Consecutive Games

THE consecutive games streak that Cal Ripken Jr. ended Sunday had become a metaphor for the Orioles' 1998 season: Something with great promise and anticipation that had somehow gone sour.Mr. Ripken's eclipse three years ago of a baseball record that many believed would never be broken was hailed as a symbol of the American work ethic. But as The Streak continued, he was criticized as "selfish" for not wanting to take a day off. This derision came in spite of the fact that he continued to be a superb gloveman; a solid, if no longer spectacular, hitter and a model for his teammates, a couple of whom followed his cue to play nearly the entire season.

Everything from here on is "icing on the cake" for McDonogh's No. 1 girls lacrosse team after it broke one last record Saturday. With their 105th straight win, 15-8 over North Harford, the Eagles added what is believed to be the national mark for consecutive games without a loss to their swelling record book, surpassing Loch Raven's 104-game unbeaten streak between 1973 and 1982. Then, the Eagles won No. 106 over previously undefeated No. 7 Mount Hebron, 15-7, to take the title of the Mount Hebron Fight for Five Tournament at Cedar Lane Park.

The Streak died last night of natural causes. It was 2,632.Cal Ripken, who has played with grace and grit for a generation without daring to miss a game, stepped into manager Ray Miller's office shortly before last night's game against the New York Yankees and asked the unimaginable. He asked for the night off.Sixteen years after Earl Weaver penned his name on the lineup card on May 30, 1982, Ripken did what only he could do. Recognizing the time had come for him to let go of one of the game's most impressive records, he sat on the bench as the Orioles took the field for their final home game of the season.

McDonogh's No. 1 girls lacrosse team kept its winning streak rolling to 103 games Monday with a 16-9 win at No. 2 Marriotts Ridge that tied what is believed to be the national record for consecutive high school girls lacrosse victories. Olivia Jenner dominated the draw and Elizabeth George had five goals and an assist to power the Eagles, who have not lost in more than five years, to victory in a showdown of undefeated teams. "We were really pumped up for this game," George said.

Catchers Rick Dempsey, Joe Nolan and John Stefero were omitted from yesterday's story listing starters who had played with Cal Ripken during his consecutive-games streak.

By the numbers: Sachio Kinugasa of the Hiroshima Carp of the Japanese Central League took 18 seasons (1970 to 1987) to play in a world-record 2,215 consecutive games. The regular season in Japan is 130 games.2,113: Consecutive games Ripken has played.2.130: Lou Gehrig's record.Sept. 6: Projected date to break record.

BATTING LINE OF THE DAY J.J. Hardy, Brewers SS AB R H RBI HR 6 2 4 6 1 PITCHING LINE OF THE DAY C.C. Sabathia, Indians IP H R BB SO 9 4 1 0 10 WHO'S HOT The Astros have won 12 consecutive games against the Phillies. WHO'S NOT The Tigers have lost seven consecutive games and 12 of 14 overall.

June 12, 1990: Cal Ripken Jr. moved into second place on the all-time consecutive games played list, passing Everett Scott, who played in 1,307 straight games.

ALL TIED UP Baltimore Colts Hall of Famer Lenny Moore held on to a share of his NFL record for consecutive games scoring a touchdown when San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson didn't get into Philadelphia's end zone. Moore set the record between 1963 and 1965 with 18 consecutive games. ALL TIED UP, PART II Bengals QB Carson Palmer failed to break a tie with Peyton Manning for the NFL record for most consecutive games (nine) with a 100 passer rating or better when he skidded to 53.8 in a loss to the Steelers.

