Competition

The way Anne Arundel Community College student Jesse Alton sees it, the world is one big elevator - hopefully, going up. Alton is among several students at the community college who will enter in the school's fourth annual Big Idea Elevator Pitch contest, a competition designed to test young entrepreneurs' ability to crystallize their business ideas and pitch them quickly and effectively. AACC officials looking to give students a boost in selling their ideas created the contest based on the "elevator pitch" concept, which says a person should be able to sell an idea in the time it takes to ride an elevator.

Brian Matusz threw his ballcap into the ring for the open fifth starter spot Wednesday with a dominant outing: four innings pitched, no hits, one walk, seven strikeouts and no flyball outs. Granted it was the Minnesota Twins without Joe Mauer (World Baseball Classic) and Trevor Plouffe (strained calf). But Matusz was very impressive. The question, though, is this: 'Is he really in the rotation competition?' Orioles manager Buck Showalter says yes. He says Tommy Hunter, who threw two perfect innings Wednesday, also is in that competition.

At the recent Maryland state championship for the FTC class of FIRST Robotics, the Havre de Grace High School Spears and Gears team placed 14th among 32 teams entered in the competition held at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel. The small Havre de Grace robotics team, consisting of Allison Grabowski, team captain and lead engineer; Tucker Barnes, software programming; and Kenny Hallock, worked feverishly in weeks leading up to the Feb. 23 competition to complete and refine its Bot, according to team faculty advisor Craig Kostyshyn.

The town, or more precisely, Harford County, is going to the dogs and cats. At least that's the hope of those at the Humane Society of Harford County who have partnered with the Art Rooms Professional Art Supplies to host a fun competition as a fundraiser. The Art Rooms Professional Art Supplies is inviting artists of all ages and abilities to join them for an art show and benefit to raise funds for the homeless and neglected animals at the Humane Society of Harford County. The Arts Rooms is not looking for Harford County's next Picasso, but they are looking for artists to shine the spotlight on our furry friends and raise funds for their care while having fun and letting the creative juices flow.

Eric Schneider's first career start in the net in Johns Hopkins' 19-9 rout of Mount St. Mary's on Tuesday night may not have been a one-time appearance after all. In his post-game conference, coach Dave Pietramala announced that there would be an open competition between incumbent Pierce Bassett and Schneider. It was a jaw-dropping revelation considering that Bassett has been the undisputed starter since overtaking Mike Gvozden on March 27, 2010. “There is an open competition,” Pietramala said.

Coming out of a quiet stretch - which included being suspended for a game for violating team policy - Wells Stanwick bounced back in resounding fashion Tuesday night. The Johns Hopkins sophomore attackman set career highs in goals (five) and assists (four), powering the No. 10 Blue Jays' men's lacrosse team to a 19-9 thumping of visiting Mount St. Mary's at Homewood Field. Stanwick's performance - he needed just five shots to match his goal output from his first three games this season - was especially timely as Johns Hopkins (4-1)

ESPN's Dick Vitale said today that the impending snowstorm expected to hit the Baltimore-Washington region means he won't be able to travel north as planned for the network's broadcast of Wednesday night's Maryland-North Carolina game at Comcast Center. Vitale was scheduled to handle the game with Dan Shulman. “I won't be able to get out there,” said Vitale, who lives in Florida. Vitale called Maryland's season-opening game against Kentucky in Brooklyn, N.Y. ESPN said Fran Fraschilla would replace Vitale on the broadcast.

William Goldenberg, who won the Editing Oscar for "Argo," faced perhaps his closest competition from an editor he knew well -- himself. Goldenberg was also nominated for "Zero Dark Thirty" (with Dylan Tichenor), a rare double nomination for a single person. Director Steven Soderbergh was once similarly conflicted, nominated for both "Traffic" and "Erin Brockovich" in 2001; he won for "Traffic. " Backstage, Goldenberg didn't seem too upset about losing to himself, or exultant over beating himself.

Seems like the “Twilight” folks saved the worst for last. “Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2,” the last of five films adapting author Stephenie Meyer's best-selling tales of vampires, werewolves and teen lust, was lauded as the worst picture of 2012 at Saturday night's 33 rd annual Razzie Awards. Although the preceding four “Twilight” films had frequently been nominated for Razzies, the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation, arbiters of cinematic bad taste since 1980, had largely left the incredulously successful film series alone.

COLLEGE PARK - The C. Milton Wright girls swimming team's nearly two-year unbeaten streak came to an end Saturday, as the defending class Class 3A-2A-1A champs came up short at the state finals, finishing second to Poolesville. The Mustangs finished the meet at the University of Maryland's Eppley Swimming Center with 221 points. Poolesville earned 273.5 points, and third-place Oakdale scored 178. Fallston's boys took third place with 122 points. Poolesville (287) also won the boys meet, and Damascus took second with 132 points.