The deadline for submitting sports copy is 9 a.m. on Mondays. We prefer email (howardcountysports@patuxent.com). We do not accept results by phone. When two Howard County teams play, players from both teams (first and last names) must be mentioned in the write-up. Questions? Call 410-332-6578.
Basketball
Columbia Ravens
The Columbia Ravens 16-U boys national team traveled to Harrisburg, Pa., to challenge teams from Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, Delaware and Ohio in the AAU Super Regional tournament. The Ravens defeated Harrisburg to win the championship and a spot in June's AAU Nationals.
Members of the Ravens are Tyler Alcid, Irving Aughburn, Devin Baker, Sean Christian, Mitch Cross, Nick Ellison, Darren Fitzgerald, Charlie Jones and Chris Tan.
Soccer
Columbia Soccer Club travel
The CSC Storm Runners (U-15 girls) traveled to Hampden Township, Pa., to compete in the Hampden Girls Memorial Day weekend tournament May 28 and 29. While they did not win the 1st Division title, they came awfully close, finishing with a 2-2 record.
The Storm Runners opened play May 28 by losing to the eventual champion, the Germania (Pa.) Stingers, 2-1, despite numerous scoring chances.
Newcomer Natalie Chin opened the scoring for the Storm Runners by corralling a beautiful cross on the left side of the penalty box from Makenzie Rynn, then sending a low rocket that found the far side of the goal. The team could not hold the lead, however, and the score was tied, 1-1, at halftime.
In the second half, a scramble in front of the Storm Runners' goal resulted in a save by keeper Carley Noppinger, but the rebound got pushed to the top of the box where a Germania striker gave them the lead with a strong shot into the open net. The rest of the half was played in the Germania end with the Storm Runners giving everything they had to get the equalizer. Missed opportunities and good goalkeeping kept the ball out of the net.
In the second match that day, the heat and the effects from the first game showed as the Storm Runners again could not find the net, losing to the Crofton Freedom, 2-0.
On May 29, a recharged squad came out and dominated both of their opponents. In the early game, they defeated the ODSU Galaxy, 4-0, behind two goals from Julie Delmont (one on a beautiful header off a corner kick from Christina Kochanski), a penalty shot from Kochanski and another strike from Chin.
In the final game, the Storm Runners played the perfect match. Chin scored two more goals and the Storm Runners defense did not allow a shot on keeper Katherine MacKie. Defenders Maddie Jones, Tory LaFemina, Becca Riley, Erica Noppinger and Kennedy Citro played such stifling defense that MacKie did not touch the ball at all during the entire match.
As in the regular season, the play of the Storm Runners during the tournament was focused on teamwork, passing and ball possession. The midfield of Kochanski, Selena Chin, Lilly Hermina, Jenny Haynes and Jabria Rogers was spectacular — especially May 29 — where their hustle and strength won them the majority of loose balls and their individual skills, teamwork and playmaking ability allowed them to keep possession and create dangerous opportunities for the forwards.