of the hot weather, we launched an Official Big Train Misting Machine Monday night that was very popular with the young fans in attendance... Maryland Delegate Bill Bronrott (Maryland General Assembly District 16) threw out a ceremonial first pitch.

CRSL ACTION & STANDINGS -- FINAL REGULAR SEASON
Results of Sunday July 30
College Park Bombers defeated SS-T Thunderbolts 11-2 at Shipley Field.

Regular Season Standings
Bethesda Big Train 28-12 .700 -- Rockville Express 25-15 .625 3 Youse's Orioles 23-17 .575 5 College Park Bombers 20-20 .500 8 SS-T Thunderbolts 14-26 .350 14 Maryland Redbirds 10-30 .250 18

The Montgomery Cup sponsored by The Gazette: Bethesda (11-5), Rockville (10-6), Silver Spring-Takoma (3-13).

With Thursday's 4-1 victory over the Rockville Express, the Bethesda Big Train clinched the 2006 regular season championship of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League. By doing so, the Big Train has secured a first round bye and will open the league playoffs with a Monday July 31 contest at Povich Field at 7:30 p.m.

WICKSWAT GOES THE DISTANCE TO SECURE 2006 CRSL TITLE

LHP Matt Wickswat (Santa Clara) was in command Thursday afternoon at Knights Field as the Big Train cruised to a 4-1 victory over the Rockville Express to clinch the 2006 Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League regular season title. Josh Dietz (Bowling Green) led off the top of the second with a single, advanced on a single by Adam Plummer (Pitt-Johnstown), and scored on a single by Brian Dozier (Southern Mississippi). Matt Long (Santa Clara) led off the third with a single and scored on a double by Preston Pehrson (Texas) down the rightfield line. It turned out that this was all that Wickswat needed. A lucky bounce netted the Big Train two insurance runs in the top of the fifth.

With two outs, Luke Adkins (Southern Mississippi) hit what appeared to be a routine grounder to the first baseman that turned out to be anything but routine. The ball bounced high over the first baseman and into rightfield. Dietz doubled and then Steven Leach (Jacksonville State) plated both runners with a line shot off the pitcher's foot that ended up in rightfield. In the bottom of the sixth, Michael Gilmartin (UC-Irvine) tripled down the rightfield line and scored on an RBI ground out. Gilmartin was the only Express player to advance past second base all afternoon. The Express managed two singles in the ninth, but Wickswat was able to complete the game and clinch the regular season title for Bethesda.

Bethesda Big Train (26-12) 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 -- 4 11 0
Maryland Redbirds (24-15) 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 -- 1 6 2

WP: Wickswat (3-0)
LP: DeFratus (1-3)
3B: Gilmartin (RE)
2B: Pehrson (BBT), Dietz (BBT)
Attendance: 75
Time: 2 hours, 18 minutes

Big Train Notes: With the Big Train's Thursday win over the Rockville Express, the Big Train moved back into the lead for the Gazette-sponsored Montgomery Cup. A win Saturday over the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts, would keep the Cup at Povich Field. A loss Saturday would result in Bethesda and Rockville sharing the Cup... The Big Train players celebrated Thursday night with a post-game dinner at the Silver Diner.

CRSL ACTION & STANDINGS -- THURSDAY JULY 27
Results of Thursday July 27
Bethesda Big Train defeated Rockville Express 4-1 at Knights Field.

Regular Season Standings
Bethesda Big Train 26-12 .684 -- 2 games to play Rockville Express 24-15 .615 2.5 1 game to play Youse's Orioles 22-16 .579 4 2 games to play College Park Bombers 19-19 .500 6.5 2 games to play SS-T Thunderbolts 12-24 .333 12.5 4 games to play Maryland Redbirds 10-27 .270 15.5 3 games to play The Montgomery Cup sponsored by The Gazette: Bethesda (10-5), Rockville (10-6), Silver Spring-Takoma (3-12).

