The River Hill tournament does for Howard what a can of spinach does for Popeye.

The Lions, 0-3 this season entering yesterday's tournament, flexed their muscles and won the Hawks' one-day event for third straight season.

Howard swamped previously unbeaten and No. 6-ranked Centennial (4-1) with an 11-hit attack in the championship game, winning, 11-4, on the strength of a seven-run third inning.

Adam Snyder led Howard with three hits. John Brown and Jon Baker each had two hits and Baker had a triple and three RBIs. Richie Grantham, Ryan Shilow, Darren Monge and Kevin Pumphrey each had one hit.

Four of Howard's hits were balls Centennial fielders lost in the sun. Another ball was dropped in right field after a struggle with the sun, resulting in an error and leading to two unearned runs.

Howard pitcher Tony King (1-1) won the tournament championship game for the second straight season. The left-hander pitched a complete game, allowed seven hits, struck out seven and walked three.

"I was hitting my spots inside and outside with my knuckle curve and fastball," King said.

King was shaky early, allowing two runs in the first innning on a double by Mike Martin (three hits), a walk to Matt Deuchler and a two-run double by Shawn Cudzilo.

He pitched out of a two-out, bases-loaded situation in the third by striking out Brian Neidig. He allowed two more runs in the fourth, avoiding further damage when Centennial helped him out with two base-running mistakes.

Center fielder Richie Grantham also gave King a boost in the fourth by throwing one runner out at home plate and another at third base.

King finished by retiring nine of the last 10 batters.

"Tony pitched a nice game," Lions coach Rich Jenkins said. "We hit better today than we have been. We ran the bases well and our fielding was good."

Howard's poor record entering the tournament was somewhat deceiving because they had faced three perennial powerhouses -- Atholton, Centennial and Glenelg -- and lost two of those games by one run.

The Lions advanced to the championship game by winning via the 10-run rule over Oakland Mills, 14-2. Walks hampered Oakland Mills in the game, as the first five Lions drew a base on balls and four more Lions walked in the second inning.

The Eagles also advanced with a 10-run rule victory over host River Hill, 15-4.

"Today was the best we've hit all year," said Centennial catcher Deuchler, who had two hits against Howard.

Pub Date: 3/31/99