Baseball And Softball

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"Take me out to the ball game" is the refrain going through the heads of many in county baseball and softball circles, as Opening Day -- a rite of spring -- occurs this month. Some county programs began competing the first weekend of April; others have had practice sessions but don't start play until this weekend or next. But for all, from tee-ball players unsure what the game is about to parents and coaches who remember so well, the umpire's call to "play ball" is not only an order that gets things rolling; it's the stuff of memories.

Colleges Terps ' Griffin earns WomensLax.com honor Maryland redshirt freshman midfielder Brooke Griffin (South River) was named WomensLax.com Rookie of the Week honors after netting a game-high six points in an NCAA tournament opening-round victory over Massachusetts. Baseball: Salisbury (31-7), ranked fourth in Division III, will be the second seed in the NCAA Newport News Regional and will play fifth-seeded Lynchburg today at 1 p.m. in a first-round game in Newport News, Va. The winner will face the winner of the game between third-seeded Shenandoah and No. 4 Rowan on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. The loser of the Salisbury-Lynchburg contest will play the loser of the game between No. 1 Christopher Newport and No. 6 Messiah Thursday at 9:30 a.m. Track and field: Salisbury's Chelsea Tavik (Seton Keough)

Soccer and lacrosse have their loyal, ever-growing constituencies, no question, but don't discount baseball as continuing to be maybe the truest harbinger of spring in Howard County. Youth baseball organizations locally have some new leadership, which is the norm. In several instances this year, there is reason for new hope - and maybe even some growth in interest. An informal sampling of some things baseball folks are talking about locally while hoping to work in at least a few practices before opening games in the next couple of weeks: "Whatever slump baseball was in seems to be over," said Howard Carolan, who oversees all of the Howard County Youth Program's operations.

Guangyuan Wang traveled from China to Aberdeen to solve a baseball problem. As he works to nurture the sport in China, the youth coach has seen that it's not hard to get kids to start playing baseball. The challenge is to get them to stick with it as they get older. "There's a gap. They don't continue to play," said Wang, 34, who coaches baseball and softball to youth in Guangzhou. "Our mission is to learn new knowledge and bring that back to China." Hailing from a country where swooshing a pingpong paddle is more popular than swinging a baseball bat, Wang hopes to bring more interest in America's pastime to China after a monthlong visit to Ripken Baseball in Aberdeen.

A situation that was bleak at the beginning of the week is changing for the better as spring sports teams could be getting a break from an uncharacteristically wet month.A host of boys and girls lacrosse games are expected to be played this afternoon and tonight, and most baseball and softball teams are optimistic they will be playing next week.Between the blizzard and rainstorms, local playing fields have taken a March record of 7.47 inches of precipitation.Practices have been limited, and high school coaches have been preparing their teams on parking lots and indoors.

"Baseball," said Mark Beltaire, is "almost the only place in life where a sacrifice is really appreciated."Baseball season begins in western Howard County on Saturday, and hundreds of families will enjoy leisurely games as players, coaches and spectators. Through mid-June, youth teams will play baseball and softball nearly every evening, as we will welcome spring with our national sport.If you want to be part of the excitement of opening day, head over to the fields at Glenwood and Bushy Park almost any time Saturday.

OK, admit it: However active you are from spring through fall, The February Fade has settled in for the duration of winter.You know this by the extra effort it takes to button your slacks, or the way you shy from mirrors so as not to notice that quivering tummy or newly lumpy thighs. And does using the stairs to get a bag of chips from the office vending machines leave you curiously winded?Well, listen up, slackers. As Sportin' Life says in "Porgy and Bess," it ain't necessarily so.Some outdoor activities which once went into hibernation for the cold months can be pursued indoors these days.

John Moore works tough hours - 2 a.m. to 2 p.m. four days a week driving a delivery truck for Stroehmann Bakeries. The Glen Burnie resident often goes to bed no later than 8 p.m. so he can awaken by 1 a.m. and get to work in the middle of the night. He has done that for about 18 years. Still, at 58, Moore makes room for baseball and softball - at least 20 hours a week. He's in his 25th year as president of the Glen Burnie Boys Baseball League Inc., which also operates the Glen Burnie Girls Softball League.

Today is the start of a big week in high school sports. Catonsville High will be the site of the lottery draw for the open state tournaments in baseball, softball and boys and girls lacrosse. The draw gets under way at noon.Tomorrow at Broadneck, the county lacrosse championships will be played. The girls will start at 5 p.m. and the boys at 7 p.m.The county baseball and softball championships will be played Wednesday at Northeast at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively. Tuesday has been set aside for makeups.