TOM HOUSE PITCHING CLINIC @ POVICH
AUGUST 8, 9, & 10

The nation's best pitching coach will be making a return visit to Povich Field August 8, 9, and 10. Reserve your place now as last year's clinic was sold out. House has developed a complete package of fitness, nutrition, mechanics, and mental and emotional conditioning to prepare young athletes to pitch. A Tom House clinic reinforces within young players the importance of focus, hard work, and conditioning. http://www.bigtrain.org/published/kids/camp.html#house $300 August 8 Tom House Lecture from 7 to 9 p.m. August 9 & 10: 9 a.m. to noon ages 13 & under; 1-4 p.m. ages 14 & over

AUGUST 7-11 SESSION OF BIG TRAIN SOFTBALL CAMP
Girls softball has been under-served in lower Montgomery County. Led by Paint Branch High School coach Maura Ryan and her associate Mike Miller, we will have a morning camp August 7-11 from 9 a.m. to noon for $125 for the week. Sign-up for the Softball Camp through our webpage at www.bigtrain.org. CRSL ACTION & STANDINGS -- SATURDAY JULY 29 Results of Saturday July 29 Bethesda Big Train defeated SS-T Thunderbolts 7-6 at Povich Field. Rockville Express defeated Maryland Redbirds 8-1 at Knights Field. Youse's Orioles defeated College Park Bombers 4-2 at Bachman Park.

Regular Season Standings
Bethesda Big Train 28-12 .700 -- Rockville Express 25-15 .625 3 Youse's Orioles 23-17 .575 5 College Park Bombers 19-20 .487 8.5 1 game to play SS-T Thunderbolts 14-25 .359 13.5 1 game to play Maryland Redbirds 10-30 .250 18 The Montgomery Cup sponsored by The Gazette: Bethesda (11-5), Rockville (10-6), Silver Spring-Takoma (3-13). Log onto http://www.ripkensrcollegebaseball.org/ for up-to-date boxscores and standings. Sign-up for CRSL email alerts: http://ripkensrcollegebaseball.org/maillist/program/action.cgi?actionfiltered=adduser

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE BIG TRAIN
For more information, please log onto www.bigtrain.org or call 301/983-1006. Or email us at faninfo@bigtrain.org.

CAL RIPKEN, SR. COLLEGIATE BASEBALL LEAGUE
2006 is the second season of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League. The Maryland-based collegiate wooden bat league is comprised of six teams: Bethesda Big Train, College Park Maryland Bombers, Maryland Redbirds, Rockville Express, Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts, and Youse's Maryland Orioles. The teams play a 40-game regular season that starts on Friday, June 9 with the Maryland Orioles visiting the Big Train at Shirley Povich Field in Bethesda. The Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League 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.

ANOTHER COME-FROM BEHIND VICTORY FOR THE BIG TRAIN
Friday night, in front of a standing-room-only crowd of 871 at Povich Field, the Big Train scored twice in the bottom of the ninth to defeat Youse's Orioles 4-3. Bethesda jumped in front in the bottom of the first inning on singles by Nick Cleckler (Jacksonville State) and Matt Long (Santa Clara) and a sacrifice fly by Chris Taylor (UNC-Charlotte). Big Train starter Hugh Adams (St. John's CHS) pitched three scoreless innings before being relieved by Jimmy Saris (Georgetown).

Taylor started the fourth inning with a single and scored on a double by Adam Redd (Virginia Tech). The Orioles cut the margin to 2-1 in the top of the fifth when Patrick Long (Georgia Tech) was hit by a pitch and scored on a double by Kyle Moore (Alabama). The Orioles drew even in the sixth when Justin McClanahan (Louisville) tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Justin Bour (George Mason). Big Train reliever Alex Pepe (Florida Atlantic) struck out two in a 1-2-3 seventh inning before turning the ball over to Austin Hinkle (Coastal Carolina).

Cullan Kight (Mississippi) singled and Bour knocked him in with the go-ahead run. But in the bottom of the ninth, the Orioles filled the bases with Big Train players each via a base-on-balls. With one out, Cleckler grounded to second for what could have been a game ending double play. But it was Cleckler, one of the league's speediest players. With Cleckler safe at first, the game was tied at three. Another walk filled the bases again and Josh Dietz (Bowling Green) supplied the game winning RBI.

