La Plata

A decade ago tomorrow, the worst tornado in Maryland history struck La Plata, killing three people and flattening buildings with 261 mph winds. The F5 twister, the top of the scale for tornado intensity, left a plate of fried chicken on the counter of a fast-food restaurant but tore off two of the building's walls and its roof, according to one Baltimore Sun report. It left one resident's mailbox standing, waiting for more mail in front of a house that was torn from its foundation, resting on some bushes.

The Bel Air baseball team once again - as it has done throughout the season - cut it close but found a way to win Saturday at Ripken Stadium in the Class 3A state championship. The Bobcats beat La Plata from Charles County, 3-2, to win the second state title in school history. "This is just phenomenal," Bel Air coach John Swanson said. "La Plata definitely came out to play. It was back and forth, and we made a couple of key plays. It could have gone either way. " Three defensive miscues for La Plata in the top of the second led to a run for Bel Air in the top of the second inning.

HAGERSTOWN -- Right-hander Tim Drummond, 27, a native of La Plata signed May 19 as a free agent, last week pitched the team's first seven-inning shutout on the road since Jose Mesa (July 1990), beating the New Britain Red Sox, 2-0.A former major-leaguer, Drummond extended to 12 2/3 innings his string without allowing an earned run. He had a win and two saves during that four-game span.MISCELLANEOUS: The local business group that hopes to raise $1.5 million to buy a replacement team when the Suns leave Hagerstown after this season will begin selling stock next month.

A La Plata man was killed early Saturday when the motorcycle he was riding collided with a truck on Route 100 near the Baltimore Washington Parkway. Anne Arundel County police said that James Garrett Henderson, 27, was traveling at a high speed when his 2005 Harley Davidson motorcycle abruptly switched lanes on westbound Route 100 and stuck the back of an Isuzu box truck. Henderson was taken to University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, but he later died of his injuries.

A La Plata resident was struck and killed Saturday evening by a car whose driver did not see the pedestrian, state police said yesterday. Scottie Maurice Queen, 53, was walking on Route 225 about 6:30 p.m. when a Chevrolet Lumina driven by Carla Yvonne Crump, 20, of La Plata struck Queen, police said.

The Bel Air baseball team once again - as it has done throughout the season - cut it close but found a way to win Saturday at Ripken Stadium in the Class 3A state championship. The Bobcats beat La Plata from Charles County, 3-2, to win the second state title in school history. "This is just phenomenal," Bel Air coach John Swanson said. "La Plata definitely came out to play. It was back and forth, and we made a couple of key plays. It could have gone either way. " Three defensive miscues for La Plata in the top of the second led to a run for Bel Air in the top of the second inning.

There was a lot of red in the stands at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen last night to watch Patapsco in its first appearance in a state baseball final, but the Patriots' fans were left to watch a bitter loss. Senior right-hander Mike Boyden struck out 14 and allowed just four hits as La Plata of Charles County won the Class 3A state championship, 8-2, over Patapsco. Facing Boyden's excellent pitching, Patapsco did not help itself by committing six errors. Down 5-0, Patapsco got to Boyden in the bottom of the sixth for two runs on Vinnie Tiburzi's fielder's choice and a single by Rob Wilson, but Boyden weathered the situation by recording his 10th and 11th strikeouts to end the inning.

ROCKVILLE -- The 13th-ranked C. Milton Wright Mustangs shut down La Plata, 2-0, last night at Magruder High School to advance to the state Class 3A championships for the first time since 1987.The team will face either Centennial or Whitman for the 3A title next weekend.Against La Plata, the Mustangs (12-1-4) worked the ball outside in the early going, hoping to capitalize on a potentially weak outside defense.That wasn't exactly the case against La Plata (15-1) of Charles County, champions of the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference.

Bel Air's streak of five consecutive shutouts came to a halt last night, as La Plata of Charles County scored with 3: 51 left in the first half and went on for a 1-0 Class 3A semifinal victory.The loss marked the second straight state semifinal loss for the Bobcats (9-5-2), who were outshot, 16-7."We didn't have enough good chances," said Bel Air coach Bill Jefferson. "They were just well-coached, very quick, well-skilled -- they really didn't have any weak spots."After staying in a defensive posture early, the Bobcats nearly took the lead on two prime scoring chances near the end of the first half.

Fierce storms roared across much of Maryland yesterday, with high winds, downpours, large hail and apparent tornadoes - one of them in the Charles County town of La Plata last night that injured dozens of people and was blamed for the death of two, including one in Calvert County, authorities said. A 54-year-old man caught in the storm was rushed to the emergency room of Civista Medical Center in downtown La Plata, but medical staff could not resuscitate him. A preliminary examination of the man's body found no obvious signs of trauma, but he may have had a previous medical condition, said Christine M. Stefanides, president and CEO of the medical center.

