Eastern Division

Safeway Inc. will close two Baltimore County supermarkets at the end of the month - one in Cockeysville and one in Bowleys Quarters, the company said yesterday. Both stores, built in the 1970s, are considerably smaller than Safeway's new store prototype and have been unprofitable, a company spokesman said. A 34,000-square-foot store on Cranbrook Road in Cockeysville, built in 1973, employs about 45. The other store, on Carroll Island Road in the Carroll Island Shopping Center, is 27,000 square feet, was built in 1974 and has about 35 workers, said Greg TenEyck, a spokesman for Safeway's Eastern Division.

In a rematch of last season's Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association title game, Bowie State took control of the league's Eastern Division last night with a thrilling 87-82 victory over Virginia Union at Jordan Arena. Bowie is 9-1 in the division while Virginia Union fell to 5-2. Forward Lee Cook had 22 of his game-high 26 points in the second half and scored the final four as the Bulldogs sealed the win in the final minute. Cook also had a game-high 17 rebounds, six assists and three blocks.

VS. WICHITA WINGS* WHEN: Tonight, 8:35.* WHERE: Kansas Coliseum.* RADIO: WCAO-AM 600.VS. DALLAS SIDEKICKS* WHEN: Sunday, 6:05 p.m.* WHERE: Reunion Arena.* RADIO: WCAO-AM 600.* OUTLOOK: This could be another big weekend for the Blast (13-11). Just a game and a half out of first place in the Eastern Division, the Blast could be eye-to-eye with Kansas City by Monday, when the Comets come to town.Wichita, which moved into a second-place tie with the Blast the last time they met, has dropped three games since.

With a new stadium and the eternal optimism of spring, the Orioles hope to improve their standing in the Eastern Division of the American League in 1992. Except a second place in 1989, the team has not finished higher than fourth since winning the World Series in 1983.The Evening Sun would like to know where you think the Orioles will finish in 1992: first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh? Which team do you feel will win the division: Toronto, Boston, Detroit, Milwaukee, New York, Baltimore or Cleveland?

Rejecting job offers from two other Canadian Football League teams, Jim Popp said last night that he will remain with the Baltimore Football Club, but with a new title -- assistant general manager.Popp passed up offers to join the Calgary Stampeders and Memphis' expansion team to stay with the Eastern Division champion he helped build as director of player personnel."I weighed everything between the three CFL teams . . . and felt this place is the best for me," Popp said. "There's business that was left undone, and that's to win the Grey Cup. I feel we have a good chance of doing that."

Blast tonight Matchup: St. Louis Steamers (5-10) vs. Blast (11-5) Site: 1st Mariner Arena Time: 7:35 Radio: WCBM (680 AM) Outlook: The Blast (11-5) is alone again at the top of the Major Indoor Soccer League's Eastern Division after a productive weekend in Kansas City and Cleveland. Defender Neil Gilbert and midfielder Denison Cabral each scored twice Saturday night, lifting the Blast to a 7-5 victory over the Force, following a 10-6 win over the Comets the previous night. Forward Giuliano Celenza went on a three-goal scoring spree against the Comets, and forwards Tarik Walker and Carlos Farias each scored twice.

Blast today Matchup: Blast (17-6) vs. Kansas City Comets (8-14) Site: Kemper Arena, Kansas City, Mo. Time: 11:35 a.m. Radio: WCBM (680 AM) Outlook: The Blast had a strong reaction to seeing its seven-game winning streak end in Dallas on Jan. 24. It responded by beating the Kansas City Comets, 11-4, at 1st Mariner Arena on Saturday night. Today, the teams meet again in a game that is part of an educational field trip. Kemper Arena will be filled with children and the teams will have to adjust to the earlier start.

Blast tonight Matchup: Blast (18-6) vs. Philadelphia KiXX(13-8) Site: Wachovia Spectrum, Philadelphia Time: 7:05 Radio: WCBM (680 AM) Outlook: Philadelphia won its first two meetings with the Blast this season, 5-3 and 9-4. Since then, the Blast has won 16 of 19 games, including a league-best seven-game winning streak in January and an 8-4 victory over Philadelphia on Dec. 26. The Blast leads the KiXX by 3 1/2 games in the MISL Eastern Division....