Youse's Orioles (22-17) 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 -- 3 4 1
Bethesda Big Train (27-12) 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 -- 4 9 0

WP: Hinkle (4-1)
LP: Kalafos (1-2)
3B: McClanahan (YO)
2B: Redd (BBT), Moore (YO)
Attendance: 871
Time: 2 hours, 31 minutes

Big Train Notes: Friday July 28 was Homer's Birthday Party and Washington Parent Night with a moonbounce and a very cool carnival ride provided by Talk of the Town... Our youngest fans received a piece of Homer's birthday cake... We had more than a dozen members of Shirley Povich's family at the game Friday night... The standing-room-only crowd of 871 was the largest of the season... In fact, all four of the standing-room-only crowds of the regular CRSL season came when we played Youse's Orioles (871 on Friday July 28; 848 on Saturday July 8; 838 on Saturday July 15, and 761 on Sunday July 23). The other capacity crowd came on Saturday June 3 for an exhibition game with the Maryland Patriots (784)... Our sponsor Friday night was Text Design. The game was webcast and should be archived at www.bigtrain.org.

CRSL ACTION & STANDINGS -- FRIDAY JULY 28
Results of Friday July 28
Bethesda Big Train defeated Youse's Orioles 4-3 at Povich Field. SS-T Thunderbolts swept a DH with Maryland Redbirds 10-2 and 6-5 at Blair Stadium.

Regular Season Standings
Bethesda Big Train
27-12 .692 -- 1 game to play
Rockville Express
24-15 .615 3 1 game to play
Youse's Orioles
22-17 .564 5 1 game to play
College Park Bombers
19-19 .500 7 2 games to play
SS-T Thunderbolts
14-24 .368 12.5 2 games to play
Maryland Redbirds
10-29 .256 17 1 game to play

The Montgomery Cup sponsored by The Gazette: Bethesda (10-5), Rockville (10-6), Silver Spring-Takoma (3-12).

WE GET LETTERS

Bill, Damn, did that bring back memories. Charlie and I made a crazy choice many years ago and decided to box at SE Boy's Club. Of course all those people, Ollie Dryser, Charlie Reynolds worked there in those days and Steve Mamakos was the boxing coach. I had one fight at Georgetown Boys Club 90lbs and fought a guy who later became a gorilla. Basil Marmas. I lost on a decision and that was my first and last fight, but remember Steve like it was yesterday. Sorry to hear of his passing. John

John, Basil played football for Coolidge also. Bill

Bill, Your right Bill, and Charlie Reynolds who referee'd many top fights I understand was a pretty good fighter in his day. Is Herbie (Biff) Jones still with us? He worked at our door for a few years. John

John, I heard Biff was alive and living in Florida. Bill

Bill, The Georgie Abrams he fought is Donnie Abrams uncle, another champion in those days. John

John, Georgia was another good one from the DC area. Bill

Bill, Thanks for the article, his daughter Carole Fejeran is married to Ron Fejeran who graduated in February 1956 from Anacostia High School. They will not be attending the reunion, unless they change their mind which I doubt. Coming from Texas is a long trip and making it twice two months in a row is not very likely. Paul

Paul, Thanks for the information. Bill

Letter to Richard Beasley:
Thanks Rat, I missed this article although I knew he had passed away. He was my late brother-in-law's first cousin. My brother in law was a golden gloves champion also. Another Greek from S.W. Jimmy Vakas. "Moose"

Dear Bill, Would you be so kind to add the EHS Reunion Announcement to your column & mailing list. Thank you so much for your support and help to Eastern High School through the years. God Bless, Jo Ann & Clarence Nordan
______________________________________
2006 EASTERN HIGH SCHOOL REUNION
1947-57
WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2006 AT THE ANNAPOLIS ELKS CLUB IN EDGEWATER, MD.

5:45 Prescheduled Class Pictures will be taken by photographer. $15.00 per 8 X 10 picture. Picture will be ready for pickup after the reunion.

6:00-7:00 PM - Hor D'oeuvres of Fresh Vegetables & Dip as well as Assorted Cheese & Cracker Tray
**CASH BAR**

Price $40.00 per person/$80.00 Couple
Deadline is September 23, 2006 - No Walk-ins

7:15 PM - DINNER BUFFET MENU:
Chef carved Top Round Beef/Ajus, Chicken Cordon Bleu, House or Caesar Salad, Parsley Potatoes, Green Beans, Warm Rolls & Butter, Coffee, Tea & Cake

PROGRAM - Patriotic Music Medley - Ron Nordan, Navy Chaplain.
Join in singing "Eastern HS Song"

EHS MEMORABILIA Two Prize's will be awarded to alumni for:
1. Best EHS Outfit worn or displayed
2.Most EHS Memorabilia you bring

DOOR PRIZES - Your ticket could win a Door Prize

WE WILL HAVE A DJ - Michael Marcey Media DJ
Services will play "Music of the Fifty's"
We will also have a slow & fast dance contest.

