Game At Camden

Growing up near Mount Airy, Alex Murphy frequented Harry Grove Stadium to watch Frederick Keys games. A lifelong Orioles fan, Murphy would make the trek to Camden Yards to see the big league team play as well. Now, after being drafted by the Orioles in the sixth round with the No. 189 pick of baseball's first-year player draft Friday, the Calvert Hall catcher has a chance to join the players in the same ballparks he visited in his childhood. “It took the breath out of me,” Murphy said in a telephone interview after he was chosen.

Five days after a brutal assault at an Orioles game at Camden Yards left a Hagerstown man hospitalized in serious condition, the issue was still percolating on local sports-talk radio Monday. As detailed vividly in a recent story in The Baltimore Sun by reporters Yvonne Wenger and Justin Fenton , the victim, 25-year old Matt Fortese, was punched in the head and sent over a railing before landing on a concrete floor five feet below. He suffered severe head trauma and a skull fracture.

It has been 45 years since she first ran onto the field at Memorial Stadium, an 11-year-old blonde with a big smile and a straw broom that would win her fame. There, during the fifth-inning break in Orioles games, Linda Warehime would sweep off the bases, the mound and the infielders' shoes. Sometimes, she'd also dust off the shoes of the visitors' third-base coach and give him a peck on the cheek - or a playful swat on the fanny - as the fans whooped it up. The job lasted seven years, until 1975, and earned national acclaim for Warehime.

Wedding date: April 27, 2013 Her story: Allison Pachilis, 24, grew up in Baltimore. She is a graphic designer. Her mother, Debra Kiser, is an administrative assistant and her father, Earl Pachilis, is an IT consultant. His story: Samuel (Sam) Draper, 28, grew up in Frederick. He is a lawyer. His mother, Laurie Draper, is a nurse and his father, James Draper, is an accountant. Their story: Allison and Sam met through mutual friends and began dating in June 2011.

In the bitter aftermath of Baltimore's expansion defeat, former Gov. William Donald Schaefer issued a warning to NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue.Schaefer said that if Tagliabue ever attended another baseball game at Camden Yards, "I'm going to have it announced on the loudspeaker that we have the commissioner of football in Seat 10, Row 14."Five years later, with Baltimore's NFL odyssey having come full circle, Tagliabue's insult can not, will not, be forgotten.If only Schaefer could be governor again for a day.We have the commissioner of football attending the Ravens' opener against Pittsburgh, but the sellout crowd at the new stadium won't even get to see him.Won't get the chance to stand up and boo the arrogant suit who told us to build a museum.

The Orioles have approached Major League Baseball about the potential of hosting the 2016 All-Star Game at Camden Yards, a club spokesman confirmed. There is no formal application process, but club owner Peter Angelos did send a letter to baseball commissioner Bud Selig requesting that Baltimore host the 2016 event. Although teams can present their interest to the league office at any time, MLB usually officially awards its next All-Star Game roughly a year before the event. And, traditionally - although not always - the Midsummer Classic alternates between American League and National League hosts, meaning the game would likely come to Baltimore only in an even-numbered year.

The Baltimore Sun was judged to have one of the top 10 daily sports sections in the country at last week's Associated Press Sports Editors meeting in Tampa, Fla. The Sun's Sunday section was honored as one of the top 20 in the country, and The Sun's preview section on the 1993 Baseball All-Star Game at Camden Yards was voted one of the top 20 special sections of the year.In writing categories, Bill Glauber of The Sun was voted to be a finalist in feature stories for his piece on the fifth anniversary of the Orioles' 0-21 start.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Orioles right-hander Jason Hammel (right knee surgery) again participated in pitcher's fielding practice on Wednesday, and if he feels fine, he likely will throw 25 to 35 pitches Friday in a simulated game at Camden Yards, pitching coach Rick Adair said. Hammel is scheduled to throw one more simulated game early next week, in the 40- to 50-pitch range, and then will be re-evaluated. Infielder Wilson Betemit (wrist) had his first pain-free day Wednesday since going on the disabled list Aug. 16, O's manager Buck Showalter said.

If the Orioles get past the Texas Rangers tonight, they now know when they'll be playing the New York Yankees on Sunday and Monday. Major League Baseball released the times for the division series games through Tuesday. The Orioles would host the Yankees at Camden Yards on Sunday at 6:15 p.m., ET. Monday night's game at Camden Yards would be at 8:07 p.m., ET. Both games will be broadcast on TBS. The Orioles would have a travel/work out day Tuesday and play in Yankee Stadium.

Ravens safety Ed Reed threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Friday's game at Camden Yards. Stunningly, Reed didn't lateral it to the ball girl. Instead, he fired a strike (according to the mascot). I can't help but wonder how Reed would fare if he joined the Orioles bullpen. At least he would throw a few strikes, unlike one of their relievers (I'm not going to name any names, but it rhymes with Schmichael Schmonzalez). Check out this video of Reed, who looked pretty good in that white No. 20 Orioles jersey.