Chesapeake Bayhawks

The Chesapeake Bayhawks improved their credibility and that of Major League Lacrosse on Thursday, naming former Maryland lacrosse coach Dave Cottle their new coach. "It's the ideal situation, a no-brainer for me," said owner Brendan Kelly, who hired Cottle two years ago as a consultant and assistant coach and named him president in January 2011. "Dave's track record speaks for itself. To have him stay on board — with Dave's name out there for every college vacancy — was my goal.

John Grant Jr. had two goals and five assists in his Chesapeake Bayhawks debut and Michael Kimmel (Johns Hopkins, Loyola High) added six goals and two assists Friday in a 20-7 rout of the host Hamilton Nationals. Grant, a two-time Major League Lacrosse Most Valuable Player who played three seasons for the Nationals in his native Canada, revived an offense that was held to eight goals last weekend. He came in with plenty of motivation as he played three seasons with the Nationals before being traded to Long Island.

In his first year as owner of the Chesapeake Bayhawks, Brendan Kelly got the result every Major League Lacrosse executive hopes for: a championship. With an eye toward consistency and, of course, a repeat, the defending Steinfeld Cup champions kick off their title defense Saturday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium at 7 p.m against the Rochester Rattlers. Kelly hopes Saturday's season opener will start the team's build on last season's improbable title run. After a 5-1 start in 2010, the team went on a five-game losing streak, during which Kelly removed head coach John Tucker and installed himself in the same role to save the season.

Backup goaltender Mike Gabel put forth one of the finest performances of his seven-year professional career to anchor a strong defensive effort as the Rochester Rattlers knocked the Chesapeake Bayhawks from the unbeaten ranks with a 12-8 victory in front of an announced 7,853 on Saturday night at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Gabel, a backup appearing in just his fourth game for Rochester, recorded 27 saves to stymie a Chesapeake offense that scored 23 goals against the Ohio Machine the previous Saturday night.

John Grant Jr. had two goals and five assists in his Chesapeake Bayhawks debut and Michael Kimmel (Johns Hopkins, Loyola High) added six goals and two assists Friday in a 20-7 rout of the host Hamilton Nationals. Grant, a two-time Major League Lacrosse Most Valuable Player who played three seasons for the Nationals in his native Canada, revived an offense that was held to eight goals last weekend. He came in with plenty of motivation as he played three seasons with the Nationals before being traded to Long Island.

Guard Shaun Livingston signed with the Washington Wizards for the rest of the season after playing through a pair of 10-day contracts. Major League Lacrosse: The Chesapeake Bayhawks announced selected attackman Josh Coveleski from the MLL player pool at the open tryout on March 13. Major League Soccer: D.C. United waived midfielder Danny Szetela . •From Sun staff and news services

Chesapeake Bayhawks rookie goalie Brian Phipps (Maryland), who made a career-best 21saves in Saturday night's 13-11 victory over the Rochester Rattlers, was named Defensive Player of the Week by Major League Lacrosse. "Phipps was incredible on Saturday, and his confidence in the cage has been unmatched this season," Bayhawks coach Brendan Kelly said. "His ability to stop Rochester's shots kept us ahead in the game the entire time and his performance was outstanding. "

Midfielder Paul Rabil scored four goals and led an early onslaught that lifted the Boston Cannons to a 16-10 victory over the Chesapeake Bayhawks on Saturday night at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Goalkeeper Mike Levin entered the game early in the first quarter and made eight saves in his most extensive action of the season for Chesapeake, which could not overcome an early 9-0 deficit. Midfielders Kyle Dixon and Peet Poillon (UMBC) scored two goals apiece to lead the Bayhawks (4-5)

Former Maryland men's lacrosse coach Dave Cottle will be adding to his duties with the Chesapeake Bayhawks of the Major Lacrosse League. Cottle, president of the team, will join owner and head coach Brendan Kelly on the field as an assistant coach during the 2011 season, which begins May 14 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis against the Rochester Rattlers. "I have a great respect for Dave and his abilities as a leader in the office and on the field," Kelly said in a release.

Backup goaltender Mike Gabel put forth one of the finest performances of his seven-year professional career to anchor a strong defensive effort as the Rochester Rattlers knocked the Chesapeake Bayhawks from the unbeaten ranks with a 12-8 victory in front of an announced 7,853 on Saturday night at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Gabel, a backup appearing in just his fourth game for Rochester, recorded 27 saves to stymie a Chesapeake offense that scored 23 goals against the Ohio Machine the previous Saturday night.

