Sparked by six interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns, the host Baltimore Mariners defeated the Erie Storm, 51-34, on Saturday night to clinch the first American Indoor Football Association Eastern Conference regular-season championship in team history. With the win, Baltimore (11-0) secured a first-round bye in the playoffs. The Mariners will host the Eastern Conference championship July 10 at 1st Mariner Arena. Isaiah Grier had two rushing touchdowns and one receiving score to increase his league-leading totals to 23 rushing touchdown and 30 total scores. Quarterback E.J. Nemeth had a conservative night, going 7-for-16 for 81 yards, but still had three touchdown tosses to increase his season total to 42. With three games remaining on the regular-season schedule, the Mariners have the opportunity to be the first undefeated team in AIFA history. They travel to Erie on Sunday for a 2 p.m. matchup before finishing their season in Baltimore with games against the New Jersey Revolution on June 19 at 7 p.m. and against the defending champions, the Reading Express, on June 26 at 7 p.m.
Mandurah sets world record for 1-mile turf race at Monmouth
Mandurah, a 6-year-old gelding, set a world record for a one-mile turf race, finishing in 1:31.23 over a firm course at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. The $50,000 event was the first in the four-part Malouf Auto Group Starter Series. Trained by Grant Forster and ridden by Alex Solis, Mandurah toted 114 pounds in establishing the new mark in Monmouth's ninth race. The old record belonged to Mister Light, who ran 1:31.41 on January 3, 2005, at Florida's Gulfstream Park as a 6-year-old carrying 118 pounds.
Chesapeake Bayhawks: The team took Johns Hopkins' Michael Kimmel (Loyola) with the second pick and Virginia's Brian Carroll (Gilman) with the No. 6 pick in the first round of the Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft. The Bayhawks also selected Loyola attackman Cooper MacDonnell, the 2010 ECAC Offensive Player of the Year, with the 44th overall pick (eighth round).
Crystal Palace Baltimore: Several players will be in attendance at Saturday's Baltimore County World Soccer Festival in Towson. This free, all-day celebration of local and World Cup soccer takes place at Patriot Plaza beginning at 7 a.m. and culminating in the U.S.-England match, which kicks off at 2:30 p.m. Palace players will put on soccer skills demonstrations, sign autographs and distribute team merchandise. The Crystal Palace Baltimore "Beat the 'keeper" inflatable will be set up for kids and adults to show off their soccer shooting abilities.
Major League Soccer: D.C. United (2-8-1) held Real Salt Lake (6-3-2) to one shot on goal and ended the visiting team's club-record five-game winning streak with a scoreless draw at RFK Stadium on Saturday night. United, which has allowed a league-worst 20 goals, extended its unbeaten streak to four games, including two in MLS play.
Women's Premier Soccer League: The Maryland Pride (1-2-2, five points) got goals from Anabel Jimenez and Erika Theisen to defeat visiting Jersey Select, 2-1, on Saturday. … Also Saturday, the Chesapeake Charge (0-2-2) fell to the host South Jersey United Football Club, 1-0.
—From Sun staff and news services