A decade ago tomorrow, the worst tornado in Maryland history struck La Plata, killing three people and flattening buildings with 261 mph winds. The F5 twister, the top of the scale for tornado intensity, left a plate of fried chicken on the counter of a fast-food restaurant but tore off two of the building's walls and its roof, according to one Baltimore Sun report. It left one resident's mailbox standing, waiting for more mail in front of a house that was torn from its foundation, resting on some bushes.

Hard work and sweat on the wrestling mats that started in mid-November paid off Feb. 1 as the Laurel Boys and Girls Club captured the program's first-ever Southern Maryland Junior Wrestling dual meet championship. The squad overcame adversity with dedication and determination while forming a winning bond that peaked at the right time. "Our youth worked very hard to achieve this measure of success," coach Steve Overton noted. In the tournament, held at Patuxent High School, Laurel defeated Calvert, 80-60 in the first round, and Glenarden, 76-71 in the second round.

Towson volleyball coach Emily Berman likes being the underdog. "We surprise people. I like it that way," she said. Count Charles County's La Plata as surprised. The Generals outplayed, out-hustled, out-defended and out-scrapped the Warriors, 25-20, 25-20, 25-19, to earn a place in the Class 3A state championship at 8 p.m. Friday. They will play top-ranked Centennial, which defeated Montgomery County's Blake in the other semifinal. La Plata (15-3) advanced to Monday night's game by defeating defending Class3A state champion Northern-Calvert in their regional final Friday night.

With his team in a close contest with Glenelg going into the final match of the Class 2A-1A dual-meet state championship at North County, Bel Air's Tom Kuegler knew he had to do something against Glenelg's Matt Gochar to secure the win. "I knew I could beat this kid," Kuegler said. "I just knew I had to work my moves, and fortunately for me it worked out for the best." Kuegler pinned Gochar, helping Bel Air hold on for a 32-23 win despite a late charge from the Gladiators.

With his team tied with Glenelg going into the final match of the Class 2A-1A dual-meet state championship at North County, Bel Air's Tom Kuegler knew he had to do something against Glenelg's Matt Gochar to secure the win. "I knew I could beat this kid," Kuegler said. "I just knew I had to work my moves, and fortunately for me it worked out for the best." Kuegler pinned Gochar, helping Bel Air hold on for a 29-23 win despite a late charge from the Gladiators. Glenelg fought its way back into the match after a slow start, but an upset of Brendan Conway by Bel Air's Justin Lorber -- along with Kuegler's pin -- proved to be the difference.

Maryland State Police say a 26-year-old Pikesville man has been charged in connection with a June crash at an I-70 park-and-ride that killed two. State police say Donneil Raeburn, 26, was indicted on charges including negligent manslaughter by auto, negligent homicide by auto and driving under the influence of alcohol. State police say he was arrested at his Pikesville home Sunday and is being held on $100,000 bond. The crash killed Mary-Kathryn Abernathy, 21, of Columbia, and Jonathan Henderson, 20, of La Plata.

There was only one word to describe the feeling of Fallston players during their state Class 3A semifinal against La Plata at Goucher College yesterday: Frustration.During a brief span at the end of the first half and the beginning of the second, the No. 2 Cougars (16-0) managed to jam two shots past goalkeeper Nicole Downs for a 2-0 victory.Otherwise, it was either shoot and miss or shoot and have Downs kick the ball away. The winners finished with 35 shots and 10 penalty corners, and Downs was credited with 24 saves.

LA PLATA - The Rev. Edward M. Voorhaar of La Plata United Methodist Church found himself in unusual surroundings yesterday and faced with a nearly impossible task. The tornado that ripped through La Plata on April 28 heavily damaged his church, and Voorhaar was trying to help his congregation of 950 find meaning in the disaster. Yesterday, he stood in a makeshift sanctuary in McDonough High School and read a portion of Scripture that had come to mind last week as he tried to sleep: Luke 5:27-32.

COLLEGE PARK -- Pikesville's Paul Burgin was the only player from the Baltimore metropolitan area to advance to a championship final at the state tennis tournament Saturday at the University of Maryland. Burgin, the second seed, faced top seed Timothy Klanke of Walt Whitman. Burgin won the first set 6-1, then lost 5-7 and 1-6 in the second and third sets, respectively. He was hampered by leg cramps, and at one point in the third set, he fell to the court and had to be helped by a trainer.

When Randallstown's girls basketball team started the season 6-6, it didn't appear the Rams would get back to the Baltimore County championship game, but they learned a few things that helped them finish the regular season with eight straight wins. That run earned the Rams a return trip to the county final Friday at 7 p.m. at home. They will get another shot at No. 8 Catonsville, which beat Randallstown last season for the title. "If you look at the way our schedule is set up, the games early on were going to be tough," Rams coach Ellen Fitzkee said, "and I think we learned a lot from our losses in terms of getting on the glass every night and playing good defense.