Bayhawks upset Cannons, face Lizards in today's final
Midfielder Ben Hunt scored four first-half points to help the Chesapeake Bayhawks build a seven-point halftime lead en route to a 13-9 upset of the top-seeded Boston Cannons in the Major Lacrosse League semifinals Saturday in Annapolis. The fourth-seeded Bayhawks (7-6) will play in today's title game at 1 p.m. at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium against the third-seeded Long Island Lizards, who got past the second-seeded Denver Outlaws, 16-12. Boston (8-5) mounted a second-half comeback against Chesapeake, scoring five straight goals to pull within 12-9. But Chris Garrity (St. Mary's), who was named the game's Most Valuable Player, made sure it got no closer by making several tough stops — he finished with 18 saves — and midfielder Brian Vetter (Towson University, Annapolis) scored the clinching goal with 1:30 remaining. "Chris Garrity was absolutely lights-out. Chris came out on fire, made some incredible saves early that really put the Cannons on their heels and they never recovered from it," Bayhawks coach Brendan Kelly said. Veteran left-handed shooter Andrew "Buggs" Combs (St. Paul's), who is retiring after this season, scored two goals for Chesapeake, and fellow attackman Ben Rubeor had two assists. Long Island got five assists from Keith Cromwell and outscored Denver 7-3 in the second half. The Bayhawks and Lizards are meeting in the championship game for the fifth time, having split the four previous meetings; the teams split during the regular season, each winning at home.
Cal Ripken World Series
Ocala Highlands, Mexico reach world championship game
Ocala Highlands, Fla., and Mexico advanced to today's 3 p.m. world championship game of the Cal Ripken World Series. Mexico defeated the Dominican Republic, 18-0, to claim the International Division crown for the eighth consecutive year, while Florida, the Southeast Regional champion, topped the Ohio Valley Regional champs from Lexington, Ky., 3-2, to earn the U.S. championship. Florida rallied from a two-run deficit in the bottom of the third with three runs on three hits. Florida scored its first run on an RBI double to center by Jose Casillas, its second on a fielder's choice and its go-ahead run on a single to right-center by Thomas Spinelli. Today's game marks the fourth consecutive year Mexico will face a team from Florida in the world championship game. Mexico scored five runs in the third inning on three hits, including a three-run home run by pitcher Carlos DeLeon, then scored 12 in the fourth. Today's finals can be heard at herbfm.net and live365.com/herbfm/crws. For live scoring and game recaps, go to crws2010.ripkenbaseball.com.
Homeister guides Ben's Cat to victory in Mister Diz
Ben's Cat raised his lifetime record to five wins without a loss when he won the $50,000 Mister Diz Stakes at Laurel Park. The son of Parker's Storm Cat, bred by owner-trainer King T. Leatherbury, covered the six-furlong distance in 1 minute, 9.08 seconds. Rosemary Homeister Jr. steered Ben's Cat wide from the start and kept after him in the lane to win his first try on the turf. Ben's Cat finished 11/2 lengths ahead of long shot Sandbaggin' Lover. Celtic Innis finished third. Ben's Cat paid $7.20. The exacta returned $115.80 and the triple paid $4,230. "He's an amazing horse," Homeister said. "He was 4-for-4 going into this race so the pressure was on, especially first time running on the turf course because it was a little soft. He actually handled it very well. Usually he's in front so he showed a little different way of running style, so hopefully that will help him down the road." Ben's Cat ran as part of an entry with multiple stakes winner Ah Day. "Ah Day didn't run his race but he's never been a turf horse," Leatherbury said. "He'll come around next time." Leatherbury indicated he has races in mind for both Ben's Cat and Ah Day on Maryland Million day. Ah Day finished seventh, beating post-time favorite Heros Reward by a head.
Colleges
Lake Clifton grad Will Barton ruled eligible by NCAA
Former Lake Clifton shooting guard Will Barton has won his appeal with the NCAA and will be eligible to play for Memphis this season. The NCAA had ruled the 2009 Baltimore Sun All-Metro Player of the Year ineligible earlier this month. Barton graduated from Lake Clifton in August 2009 — two months after his classmates — before spending a post-grad year at Brewster (N.H.) Academy. The NCAA later enacted a rule that required players to finish four years of high school in eight semesters. "We are very pleased with the decision from the NCAA that clears Will for competition this season," Memphis coach Josh Pastner said in a news release. "We continued to provide additional documentation to the NCAA for its review, which is part of its routine process." Barton averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in his lone season at Lake Clifton, teaming with younger brother and fellow Memphis freshman Antonio to lead the Lakers to the Class 3A state title. Barton was ranked Scout.com's No. 1 shooting guard for the class of 2010.
—Matt Bracken
Women's soccer: Sophomore forward Nichole Schiro scored two goals in the first half to lead Loyola (1-0-0) to a 3-2 nonconference victory over Towson (0-1-0) in the season opener for both teams at the Ridley Athletic Complex. It was the first meeting between the two local rivals since the 2002 season. Danielle Ippolito made three saves for the Greyhounds, who were outshot 12-11. Junior goalkeeper Jocelyn Papciak (Atholton) Ippolito made one save in a losing effort for the Tigers.