Quote: "We're the [television] Game of the Week. Yet the Mets, Cincinnati and Houston are fighting for a playoff spot. Why are we the Game of the Week? I'm embarrassed by it."Cubs manager Jim RigglemanIt's a fact: The Phillies have three outfielders (Bobby Abreu, Ron Gant and Doug Glanville) who have scored 100 or more runs for the first time since 1900, when Roy Thomas, Jimmy Slagle and Elmer Flick did it.Who's hot: Vladimir Guerrero has broken five Expos records this season, also setting marks for longest hitting streak (31 games)

McDonogh turned the ball over on its first three possessions against visiting Notre Dame Prep on Wednesday, then quickly settled down and blew out the Blazers in an Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference matchup. The top-ranked Eagles reeled off six unanswered goals in just under four minutes after the shaky start, then added four more in just over two minutes during a 15-goal first half in a 21-14 victory over No. 3 Notre Dame Prep. The goals came fast and in bunches for McDonogh (10-0, 7-0)

The Holy Cross Crusaders held a block party Wednesday night. The host Crusaders blocked 10 shots and cruised to a 60-51 victory over Loyola Maryland. Senior center Dave Dudzinski led the Crusaders with 24 points and 12 rebounds, while junior forward Malcolm Miller controlled the defensive end with six blocked shots, all in the first half. Holy Cross (12-9, 6-3) won its fifth in a row to conclude the first half of Patriot League play. Loyola (9-11, 4-5) finished the first half winning every conference home game while losing every conference road game.

As his team prepares for a much-needed home game Wednesday night after two bad road losses, Maryland men's basketball coach Mark Turgeon says his players must pull out of their "funk" and focus on the big picture. In the big picture, Turgeon says, the Terps are 2-2 in the conference. They may not feel like a .500 team after losses of 20 points and 24 points, respectively, to Pittsburgh and Florida State. “Guys got to get themselves out of the funk,” Turgeon said Monday on the ACC's media conference call.

As an exhausted and deflated group of Ravens filed out of the visiting locker room at Soldier Field Sunday following a 23-20 overtime loss to the Chicago Bears, they could take solace in one thing.. They were going home and they'd get to stay there for awhile. With a 4-6 record, the Ravens' playoff hopes now hinge on the team's ability to protect its home field, which is one thing that they've done pretty well this season. The Ravens will play three games at M&T Bank Stadium over the course of 15 days, starting this Sunday against the New York Jets (5-5)

Mount St. Mary's released Wednesday its schedule for the 2014 season. Here is a breakdown of the slate that awaits the Mountaineers, who went 6-9 overall and 2-3 in the Northeast Conference and failed to qualify for the four-team league tournament last year. 10: Mount St. Mary's edged Bryant, 10-9, on April 20. The Bulldogs, who will host the Mountaineers on Saturday, April 12 at 1 p.m., have won the last two NEC tournament championships. 9: Maryland has won all nine meetings against Mount St. Mary's, which will visit Byrd Stadium in the season opener for both teams on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 1 p.m. 8: The Mountaineers lost by a margin of at least eight goals four times last season.

Et cetera St. Frances' McCoughtry leads Dream over Mystics Angel McCoughtry (St. Frances) had 21 points, six rebounds and five assists to lead the WNBA's Atlanta Dream (9-1) to a 86-75 victory over the visiting Washington Mystics (4-6). Washington, which was led by Monique Currie 's 20 points, has lost five straight games after starting the season 4-1. National Women's Soccer League: Carli Lloyd scored a hat trick to lift host Western New York Flash (6-2-4, 22 points)

Orioles lefty Zach Britton felt his pitches were working so well on Monday night that he could last deep into the evening, save his bullpen and pick up his second consecutive win. Instead, things inexplicably snowballed on Britton and the Orioles in the sixth inning, and by the time he walked off the mound, the Orioles were on their way to a 5-2 loss to the Cleveland Indians and their fourth consecutive defeat. “[My stuff] was good, but you'd like to carry that six, seven innings so it's not good,” said Britton, who allowed five consecutive Indians to reach base in the sixth.

The Mount St. Mary's team that pulled off impressive victories over Bucknell and Delaware in February seems like a distant memory now. That's because the Mountaineers have dropped their last four contests, including opening play in the Northeast Conference with back-to-back losses to Sacred Heart and Quinnipiac. The team's numbers have precipitously declined since diving into the conference schedule. The offense is averaging more than three goals fewer (6.5 goals from 10.7), the defense is just as porous (13 goals from 13.3)