First Ball

President Bush has been selected to throw out the first ball April 6 for the opening day game at the new Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Some have said Gov. William Donald Schaefer should have received the honor because he pushed the stadium proposal through the state legislature during his first year as governor.The Evening Sun would like to know who you feel is most deserving of throwing out the first ball at the new stadium: President Bush or Governor Schaefer?To register your opinion, call SUNDIAL at 783-1800 (or 268-7736 in Anne Arundel County)

Miguel Tejada 's first exhibition game as the Orioles' regular third baseman featured a little bit of everything. He made the first play of the game on a bouncer by Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett , then made an error the next time Bartlett came to the plate. He also delivered a hit and scored a run in three at-bats in the Orioles' 12-2 victory Wednesday before an announced 5,328 at Ed Smith Stadium. "I'm excited," Tejada said. "I was excited for the game to start.

WASHINGTON -- White House officials said yesterday that despite the wishes of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, President Clinton will go through with his plans to throw out the first ball at Camden Yards on Opening Day.Chief of Staff Thomas F. "Mack" McLarty said there was a slight question regarding first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is slated to throw out the first ball at Wrigley Field in Chicago, but that it revolved around the health of her father, who...

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The first ball hit to Melvin Mora in the Orioles' first intrasquad game took a sharp hop off his chest and rolled away for an error. The first ball hit to Mora in the first exhibition game was a sharp grounder that he backhanded along the line before sailing a throw to the fence for an error. Still in the infancy of his switch to third base, Mora had two choices: storm into the manager's office and plead for a position change or keep working to make himself better.

Angels: The victory was Terry Collins' 200th as Anaheim manager. Bill Rigney, whose 625 wins are the most in team history, threw out the first ball.Athletics: Shortstop Miguel Tejada has gone 18 games without committing an error, equaling his career best.Blue Jays: Tony Fernandez was given the day off. Toronto is 14-3 in its past 17 home games.Indians: Kenny Lofton ended an 0-for-19 skid with a bloop double in the third.

He said it "It's important that we all understand that and stay vigilant. It's important we under stand we have to endure this." Joe Torre, Yankees manager, on not objecting to a security search before entering Yankee Stadium. He said it "I'd like to see the Series go seven games." President Bush, when asked which team he favored before throwing out the first ball last night.

John Vananzo started bowling with his mother, Margaret, when he was a teen-ager in an youth/adult league at Fair Lanes Edgewood. They're both still bowling.Margaret Vananzo carries a 163 average and John averages a bit more. Last season he was listed seventh in the Cecil-Harford Counties Bowling Association's Yearbook with 221.John Vananzo bowls in five leagues -- Saturday it's Fair Lanes Edgewood's new league, Fair Lanes on the Fairway; Monday it's the Classic at Country Club Lanes, Wednesday and Friday, Country Club again then on Thursday it's back to Edgewood.

WASHINGTON -- After President Clinton's negotiations to end the baseball strike ended in failure, the president was asked if he would throw out the ceremonial first ball on Opening Day if major-league owners fielded replacement players.That night Clinton ducked the question as if it were a high hard one from Ben McDonald. Yesterday, though, White House press secretary Mike McCurry said the First Fan would, in effect, honor the players' picket lines.The big lefty will not be throwing out the first ball if the owners follow through on their plan to have replacement teams, McCurry said, a stance he described as being "consistent with the president's view on the issue of strike replacements and replacement workers generally."

Gov. William Donald Schaefer, reversing himself, said yesterday he probably will attend Opening Day at the new baseball stadium he helped get constructed.In recent public statements, the governor has said he would avoid the game. Observers suggested it was out of concern for his sagging popularity.But asked yesterday at a stadium news conference if he intended to be there Monday for the first game, Mr. Schaefer said, "Most likely."Mr. Schaefer was an early and powerful advocate of building the downtown Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Quote: "I didn't know what the ruling was. I thought it was an out. I couldn't believe it, but I guess that work in the weight room has paid off." - Astros' Mitch Meluskey, whose foul near the third base line yesterday became the first ball to hit the roof at Enron Field. Though it was caught by White Sox pitcher Kip Wells, it was ruled a dead ball. It's a fact: Toronto's Darrin Fletcher hit three grand slams in his first nine major-league seasons. In 41 games this season, he's matched that total, one of them coming against the Orioles' Jason Johnson on May 8. Who's hot: Athletics reliever Jason Isringhausen got three outs against the Giants yesterday for his 13th save in 16 chances.

