Bogle

There's a certain peculiarity about pitchers. For most of them, everything has to be right when they go out there, from every pitch working in pre-game warm-ups, to feeling good mentally and physically.When something is missing, getting comfortable can be very difficult, but they still have to go to work. North County senior Mike Wooden and Old Mill sophomore Mike Ziegler each went seven innings yesterday in Millersville, and neither has yet to get comfortable.But Wooden (6-0) feels the best because the No. 3 Knights (10-1)

On April 15, Midshipman Mark Harper died with enough alcohol in his blood to be well over the legal limit. He smashed his car into a guardrail on Bay Ridge Avenue, illustrating what Naval Academy officials say is their biggest problem: alcohol abuse.Now, Adm. Charles R. Larson, who took over as academy superintendent in August to repair the image of a school racked over the past six years by several sexual harassment cases and the largest cheating scandal in Navy history, is attacking the alcohol problem.

It may not be the question of the ages, but two fund executives are attempting to end the long-standing debate about which is better, stock index funds or actively managed stock funds.Robert Markman, president of Markman Capital Management, contends that investors can beat the market indexes by putting their faith and money in mutual funds.His three new investments are "funds of funds," which buy funds that Mr. Markman says will outperform their peers. Since February his Markman Multifund Trust, with three portfolios of funds, has attracted $45 million.

Old Mill has a lot to learn about welcoming back its beloved alumni.At least, those who return as rival soccer coaches.Former Old Mill goalie Diane Gentile brought her Eleanor Roosevelt girls soccer team to Bob Goliday Memorial Field yesterday for the Class 4A/3A Region II finals.She departed hours later with her second loss of the season -- both coming against the Patriots.Seniorforward Terri Bogle had two goals and two assists, leading top-seeded Old Mill past second-seeded Roosevelt, 4-0, and giving Coach Bruce Sponsler his fourth region title.

The nation's black newspaper publishers felt snubbed when probable Democratic presidential nominee Bill Clinton didn't show up for lunch yesterday. And when Mr. Clinton's Maryland coordinator tried to explain his man's absence, he was shouted out of the room.The flap began when Mr. Clinton said scheduling problems would prevent him from speaking before about 300 members of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, a group of black publishers and editors having its 52nd annual convention at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

BOWIE -- Frustration was the order of the game for the Bowie Baysox yesterday.They left the bases loaded three times, the last in the ninth inning, and left 11 stranded overall to fall to the Reading Phillies, 4-2, in Eastern League play at Prince George's Stadium.A boisterous crowd of 5,783 -- mostly children from day camps -- had thinned considerably after a 43-minute rain delay interceded with the bases full and one out in the bottom of the ninth.When play resumed, left-hander Robert Dodd entered to face Chris Kirgan, who popped out. Then, Keith Troutman finished off Bowie (39-37)

The nation's black newspaper publishers felt snubbed when probable Democratic presidential nominee Bill Clinton didn't show up for lunch yesterday. And when Mr. Clinton's Maryland coordinator tried to explain his man's absence, he was shouted out of the room.The flap began when Mr. Clinton said scheduling problems would prevent him from speaking before about 300 members of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, a group of black publishers and editors having its 52nd annual convention at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

The commander of a guided missile cruiser will become the Naval Academy's second in command next month in a move that keeps the school in the hands of academy-trained Navy officers for at least another year.Capt. Gary Roughead, 45, was endorsed as commandant of midshipmen by Adm. Charles R. Larson, the academy's superintendent, who will retire next year and has told aides that he intends to hand-pick the school's next leaders. Roughead was Larson's executive assistant when the admiral was chief of the U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii from 1991 to 1994.

The commander of a guided missile cruiser will become the U.S. Naval Academy's second-in-command next month in a move that keeps the school in the hands of academy-trained Navy officers for at least another year.Capt. Gary Roughead, 45, was endorsed as commandant of midshipmen by Adm. Charles R. Larson, the academy's superintendent, who will retire next year and has told aides he intends to hand-pick the school's next leaders. Roughead served as Larson's executive assistant when the admiral was chief of the U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii from 1991 to 1994.

Considering the level of competition in the Class 4A boys basketball state semifinals at Cole Field House at the University of Maryland, it's understandable why two good friends are happy to be playing each other tonight."