June 08, 2011
The Howard High School softball team made history this season with an impressive 21-2 record, winning the county championship and a first-ever appearance in the Class 3A state championship game. Despite the 3-0 loss May 29 to Northern of Calvert County, who won their fourth straight state title, all of the Lions were up after an amazing season.
"We had a great season," said Howard coach Dave Vezzi, who has coached at Howard for 23 years. "And just because we lost this game doesn't mean it wasn't a great season."
The team set school records for most wins (21), winning percentage (.913) and shutouts (16) and had the Player of the Year as selected by coaches in senior catcher Kaci Frick. Also earning post-season honors from the coaches were all-county first-team selections Kensey O'Neill, Sammi O'Connor, Julianna Natoli, Katie Wilkinson and Brea Curley and second-team member Sage McGrann.
In addition to those seven, other players who made this season special for the Lions include Julie Barnhouse, Megan Centafont, Alicia Grant, Taylor Latimer, Taylor McGrann, Loryn McMilllin, Courtney Merson, Julia Miller, Juliana Natoli, Kahli Paugh, Alex Pelsinski, Samantha Riesett, Danielle Schiavone and Samantha Travisano.
Congratulations, Ladies. You fought the good fight and brought a great deal of "swell" to The Pride! With all that undergraduate talent, looks like the Lions just might be a force to be reckoned with next season as well!
On May 31, the Howard High School Class of 2011 celebrated the "day of days" for teenagers everywhere: graduation! And, on June 1, Long Reach High School held its commencement exercises in celebration and culmination of their high school academics. Both events were held at Columbia's Merriweather Post Pavilion. So, a big shout out to these young men and women as they move into the next phase of their lives, whether it be a traditional college, the armed forces, technical school or headfirst into the working world. Congratulations, class of 2011! May your goals be high, your drive be strong and your dreams realized!
Elkridge Landing Middle School was recently honored for the third year in a row with a Healthy School Award by the Howard County Department of Health for their advisory and student services program. The administration extends a note of gratitude to Tina Flynn and Kristen Fusco for administering the application on behalf of the ELMS staff.
Everyone loves a bargain and you'll find plenty at the Community "Other People's Treasures" sale June 18 from 8 a.m. to noon in the Mt. Augustine neighborhood behind St. Augustine Church and School. From Augustine Avenue, down Virlona Avenue and to the bottom of Leaf Lane, you'll find all kinds of treasures!
From furniture and household items to outdoor toys, Longaberger® brand and other useful baskets, toys, books, movies, patio furniture, and other fun stuff that's just too good to give away! So mark your calendar and plan to shop the OP Treasures Sale. Hey, everyone likes a bargain and you might even find something perfect for Father's Day!
Howard High School will be hosting a lacrosse camp for girls entering sixth through ninth grades (in the fall 2011) June 20-24 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Howard High, where the school's coaching staff will mentor the young athletes. Each player will be given individual one-on-one attention from current players and coaches. The cost is $125 per player and each student will receive a T-shirt for participating in the program. All skill levels are welcome to attend. Call Bobby Everett at Elkridge Landing Middle at 410-313-5040 for more details.
The Norbel School held a National Honor Society induction ceremony June 7 at the Elkridge Furnace Inn, on Old Washington Road, for new members Matthew Mister and Anthony Borza III.
This year's Norbel School graduates are: Benjamin Hageage, Allen Haughee, Caitlyn Johnson, Anthony Orendorff, Nikolay Rauner, Victor Salcedo, Rian Stenberg, Nathan Stephenson, Scott Sustersich, and Mai-Phuong Trinh. Most of these students are going on to further their education at Howard Community College. Best wishes for much luck and success to these young men and women as they embark on their continued journey!
The Elkridge Youth Organization played host as Rockburn Branch Park and other fields in the vicinity were crawling with travel baseball teams from the Baltimore-Washington area for the Maryland Stars & Strikes Tournament May 27-30.
An astounding 105 teams registered to compete in the tourney and, after four days of play, the Elkridge Hurricanes program claimed two of the seven playing divisions. When the bats fell silent and the cheering subsided, the Hurricanes took the first-place trophies for both the U8 and U13 division slots.
Proceeds from the tournament will help fund the Hurricanes' U12 team trip to the American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame Invitational Tournament in Cooperstown, N.Y.
