Dale Mitchell

After watching seven players from last season's roster leave the club in the last few weeks, the Blast has announced the signing of midfielder Billy Ronson and forward Rusty Troy to contracts for the coming season.Terms for Ronson, 34, the Blast's third-leading scorer and co-Most Valuable Player with a career-high 35 goals and 33 assists last season, and Troy, 24, who had 28 goals and 16 assists, were not disclosed.In recent weeks, the Blast had declined to offer contracts to goalkeeper Scott Manning, defender Tim Wittman and midfielder Richard Chinapoo, as well as forwards Chris Haywood and Chris Simon.

What: Team opens preseason training camp for 11th MSL season Tuesday at William Myers Pavilion in Brooklyn on West Bay Avenue.When: Two-a-day workouts at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for the first two to three weeks. Practices are open to the public.Top new players: Striker Dale Mitchell and midfielder Richard Chinapoo.Top players not returning: Midfielders Carl Valentine and Paul Dougherty and forward Peter Ward.Veterans returning: 16.Exhibition schedule: Oct. 7 at 2 p.m. vs. St. Louis Storm in Portland, Maine; Oct. 8 at 7:05 p.m. vs. St. Louis Storm in Springfield, Mass.

VS. WICHITA WINGS* WHEN: Tonight, 8:05.* WHERE: The Arena.* RADIO: WCAO-AM 600.VS. SAN DIEGO SOCKERS* WHEN: Tomorrow, 2:35 p.m.* WHERE: The Arena.* TV/RADIO: Channel 45; WCAO-AM 600.* OUTLOOK: Blast defender Mike Stankovic will not play tonight because the team's appeal of a one-game suspension was denied. Stankovic was initially suspended last week and fined $1,000 for punching Tacoma's Steve Kinsey, Feb. 24. The fine was reduced to $500.Dale Mitchell has 11 goals and 14 assists in his last 11 games and leads the team in scoring with 35 goals, 33 assists.

After nearly two months of uncertainty over whether Dale Mitchell would wear a Baltimore Blast uniform this season, the guessing is over.Mitchell will arrive in Baltimore on Monday and play Oct. 20 in the Major Soccer League season opener against the Wichita Wings in Wichita, Kan.Mitchell flew yesterday from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Kansas City, Mo., where he will spend three days with his wife, Diane, and two daughters, Danielle and Kristina, before...

Domenic Mobilio has agreed to terms and will sign a one-year contract with the Baltimore Blast in the next few days, said his father, Joe Mobilio, last night."

Arbitrator George Nicolau has asked attorneys for Major Soccer League forward Dale Mitchell and Kansas City Comets owner Chris Clouser to hit the law books.After listening to nine hours of testimony in a grievance suit brought by Mitchell, Nicolau said he would make a ruling within 48 hours of receiving the research information, due in his office by next Tuesday.Mitchell, who was traded by Kansas City to the Blast last month, is asking to be made a free agent. He is charging the Comets "fraudulently induced" him to sign and then traded him.Mitchell claims the Comets made promises "above the actual contract, knowing they could not be put in writing, knowing no other team would have a responsibility to abide by a verbal agreement."

TACOMA, Wash. -- The book on the Baltimore Blast coming to the Tacoma Dome has been remarkably consistent of late: Four visits stretching over parts of the past two seasons had resulted in four one-goal losses -- three in overtime.Baltimore would have none of that last night before 5,942 fans, as the Blast rallied to post a 6-4 victory -- thanks to two goals each by Rusty Troy, Joe Koziol and rookie Kris Kelderman. Thus, the Blast broke a three-game losing streak and evened its record at 8-8.Down by 3-2 at halftime, Baltimore limited Tacoma to three shots in the third quarter to build a 4-3 lead.