PLAY GOLF - Join Ron Winters in "Golf Fellowship Time" for all EHS Alumni who sign's up

PLEASE CALL JO ANN & CLARENCE NORDAN, REUNION CHAIRMEN. IF YOU NEED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - HOME PHONE: (706) 840-3724 OR E-MAIL US AT Clandjo@aol.com

Hey Bill, A couple more boxing notes for you. TONIGHT on Showtime, Henry "Sugar Poo" Buchanan participates in the ShoBox Super Middleweight Tournament. Buchanan (13-0, 11 KO's) will face Lucas Green-Arias in Las Vegas at 11 pm.

Teddy Reid of Adelphi, MD will be on ESPN2 on August 9 against Verno Phillips. Dean White of Smithsburg will face Monty Meza-Clay on August 11 on ESPN2.

IBF Featherweight champ Eric "Mighty Mouse" Aiken of Forestville will make the first defense of his title on Sept. 2 against Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero on Showtime.

Saturday, July 29 marks the first anniversary of my blog, Boxing Along the Beltway!! Take care, Gary "Digital" Williams Feature Writer, Fightnews.com

For the latest in DC-area boxing news, visit Boxing Along The Beltway at http://boxingalongthebeltway.blogspot.com

"Digital" Congratulations and thanks for the information. I tell everyone about the great job you do. Bill

Bill, Well, itâ¤s been a long time since I last sent out a â¤¦This Week in SABR.â¤? Preparing for the convention in Seattle took up my time in June, and recovering from perhaps the best SABR convention ever in July has kept me from adding items to your inbox.

The final count in Seattle was 539, the 4th largest SABR convention ever, and the largest west of the Mississippi. Nearly everyone had a great time hearing from ballplayers like Jim Bouton, Dr. Mike Marshall, Eddie Basinski, and Ed Mickelson. There were over 45 research presentations, with Sean Forman taking the Doug Pappas Baseball Research Award for the best oral presentation at the convention. Many thanks to USA Today Sports Weekly for sponsoring that award, as well as the award for the best poster presentation, won by Allison Binns. I'd also like to thank the Seattle Mariners, McFarland & Company Publishers, the Louisville Slugger Museum, and R. Plapinger Baseball Books for their support of the convention. We should have a recap and photos at www.sabr.org in the next week.

In other news, SABR and www.NewspaperArchive.com have reached an agreement to offer SABR members a 50% discount on an annual subscription. To take advantage of this, call 888-845-2887 between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Central Time and tell the representative that you are a SABR MEMBER and eligible for the 50% PROMOTIONAL DISCOUNT, and want to sign up for the 50% off ANNUAL RATE. If necessary, leave a voicemail with a DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER and your call will be returned promptly. NewspaperArchive.com boasts 42 million newspaper pages from 618 cities.

Next week, I've got some news about SABR membership and its history. Thank you for your continued support of SABR!
John Zajc Executive Director
SABR web site: www.sabr.org
Membership Office Telephone: 800-969-7227 or 216-575-0500
Membership Directory: http://members.sabr.org
Chapter e-lists and websites: http://www.sabr.org/sabr.cfm?a=reg&m=9

Research Committee e-lists and websites:
http://www.sabr.org/sabr.cfm?a=com&m=5
The next convention, SABR 37, will be held in summer 2007 in St. Louis, Missouri
SABR BioProject: http://bioproj.sabr.org/ Pay dues/make donations online: http://store.sabr.org The Baseball Index: http://www.baseballindex.org Research Needs and Classified Ads http://www.sabr.org/sabr.cfm?a=cls&m=3&s=207

SABR-L, baseball research's only moderated discussion list:
http://www.sabr.org/sabr.cfm?a=cms,c,69,3,153

BRSP, where SABRen discuss SABR policy:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/brsp

To order old SABR publications, head to: http://www.unp.unl.edu Sale titles can be found at http://tinyurl.com/97rwf

Please remember SABR is counting on you to keep your membership information, particularly your email address, mailing address, and phone number information up to date using the secure, password-protected members-only website.