Running A California couple won the men's and women's titles of the Down the Stretch for SGK Preakness 5K on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course . Neville Davey , a 37-year-old from Menlo Park, Calif., finished in 16 minutes, 1 second - 62 seconds ahead of Gabriel Rodriguez . Davey's girlfriend, Heather Tanner - who grew up in Howard County and graduated from Centennial - won the female division in 18:21, 40 seconds ahead...

The selection committee's decision to award the No. 1 seed to Loyola Sunday night was the first time the program had earned that seed since 1999. That year, the Greyhounds went 12-0 as the only undefeated team in Division I, but fell to No. 8 seed Syracuse, 17-12, in the quarterfinals. The coach of that squad was Dave Cottle, and the current coach of the Chesapeake Bayhawks of the Major League Lacrosse relived the memory of that loss during a phone interview Tuesday. “I know in '99, we were devastated that we were the only undefeated team in the country and we had to play the winner of Syracuse-Princeton at Princeton,” Cottle said.

Kyle Dixon of the Chesapeake Bayhawks changed his jersey number before Saturday's home opener in tribute to a long-time friend who died last week. Dixon switched from No. 11 to 5 and then paid his friend another tribute on the field against the Ohio Machine. The former Virginia All-American scored four goals - including three 2-pointers - and added three assists in a 10-point night that helped Chesapeake to a 23-11 victory over Ohio before a franchise-record 10,152 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

T.C. DiBartolo wasn't sure whether to send the email. Mount St. Mary's starting goalie for four years, he thought his career was finished after the Mountaineers' season ended last spring. DiBartolo wondered about playing in Major League Lacrosse before deciding to electronically pitch his services to the Chesapeake Bayhawks. "I debated if it was politically correct or right to send it," DiBartolo said. "I didn't really expect to get picked. But it all worked out. " The Bayhawks selected DiBartolo in the 16th round of the December's supplemental draft.

Et cetera Hunt lifts Bayhawks in season opener, 13-11 Midfielder Ben Hunt (Severna Park) led the way with five points as the Chesapeake Bayhawks rallied from an early deficit to defeat the host Long Island Lizards, 13-11, on Saturday night in the Major League Lacrosse season opener for both teams. Hunt scored three goals, one of which was a 2-pointer, and dished off an assist as Chesapeake won its opener for the third straight season. Bayhawks midfielders Michael Kimmel (Johns Hopkins, Loyola High)

•Denver will try to salvage a spot in the NCAA tournament with its game tonight against Duke in the Whitman's Sampler Mile High Classic. But it will also be a showcase for the city and the state on a big stage in a big stadium. NCAA championship officials will be in attendance, and Denver has made it no secret that the city thinks it is ready to host a final four. Officials will be evaluating the city for potential NCAA hosting duties. "We certainly feel like this could send a message to the NCAA," Denver coach Bill Tierney said.

Running A California couple won the men's and women's titles of the Down the Stretch for SGK Preakness 5K on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course . Neville Davey , a 37-year-old from Menlo Park, Calif., finished in 16 minutes, 1 second - 62 seconds ahead of Gabriel Rodriguez . Davey's girlfriend, Heather Tanner - who grew up in Howard County and graduated from Centennial - won the female division in 18:21, 40 seconds ahead...

Truth be told, life didn't change all that much for Dave Cottle in the two years after his last game as Maryland's men's lacrosse coach. It just became somewhat inverted. With his schedule suddenly open, sure, he finally got to see his son, Sean, play more of the sport he coached for nine seasons in College Park and another 19 at Loyola. And, yes, he can speak from experience these days when he jokes about knowing what it's like to go in for a Saturday morning oil change. (“I've never done that, that whole weekend thing,” he said.)

Truth be told, life didn't change all that much for Dave Cottle in the two years after his last game as Maryland's men's lacrosse coach. It just became somewhat inverted. With his schedule suddenly open, sure, he finally got to see his son, Sean, play more of the sport he coached for nine seasons in College Park and another 19 at Loyola. And, yes, he can speak from experience these days when he jokes about knowing what it's like to go in for a Saturday morning oil change. (“I've never done that, that whole weekend thing,” he said.)

The Chesapeake Bayhawks improved their credibility and that of Major League Lacrosse on Thursday, naming former Maryland lacrosse coach Dave Cottle their new coach. "It's the ideal situation, a no-brainer for me," said owner Brendan Kelly, who hired Cottle two years ago as a consultant and assistant coach and named him president in January 2011. "Dave's track record speaks for itself. To have him stay on board — with Dave's name out there for every college vacancy — was my goal.