The potential new owners of Crystal Palace, the parent organization of Crystal Palace Baltimore, have reached a deal with a bank that could prevent financial administrators from closing the British club. The administrators had given the CPFC 2010 consortium a midafternoon deadline Tuesday to reach an agreement with Lloyds Bank, after which it would have begun liquidation proceedings. While hundreds of Palace fans gathered outside the bank's headquarters, where the talks were being held, Lloyds issued a statement saying the two sides had reached an agreement. It said the consortium can go ahead with the purchase of the League Championship club and its Selhurst Park ground. Last season, Palace went close to relegation after losing 10 points by going into administration.
Ayinde, Nairn are named to U.S. U-20 World Cup team
Maryland defender Sade Ayinde, a rising junior, and Penn State midfielder Christine Nairn (Archbishop Spalding), a rising sophomore, were among the 21 players chosen to represent the United States at the FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup on July 13 to Aug. 1 in Germany. Terps midfielder Danielle Hubka, a rising sophomore, was also invited to the training camp, but had to withdraw after aggravating an injury. Hubka was named an alternate.
Track and field: Salisbury senior Brandon Fugett (Cardinal Gibbons) was named a Division III All-American by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for his victory in the shot put at the NCAA championships over the weekend in Medina, Ohio. Teammate Cory Beebe earned All-America status in the 400 hurdles (which he won) and 110 hurdles (sixth place), and Delannie Spriggs received All-America honors in the 100 (second place) and 200 dashes (fourth).
Women's lacrosse: Georgetown senior attacker Molly Ford (Notre Dame Prep) was named a second-team All-American by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches' Association. James Madison redshirt senior midfielder Kim Griffin (North Harford) was named to the IWLCA All-America second team, and teammate Morgan Kelly (St. Mary's), a senior goalie, made the third team. … UMBC freshman defender Jamie Fahey (Loch Raven) was named to the Mid-Atlantic Region second team by the IWLCA and earned a spot on the womenslacrosse.com All-Rookie squad. Johns Hopkins sophomore defender Alyssa Kildare earned first-team honors on the Mid-Atlantic team while two teammates, senior midfielder Angela Hughes (North Carroll) and sophomore attacker Candace Rossi, were named to the second team.
June 12 targeted for Rachel Alexandra's next race
The owner of Rachel Alexandra says his Horse of the Year is likely to make her next start June 12, although which race has yet to be determined. Majority owner Jess Jackson said Tuesday in a news release that Rachel Alexandra is being considered for two races at Churchill Downs, one at Belmont Park and one at Delaware Park. The 4-year-old filly and 2009 Preakness champion is winless in two starts this year after rolling to an 8-0 record last year. Jackson says the options are the Stephen Foster and the Fleur de Lis at Churchill, the Ogden Phipps at Belmont and the Obeah at Delaware. All are June 12. Since Steve Asmussen became Rachel's trainer, the filly has competed at the track where she regularly trains. The filly currently is training at Churchill.
Youth basketball: The sixth-annual E.J. Henderson Basketball Tournament will be held June 24-25 at Aberdeen High for third- to 12th graders. To register, call 410-652-8010. For information about the former Terp and current Minnesota Vikings' youth foundation, go to ejhyf.org.
From Sun staff and news services