Weigh In On Orioles vs. Nationals

The surprise success of the Orioles and Nationals has the region buzzing.

The Orioles and Nationals "rivalry" has required quotations through the first few years of interleague play around the beltway. This year is different. Entering the three-game weekend set, beginning Friday night at Nationals Park, the two clubs are battling atop their divisions against clubs with star-studded rosters and larger payrolls. So as one of the most important series between these neighboring ball clubs gets underway, the Patch sites in the Maryland area are curious: who are you pulling for in this year's Battle of the Beltway? Are you cheering for Bryce Harper and the Nationals? Or are you behind Adam Jones and the Orioles? While we're at it, which team do you think stands the best chance of staying in the pennant race late into …

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Sean R. Sedam

9:44 pm on Friday, May 18, 2012

Line score: O's: 1-6-1; Nats: 1-6-1. And we go to extra innings. You can't get any closer than this, folks. And the greatest thing: Unlike a couple of years ago when this was the battle of the cellar dwellers, this time around both these teams are playing for the top spot in the eastern divisions.   more ›

Franklin Scoreboard

Franklin Scoreboard: May 14 - 20

Patches catches you up on a week's worth of scores.

Tuesday, May 15 VARSITY SOFTBALL 3A North Quarterfinals C. Milton Wright 6, Indians 4 VARSITY BASEBALL 3A North Round 1 Towson 2, Indians 1

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Little League Player Nails Unassisted Triple Play

A 7-year-old White Marsh baseball player completed a rare play last week.

OUTSIDE BALTIMORE, MD -- If only Little League had instant replay. Cristian Banks, a 7-year-old Fullerton Elementary student, completed a rare unassisted triple play on May 3. Coach Marty Neff, who has been involved with the White Marsh Recreation Council for the past 10 years, said it was the first time he's seen it done by one of his players. It's unusual outside of Little League, as well. According to MLB.com, only 15 unassisted triple plays have been recorded in Major League Baseball history. Share your favorite moments in kids' sports in the comments. Neff described the play, which lasted only seconds: "With the bases loaded and Cristian playing third base, the batter hit a line drive that Cristian moved to his right to catch for the …

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Rec Baseball Returns to Owings Mills

With plans to grow, the revitalized league offers two recreational teams and a traveling squad.

For the first time in more than six years, Owings Mills residents won’t have to look outside their own community for a recreational baseball league. With a program already underway, the Owings Mills Recreation Council is fielding three individual teams in the 5-6 and 7-8 age groups, as well as an under-15 travel team. “There hadn’t been anything in so long, people really weren’t looking to Owings Mills to offer baseball,” community baseball coordinator Renate Buttrum said. “They look at other programs and would have to travel away from their Owings Mills neighborhood to either Pikesville, Liberty Road or Reisterstown.” Buttrum initially approached the rec council about the possibility of a travel team for her son, but was encouraged by the…

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Ravens' Kruger to Serve as 'Celebrity Amabssador' at Kidney Walk

The Baltimore Ravens linebacker, who lost a kidney at age 13, will take part in the Baltimore Kidney Walk Sunday.

For Baltimore Ravens linebacker Paul Kruger, the 2012 football season will undoubtedly include some career firsts. With the departure of longtime Ravens outside linebacker Jarret Johnson, Kruger is the odds-on favorite to seize the role. He’ll get his first legitimate shot to become a fulltime defensive starter, and with it, his inaugural chance to precede Baltimore icons like Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs out of the tunnel on game day. Prior to any of those career hallmarks, though, Kruger will be taking part in another first in his life, headlining a charity event—one that truly hits close to home. In partnership with the Nation Kidney Foundation of Maryland, Kruger will serve as the celebrity ambassador at the 10th annual …

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On Running a Marathon, from a Non-Runner, Part II

And this time, barely surviving.

If you prefer to save yourself 1,500 words, here’s the bottom line up front: I ran a marathon. Barely. I finished, but not before I threw up in the vicinity of an NFL All-Star. And I’d do it again. The long version follows. I’ve written about running in this space before; I remain convinced that running is an essential human function, the only sport you were literally designed to do. However, you may have noticed that I failed to file an article on the Elkridge Patch last week. (You didn’t? Sad emoticon!) I missed my deadline because even Tuesday night, 26 hours after I had crossed the finish line, my body still refused to obey even the simplest of commands. That included typing or, more realistically, thinking. Doing two things together (…

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Your Photos: Twill Do Wins 2nd Hunt Cup

The horse last won the prestigious steeplechase race in 2010.

For the second time in three years, Twill Do won the Maryland Hunt Cup at Worthington Farms. Despite the dreary weather on Saturday, the horse and jockey James Stierhoff finished the daunting four-mile, 22 jump course against 12 competitors in eight minutes and 46 seconds. This was the 116th running of the third and most prestigious race in the Maryland steeplechase triple crown. "If this is the only race I win in my life, it's a good thing," Stierhoff said with a laugh. As the owner of the winning horse, Lucy Goelet was honored with the Challenge Trophy. Twill Do last won the Hunt Cup in 2010. Gilman School senior Connor Hankin and Battle Op finished in second place. The pair also won the 2012 Voss Memorial, the marquee race of Elkridge-…

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St. Joseph's Powered By Me! Hopes to Curb Dangerous Behaviors of High School Athletes

The sixth annual conference for high school athletes will be held on Tuesday in Timonium.

Mike Gimbel has been there. He is the former drug czar for Baltimore County, a recovering drug addict and marathon runner. Now Gimble, as director of St. Joseph Medical Center’s Powered by Me!, wants to help young athletes understand the dangers of drugs, coupled with the pressure of performing both at work and in sports. Powered by Me! is a St. Joseph initiative, which educates high school and college students on the dangers of associated with being a young athlete. The program started out as a means to curb steroid use among athletes. However, six years later, the focus has widened. "We’ve expanded the message over the years to alcohol abuse, domestic violence, to concussions, injury prevention and gambling," Gimbel said. "All aspects of…

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