Northern's Schmeiser named Gatorade Md. Softball Player of the Year

Ravens provide youth football grants to 14 programs in state

Varsity softball

Northern's Schmeiser named Gatorade Md. Player of Year

The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPN RISE, announced senior pitcher Kaitlyn Schmeiser (Northern) as its Gatorade Maryland Softball Player of the Year on Thursday. The award recognizes athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field. She is now a finalist for the Gatorade National Softball Player of the Year award, announced later this month. The 5-foot-10 right-hander led the Patriots (22-0) to their fourth straight Class 3A state championship this past season. Schmeiser posted an 18-0 record along with a 0.00 ERA, allowing two unearned runs in 111 innings pitched.

Et cetera

Ravens provide youth football grants to 14 programs in state

The Ravens All Community Team Foundation has awarded youth football grants to 14 nonprofit programs in Maryland. The grants, for new football equipment and apparel, are given to teams that demonstrated outstanding programs and had a positive impact on their communities. The recipients are: Avenue Bears, Baltimore Longhorns, Caroline County Cougars, Columbia Ravens, Forest Park Blackhawks, Frederick Cadet Youth Athletic Association, Hampstead Hill Academy, Harco Horns, Northeast Chargers, Old Town Gators, Park Heights Saints, Reisterstown Mustangs, Severn Athletic Club and Sykesville Raiders.

College baseball: Pitcher Greg Ross (Frostburg State, Loch Raven) signed a contract with the Atlanta Braves after the team made him its 18th round selection on Tuesday. Terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed. Ross became the third player in the history of the program to be drafted into the major leagues and the first since 1978. John Elder was selected by the New York Mets that year, while Washington Nationals manager Jim Riggleman was picked by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1974.

College softball: Former UMBC standout Julia Culotta (North Harford) joins the Retrievers staff as an assistant coach. Men's college soccer: Neumann's Zach Sell (Loyola) was named the Colonial States Athletic Conference Male Scholar Athlete of the Year.

Women's college volleyball: Frostburg State All-American Sarah Stephens was selected as the Capital Athletic Conference Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Men's college basketball: St. Mary's senior Sam Burum of Bethesda was honored by the CAC as the Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Women's college basketball: Washington College announced the hiring of Devona Knight as an assistant coach.

College gymnastics: Janis Konkle, Lauren Ross and Diona Straub have signed letters of intent to attend Towson.

Boxing: Baltimore Boxing Promotions will host the "Fed Hill Fight Fest," the first boxing card taking place in the vicinity of M&T Bank Stadium, on June 18. Doors open at 2 p.m., and the first fight is at 4 p.m.

Booster organization: The Hood athletic department and the school's office of institutional advancement announced the formation of the The Blue and Grey Club. Membership will help fund the school's 20 intercollegiate teams and three club sports.

—From Sun staff and news services