Haddaway

Baseball* 12-and-under -- Reisterstown came out of the losers' bracket to beat Sykesville, 5-3, last week and win the championship of the Hampstead Invitational Baseball Tournament.Sykesville had beaten Reisterstown in the winners' bracket final. The Baltimore County squad then beat Sykesville, 6-3, to force a final game in the double-elimination tournament.Sykesville took a 2-1 lead in the second inning when Ricky Vespa singled home Jesse Martin and Tom Seiss.Starting pitcher Dave Morgan protected the lead until the home fifth when Reisterstown scored four times to clinch the victory.

Because Mount Hebron had just one returning starter, it didn't figure to be one of the better teams in the league this season. And the Vikings lost their first five league games.But suddenly they're the hottest team in the county, and yesterday's 69-54 victory over Atholton should have earned the Vikings a lot of respect.It was Mount Hebron's sixth straight league win, and it ended Atholton's seven-game winning streak. It also knocked the No. 13 Raiders (12-5 overall, 9-2 league) out of a first-place tie with Centennial.

Del. Anthony J. O'Donnell was re-elected to a sixth term as the House GOP leader Tuesday, putting to rest any questions about an insurrection in his caucus. O'Donnell, of Calvert and St. Mary's counties, said his caucus would play defense this session, trying to "stop damage to our economy" that he believes Gov. Martin O'Malley and the Democratic led legislature will unleash.  He called the idea of increasing the gas tax "offensive" and "so out of sync with where we find oursevles.

First lady Michelle Obama came to Annapolis on Wednesday to praise a new Maryland law, saying it sets a national standard for removing barriers for veterans in transition to the civilian workforce. The legislation - unanimously approved by the General Assembly - was signed into law by the governor Wednesday as Obama looked on. It requires agencies to expedite the processing for veterans of 70 professional licenses, including those for nurses, paramedics and teachers. The measure also spells out how agencies and universities should translate military education and experience for licensing purposes and college credits.

Police could pull you over for talking on a hand-held phone while driving. Some patients could legally use marijuana. And veterans would get a new assist in getting jobs under legislation approved by the Maryland General Assembly on its final day. As they worked toward a midnight deadline, lawmakers considered - and shelved - hundreds of bills Monday on issues as small as designating a state sandwich and as dramatic as halting new fees designed to...

A House Republican leader who is pushing to end the state's $15 million earmark program has herself introduced or sponsored bills this year that would use the fund to send $1.4 million to projects in her district. House Minority Whip Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, who called for an end to the use of so-called bond bills this week during the Republican response to Gov. Martin O'Malley's state of the state address, says she introduced her legislation before she saw his budget proposal and learned how dire the state's fiscal situation is. "I think all of us would love to have projects funded," the Eastern Shore Republican said.

McLaughlin; loving mother of Margaret Saffran and Donna McLaughlin; father-in-law of Steve Saffran and David Haslup; loving Poppy of Sunshine Haddaway, Michelle Klusovsky, Jacob Haslup, Stephen and Michael Saffran; great-grandfather of Morgan, Cassidy and Layla. Also survived by his brother Robert McLaughlin and his wife Josephine. Friends may call at the HUBBARD FUNERAL HOME INC., 4107 Wilkens Avenue on Thursday 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. Interment private.

On November 24, 2004, JOSEPH T. DOWNEY, JR.; past commodore of Miles River Yacht Club; devoted father of Michael T. Downey and his wife Mary, of Cambridge MD, and Kimberly D. Morgan of Chestertown, MD; loving grandfather of Michelle Haddaway, Christopher Morgan and Elizabeth Downey; great-grandfather of Taylor; dear brother of Rutane Downey and Iris King. Interment private. Arrangements by Leonard J. Ruck, Inc.

On April 27, 2005, CLARENCE FRANCIS, beloved husband of the late Catherine Vadorsky, devoted father of Stephen Vadorsky and Clara Stroup. Dear brother of Louis Vadorsky, Rose Yingling, Jean Haddaway, Pauline Hall and Joan Fink. Also survived by two grandchildren The family will receive friends at the W. Dabrowski-Chojnacki Funeral Homes, P.A., 1005 Dundalk Ave., Friday 3 to 7 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial at Sacred Heart of Mary Church Saturday 10 A.M. Cremation private.