Berkman

Salisbury's Jim Berkman, the all-time winningest lacrosse coach in NCAA history, is in the hospital, recovering from what he called a “minor setback.” Berkman, who has compiled a record of 395-42 in 24 seasons as a head coach with the Sea Gulls and Potsdam State, confirmed Monday morning via text of his status, writing, “In hospital minor setback can't talk for a few days sorry.” Senior attackman Matt Cannone said one of the assistant...

Lance Berkman swung, smashing the 90 mph fastball up the middle "about as hard as I could hit it. " As Berkman dashed from the batter's box in the first inning of that Houston Astros-Pittsburgh Pirates game April 24, 2010, the baseball hurtled back toward home plate and sailed over the head and glove of the Pirates' leaping catcher. It didn't make any sense. And yet, eerily, it did. "It just doesn't register at first. All of the sudden, I saw the ball coming back to me, and my first instinct was to run," said Berkman, now with the St. Louis Cardinals, who come to Baltimore this week.

The Cardinals opened the winter looking to upgrade at least two of the three infield spots alongside Albert Pujols but haven't done anything more significant that importing Ryan Theriot to replace shortstop Brendan Ryan. Cardinals pitchers will miss Ryan's fielding, just as they may wonder how general manager John Mozeliak could have signed Lance Berkman to play the outfield. … The Twins made a good move re-signing Jim Thome, as Justin Morneau remains an unknown in his comeback from postconcussion syndrome.

CHESTERTOWN -In a season of peaks and valleys, it's not shocking that the Salisbury men's lacrosse team, ranked No. 5 in Division III, experienced highs and lows in its regular-season finale. The Sea Gulls took a four-goal advantage at halftime, squandered the lead, and trailed by one early in the fourth quarter before the eight-time overall and two-time reigning Division III national champions rallied to a 12-11 win over host Washington College before an announced 2,511 at Roy Kirby Jr. Stadium on Saturday in the teams' "War on the Shore."

Before there was lacrosse for Kylor Berkman, there was soccer. "When I was 12 or 13, soccer was my favorite sport," he said. "And then when I got to high school, I kind of fell in love with lacrosse all over again. I didn't see myself following through with lacrosse all through college, but that's the way it turned out, and it worked out." Which is unfortunate for SUNY Cortland, Gettysburg and the rest of the Division III schools that have watched Berkman, a senior midfielder for the Salisbury men's lacrosse team, develop into perhaps the best player in the country.

Salisbury coach Jim Berkman on his team's approach before Sunday's conference final: "I don't think there's ever been a shortage of confidence here. ... There was a real sense of urgency that our backs were against the wall." (For more, go to baltimoresun.com/lacrosseblog)

Foxborough, Mass. -- It's not really fair to call Salisbury a Division III lacrosse dynasty. Dynasties, you see, eventually give way to other dynasties. What Sea Gulls coach Jim Berkman has built is more like an empire. And from the look of things, his program plans to rule forever. Salisbury won its second straight Division III national championship yesterday, defeating SUNY Cortland, 19-13, in front of an announced 24,317 at Gillette Stadium. It was the fifth title in the past six years for the Sea Gulls, who are 124-2 since 2004, and eighth overall.

The Fiorentino family had already planned to attend the NCAA men's lacrosse championship weekend in Foxborough, Mass., lining up hotel reservations and tickets. Now they will have a vested interest in the Division III final when senior goalkeeper Nick Fiorentino tries to help top seed Salisbury (21-0) defeat SUNY Cortland (18-1) on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Gillette Stadium. "I'm so excited about the environment there," he said. "It's going to be so much fun to share that excitement with my teammates."

SALISBURY -- The Salisbury men's lacrosse team gave Jim Berkman a share of an NCAA record, but not without a little anxiety. Twice in the second half of yesterday's installment of the "War on the Shore" series, Washington College trimmed three-goal deficits to one, but the Sea Gulls pulled away to cement a 15-11 decision at Sea Gull Stadium. The outcome also sealed the 326th career victory for Berkman, who tied former Army coach Jack Emmer for the NCAA record for most wins in a career.

SALISBURY -- Being called a second-half team is not an insult to Salisbury men's lacrosse. That's not to say that the Sea Gulls, ranked No. 1 in Division III by Inside Lacrosse, overlook the importance of the first half. Rather, it's a recognition of the mastery of their coach, Jim Berkman. A week ago, Salisbury walked into halftime with a three-goal cushion against No. 10 Villa Julie in the Capital Athletic Conference tournament. In the locker room, Berkman adjusted the offense to feature a two-man game between senior midfielder Bruce Richardson and sophomore midfielder Mike Von Kamecke, both of whom were marked by short-stick defensive midfielders.