SABR 812 Huron Rd E #719 Cleveland OH 44115

Bill, Congrats on your birthday. I thought you were older than dirt but gosh only 72, seriously, many, many, more and happy returns. Keep up the good work. Go pirates (Seton Hall) Jerry

Jerry, Thanks. Bill

SPECIAL LETTER
I Don't Care

The lady who wrote this letter is Pam Foster of Pamela Foster and Associates in Atlanta. She's been in business since 1980 doing interior design and home planning. She recently wrote a letter to a family member serving in Iraq....... Read it!

WHAT'S ALL THE FUSS?
"Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001? Were people from all over the world, mostly Americans, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan, across the Potomac from our nation's capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania?

Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they?

And I'm supposed to care that a copy of the Koran was "desecrated" when an overworked American soldier kicked it or got it wet? Well, I don't. I don't care at all.

I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.

I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere possession of which is a crime in Saudi Arabia.

I'll care when Abu Musab al-Zarqawi tells the world he is sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.

I'll care when the cowardly so-called "insurgents" in Iraq come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques.

I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.

I'll care when the American media stops pretending that their First Amendment liberties are somehow derived from international law instead of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights.

In the meantime, when I hear a story about a brave marine roughing up an Iraqi terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don't care.

When I see a fuzzy photo of a pile of naked Iraqi prisoners who have been humiliated in what amounts to a college hazing incident, rest assured that I don't care.

When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank that I don't care.

When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed "special" food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being "mishandled," you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts that I don't care.

And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled "Koran" and other times "Quran." Well, Jimmy Crack Corn and ---- you guessed it - - - I don't care ! ! ! ! !

Feel free to pass this on to all your e-mail friends. Sooner or later, it'll get to the people responsible for this ridiculous behavior!

Bill, You asked me who I picked for governor, senator and comptroller. Well for a needed continuity would like to see the present governor continue as O'Malley cannot even run Baltimore without lying. For Senator would like to see Steele get elected for a balance in the state. For comptroller, it is a no brainer, the ex governor for sure, he tells it like it is and ya gotta love that. Fred

Fred, Just like Schaefer you tell it like it is. Bill

Bill, I have confirmed another guest, Edwin Henderson for the second half of the show. E.B. Henderson, his granddaughter helped introduce basketball to blacks in the 1900's and was captain of the national championship black team in 1909. David B.

SPORTS NOTES

The fabulous Hubcaps will be the subject of Hubcaps Appreciation night on August 12th at the Naval Academy Dairy Farm in Gambrills. Senate President Mike Miller will be there to present a State Citation to the Hubcaps who started as â¤¦Harvey Hubcap and the Southern Maryland Bandâ¤? and were regulars at the Brandywine Fire House and Nick Simoneta's "Hanger Club". For more information contact Wilbert Fletcher at 301-350-3040. Should be a great event!

I hear when you make bean soup in St. Mary's County you have to go out of that County to get a good ham bone. I am glad that the Orioles didn't trade Tejada the same with the Nats sticking with Soriano was the right thing to do.

Is the ex-Oklahoma quarterback coming to Maryland?

A person I over heard in Annapolis the other day (by the way a Naval Academy grad) said Navy has become a football factory like all the bad college programs and that Oklahoma had more integrity than Navy and said in his time the Owens incident wouldn't have been tolerated. Also the five officers in the trial condone the breaking of Academy rules or for that matter all rules. I guess that's what this world is coming to.

By the way you know its refreshing and believe me most people are feeling this way that Comptroller William Donald Schaefer should be applauded for saying what he does and thinks. His opponents are nice people but the mass of Maryland citizens want "Mister Maryland" back as Comptroller. Others who are not afraid to speak their minds are Governor Bob Ehrlich, Senate President Mike Miller, Senators Roy Dyson and John Astle and Lt. Governor Michael Steele.

I personally am tired of the meely mouths of this world and says its about time we don't condemn folks for speaking their minds. Hey, let me off this soap box but before I do I want to say I endorse Ron Stover for the Charles County School Board and Wally Campbell for Anne Arundel County Sheriff.

Our hats off to Edwin Henderson II on the fine job he's doing to get recognition for his granddaughter who helped introduce basketball to blacks in the 1900's and was Captain of the National Championship black team in 1909 and then was in charge in DC of the athletes in DC black high schools until 1954. Ed Henderson did a great job for black athletes in DC.

Also hats off to Ron Walters and the Quartermaster Diving Team for the great job they do on the track as well as off.

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