Key

TORONTO -- Jimmy Key is so humble, he rarely tips his cap to the cheering SkyDome fans as he walks off the mound. Last night was different. Last night was special. Last night, Key not only lifted his cap, he returned the applause.There he was, the truest Blue Jay, slapping his glove with his pitching hand, making an inaudible thump amidst the deafening roar. Nine years in Toronto, and Key wanted to say thanks. He got his World Series start. He made it a beauty. Now he was fulfilled.The poignancy of the moment hit only as he strolled toward the dugout.

Because of production problems this article did not appear in some of yesterday's editions. An entire field hockey season seemed to be slipping away from Francis Scott Key yesterday when Jessica Sutherland and Laurie Ryer barely hit the ball on the team's first two strokes of a best-of-five game-deciding situation against Kent County in the state Class 1A semifinals at Goucher College.Sutherland just threw her stick away in frustration as she returned to her teammates, and Ryer was disconsolate over her mis-hit.

BOSTON -- Virtually every major-leaguer can look back at his career and say, What if? For Jimmy Key, the question is especially meaningful, even if it's one he avoids asking.What if he hadn't undergone four operations on his left shoulder? What if he hadn't missed approximately 60 starts -- almost two seasons' worth -- because of injuries?The answers provide further evidence that the Orioles' left-hander is the most underrated pitcher of his generation.Indeed, if not for all his arm trouble, Key, 36, might have an outside shot at the Hall of Fame.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- In the next two weeks, the Orioles must settle on a direction. Jimmy Key will be watching closely.Far along in an admittedly "aggressive" rehabilitation from an inflamed left rotator cuff that has put him on the sideline since May 21, Key is projected by pitching coach Mike Flanagan for a return to the roster on July 31.That is also the deadline for teams to trade without seeking another round of waivers.Should the Orioles decide to concede the season and begin trading some of their 11 pending free agents, Key will have pushed himself for nothing.

Francis Scott Key senior midfielder Erin Murphey had had enough.After seeing the Eagles dominate visiting Catoctin for the first 29 minutes of yesterday's girls soccer match only to come up empty, Murphey took matters into her own hands -- or rather her own right foot.Murphey dribbled past two Catoctin defenders and sent a hard shot past Catoctin goalie Shannon Warner to give the Eagles a 1-goal lead with 10:40 left in the first half.It was a lead the Eagles never relinquished, as they went on to post a 2-1 win and avenge an earlier loss to their Washington County rival.

The "Nest Nuts" were out in full force, the crowd was in a festive mood and Chris Richardson continued to surprise nearly everyone with his new-found scoring punch.Richardson powered his way inside for 20 points last night, leading Francis Scott Key to an 82-69 victory over North Hagerstown in a fast-paced Monocacy Valley Athletic League basketball game at Key.It was the fifth win in as many games at home for the Eagles.The Richardson offensive show, his best ever at home, came on a night the Eagles (7-6, 5-4 in MVAL)

RISING SUN -- The Francis Scott Key Eagles knew exactly what their Class 1A state semifinal opponent, Richardson, was going through last night.It was just a year ago when a young Eagles team, excited about the opportunity to compete in the state volleyball tournament, traveled to Rising Sun only to be overwhelmed by a more experienced Clear Spring team that went on to win the state title.4 This year, it was Key's turn to be overwhelming.The No. 6 Eagles had too much firepower as they swept past Richardson -- 15-5, 15-10, 15-13 -- to advance to Saturday's Class 1A state final.

The Francis Scott Key field hockey team had everything before it stepped on the field for its first game against Fairfield (Pa.) High a little more than two weeks ago.Talent, style, grace, closeness and a bright young coach in Mindi Wagner.No wonder people all around the Baltimore area were ready to anoint the Eagles as the best of the best in Carroll County and one of the best in the metro area.Seldom had any athletic team from the 1A school in Uniontown received so much preseason publicity.

In the final three weeks of the regular season, the Ravens will be fighting for home-field advantage in the AFC, but the key for this team going deep into the playoffs is getting a first-round bye. Having home-field advantage is great, but a lot of teams are capable of winning on the road these days. The New Orleans Saints smacked around the Dallas Cowboys, in Irving, Texas, on Sunday night, and the Ravens beat up the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium earlier in the day. Browns@Ravens Sunday, 1 p.m., Ch. 13, 1090 AM, 97.9 FM Line: Ravens by 11 1/2

Mike Crawmer's first varsity goal couldn't have come at a better time.The freshman reserve striker's rebound of classmate Robbie Green's shot 25 minutes into the first half put fourth-seeded Francis Scott Key into next Saturday's Class 1A Region I boys soccer playoffs, as it edged second seed Owings Mills, 1-0, at North Carroll High School last night.Owings Mills goalie Alex Buberman made an acrobatic save on Green's initial effort, but Crawmer was right where he needed to be."It felt good when I hit it," Crawmer said.