A Maryland judge is refusing to drop the NCAA from a wrongful death lawsuit involving a Frostburg State player who suffered a head injury during practice in 2011.
Online court records show that Montgomery County Circuit Judge David Boynton denied the motion for a summary judgment Wednesday in Rockville. The trial is set for June 20.
Fullback Derek Sheely's parents contend the NCAA deliberately downplayed risks associated with repeated head injuries before an earlier one has healed. The NCAA argues it had no duty under Maryland law to prevent football injuries. It said 22-year-old Sheely knew the risks, and that the NCAA neither increased them nor caused his death.
The other defendants are three Frostburg State athletic staff members, Illinois-based helmet maker Kranos Corp. and Pennsylvania-based retailer George Heider.
Horse racing
Phipps, co-owner of Derby winner Orb, dies
Ogden Mills "Dinny" Phipps, a prominent American financier, thoroughbred owner and breeder, and former chairman of The Jockey Club, has died. He was 75. The Jockey Club said Thursday that he died Wednesday night at a New York hospital.
"With the passing of Ogden Mills [Dinny] Phipps, thoroughbred racing has lost not only a tremendously successful breeder and owner, but a deeply committed leader, sportsman, steward and advocate for the sport he loved," said Alex Waldrop, president and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.
Along with his cousin, Baltimore County resident Stuart Janney III, Phipps owned 2013 Kentucky Derby champion Orb, who became something of a local sensation in the run-up to that year's Preakness. Not only was Orb's co-owner a Maryland resident, the Kentucky Derby champion was the son of Malibu Moon, who began his career as a sire on Country Life Farm in Bel Air. Orb finished fourth in a Preakness won by long shot Oxbow.
Phipps was the great grandson of Henry Phipps, the partner of the steel magnate Andrew Carnegie; the grandson of Henry Carnegie Phipps and Gladys Livingston Mills Phipps; and the son of Lillian Bostwick Phipps, who died in 1987, and Ogden Phipps, who died in 2002. He was predeceased in 2007 by his sister, Cynthia Phipps.
"The Breeders' Cup and all of thoroughbred racing extend our sincere condolences to the Phipps family on the passing of our friend Dinny Phipps," said Craig Fravel, Breeders' Cup president and CEO."His accomplishments as a breeder and owner are unmatched, and we are indebted to Dinny for his numerous contributions to what is right about our game and for speaking out when we fell short. He was extraordinarily gracious and kind and a true sportsman. He will be missed."
Baltimore Sun reporter Childs Walker contributed to this report.
Et cetera
3 Terps football targets to announce commitments
A trio of Maryland football Class of 2017 recruiting targets will announce oral commitments this weekend. IMG Academy (Fla.) defensive tackle Cam Spence will announce his decision at 8 a.m. today, while St. John's (D.C.) quarterback Kasim Hill and Good Counsel linebacker Ayinde Eley tweeted they will announce their decisions at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Spence is a former Gilman player who transferred to IMG in Bradenton, Fla., before his junior season. He is a consensus four-star prospect across all four recruiting services, and in the 247sports.com composite rankings, he's the No. 12 defensive tackle and No. 190 player in the nation.
Hill, who transferred from Gilman to St. John's in January, is a four-star recruit in the 247sports.com composite rankings, which have him as the No. 2 player in Maryland, the No. 13 pro-style quarterback in the country and the No. 295 player overall. Eley has three-star ratings from 247sports.com and Rivals.com and a four-star rating from Scout.com.
In the 247sports.com composite rankings, Eley is the No. 10 player in Maryland, the No. 37 athlete nationally and No. 477 player in the country overall. He's the No. 28 outside linebacker in the country, according to Scout.com.
—Daniel Gallen, Baltimore Sun Media Group
Major League Lacrosse: Chesapeake Bayhawks midfielder Ben Hunt (Severna Park) announced that he is retiring. Hunt spent all seven of his MLL seasons with the Bayhawks after being drafted in 2009. He had 99 goals and 22 assists in 64 games with a total of 133 points.
Women's college lacrosse: Selena Lasota scored six goals to help No. 19 Northwestern (5-6, 1-1 Big Ten Conference) earn a 20-4 rout over visiting Michigan (5-8, 0-2). ... Shelby Newman (Manchester Valley) scored on a free-position shot with 1:56 left to play to lift host St. Mary's (13-1, 4-1 Capital Athletic Conference) to an 11-10 victory over No. 13 Mary Washington (11-3, 4-2) in Division III.
American Soccer League: IFK Maryland will begin its first season at 7 p.m. Saturday at Latrobe Park against the Philadelphia Fury. IFK Maryland is organized and operated by Chesapeake High graduate Chris Saul. Tickets are available at the gate or at missiontix.com.