He said it "It's important that we all understand that and stay vigilant. It's important we under stand we have to endure this." Joe Torre, Yankees manager, on not objecting to a security search before entering Yankee Stadium. He said it "I'd like to see the Series go seven games." President Bush, when asked which team he favored before throwing out the first ball last night.

NEW YORK - Venus Williams swirls down the stairs in a ball gown in her latest tennis shoe commercial. But the display of grace and beauty has nothing on the tennis court, where Williams has grown up over the past five years. Yesterday, the defending U.S. Open champion was a study in poise as she almost casually crushed Kim Clijsters, 6-3, 6-1, in 65 minutes. "I've watched her and I knew she would hit the ball hard and deep," said Clijsters, who is seeded No. 5, just one spot below Williams in the Open draw.

Quote: "I didn't know what the ruling was. I thought it was an out. I couldn't believe it, but I guess that work in the weight room has paid off." - Astros' Mitch Meluskey, whose foul near the third base line yesterday became the first ball to hit the roof at Enron Field. Though it was caught by White Sox pitcher Kip Wells, it was ruled a dead ball. It's a fact: Toronto's Darrin Fletcher hit three grand slams in his first nine major-league seasons. In 41 games this season, he's matched that total, one of them coming against the Orioles' Jason Johnson on May 8. Who's hot: Athletics reliever Jason Isringhausen got three outs against the Giants yesterday for his 13th save in 16 chances.

Angels: The victory was Terry Collins' 200th as Anaheim manager. Bill Rigney, whose 625 wins are the most in team history, threw out the first ball.Athletics: Shortstop Miguel Tejada has gone 18 games without committing an error, equaling his career best.Blue Jays: Tony Fernandez was given the day off. Toronto is 14-3 in its past 17 home games.Indians: Kenny Lofton ended an 0-for-19 skid with a bloop double in the third.

How bad is Loyola College's luck when it comes to basketball injuries? Sophomore Lamar Butler, a 6-foot-11 center who was expected to log plenty of minutes, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and was lost for the season -- during Midnight Madness.An hour into the Greyhounds' first practice, senior swingman Anthony Smith hyperextended his left elbow and tore ligaments when another player fell on him. A week later, freshman guard Larry Harris chipped a bone in his ankle. Two days later, senior guard Milt Williams broke his left thumb.

The things that are missing are, somehow, more telling than the things that are present.Baseball is back, we are told, and sure enough there it is on ESPN -- the Yankees in their classic pin stripes; the big, excited crowd in the Bronx; the Texas Rangers in their Phillies lookalike uniforms.By golly, look who's throwing out the first ball: 80-year-old Joe D. himself. The Yanks really did call on their ace for the opener.And out in rainy Kansas City there are the Orioles in their newly designed outfits, including those jackets with the puffed-up, bright orange sleeves.

WASHINGTON -- After President Clinton's negotiations to end the baseball strike ended in failure, the president was asked if he would throw out the ceremonial first ball on Opening Day if major-league owners fielded replacement players.That night Clinton ducked the question as if it were a high hard one from Ben McDonald. Yesterday, though, White House press secretary Mike McCurry said the First Fan would, in effect, honor the players' picket lines.The big lefty will not be throwing out the first ball if the owners follow through on their plan to have replacement teams, McCurry said, a stance he described as being "consistent with the president's view on the issue of strike replacements and replacement workers generally."

WASHINGTON -- It's not as if he didn't have enough things on his desk already -- after all, it took him an hour and 21 minutes just to list them in his State of the Union speech. But now President Clinton has added the baseball strike to his portfolio."The First Fan weighs in!" said Paul Begala, a political adviser to the president -- and Orioles season-ticket holder."He must really have liked throwing out the first ball," quipped another aide.Mr. Clinton's passion is not baseball. It is not even the Super Bowl.