Baltimore Skipjacks

The Baltimore Skipjacks, taking advantage of a team-record three short-handed goals, defeated the Hershey Bears, 8-5, in an American Hockey League game before 4,590 at the Baltimore Arena last night.Jeff Greenlaw, Tyler Larter and Mark Ferner scored while the Skipjacks had a man in the penalty box, breaking the record of two in a game accomplished three times by Skipjacks teams. The AHL record is four short-handed in a game, by the Fredericton Express against the Newmarket Saints in 1988.

The Washington Capitals assigned two players -- goalie Olaf Kolzig and center Rob Murray -- to the Baltimore Skipjacks yesterday.Kolzig was called up by Washington Wednesday as a backup to Don Beaupre when goalie Mike Liut suffered a groin injury. Liut is ready to play, and Kolzig was expendable.Murray was sent to Baltimore on a two-week reconditioning assignment. He had no goals and three assists in 17 games for the Capitals.Both are expected to be in uniform when the Skipjacks play the Hershey Bears at the Baltimore Arena tonight.

BaseballChicago Cubs -- Reached agreement with P Paul Assenmacher (7-2, 10 saves, 2.80) on a one-year contract.Cincinnati Reds -- Named Jon Braude publicity director.BasketballNBA -- Fined Detroit Pistons' Bill Laimbeer $2,000 for bumping Atlanta Hawks' Dominique Wilkins Tuesday; fined Wilkins $1,000 for charging Laimbeer. Hawks' Kevin Willis was fined $1,000, Pistons' Vinnie Johnson was fined $750 and Hawks' Doc Rivers was fined $500 for taking part in the altercation. Pistons' William Bedford, James Edwards and John Salley were fined $500 each for leaving the bench area during the incident.

The Washington Capitals paid a heavy price for their 2-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night at the Pacific Coliseum, losing goalie Don Beaupre with a pulled groin muscle and center Peter Zezel with a sprained ankle. Both are expected to be out of action at least two weeks.The injuries led to shuffling yesterday among the Capitals, the Baltimore Skipjacks of the American Hockey League and the Hampton Roads Admirals of the East Coast Hockey League.The Capitals plucked goalie Jim Hrivnak from the Skipjacks to back up Mike Liut, and Baltimore recalled Ollie Kolzig from the Admirals to share the goaltending with Shawn Simpson.

The Maine Mariners held the Baltimore Skipjacks to their lowest goal total of the season last night. However, Jim Hrivnak, who made 32 saves, and the solid Baltimore defense rose to the occasion, leading the Skipjacks to a 2-1 American Hockey League victory before 3,034 at the Baltimore Arena.Hrivnak, who made several acrobatic saves in the third period, allowed only a power-play goal to the Mariners (3-3). The victory boosted Baltimore (4-1), which had been averaging five goals, into second place in the Southern Division of the AHL."

Two third-period goals by the Utica Devils handed the Baltimore Skipjacks their first loss of the season, 4-3, at the Baltimore Arena last night.The victory boosted the Devils (4-3) into first place in the Southern Division of the American Hockey League. Baltimore (3-1) dropped to third behind the Binghamton Rangers, who defeated the Cape Breton Oilers, 5-4.The Skipjacks held a 3-2 lead entering the third period, but Jeff Madill tied the score at 11 minutes, 47 seconds, and Kevin Todd's fifth goal of the season at 16:07 gave Utica its fourth straight victory.

BaseballLos Angeles Dodgers -- Announced P Don Aase (3-1, 4.97 ERA) chose to become free agent rather than accept assignment to Class AAA Albuquerque Dukes.Oakland Athletics -- Announced SS Walt Weiss will miss the res of American League playoffs with a sprained left knee.St. Louis Cardinals -- Named former New York Yankees manager Bucky Dent, Dave Collins, a utility player with the club this season, Joe Coleman and Galen Pitts coaches.BasketballDenver Nuggets -- Announced F Bill Hanzlik will be lost for season to recover from surgery for a herniated disk.