La Plata

Tyrone Bryant's Old Mill teammates were in tears after his thrilling victory sealed the Class 4A-3A dual-meet state championship for the No. 3 Patriots last night at Marriotts Ridge. Bryant, a senior and a first-year varsity wrestler, entered the last match of the night with his team trailing La Plata by a point. He responded by pinning Mitchell Keith in 53 seconds to give Old Mill a 32-27 victory. It was Old Mill's third dual-meet state crown since 1998. "I was just going out, knowing I could contribute for my team," Bryant said.

2008 La Linda Torrontes From: Cafayate, Argentina Price: $12 Serve with: White-fleshed fish, appetizers Torrontes might not exactly be a household word in most of the world, but in Argentina it is by far the best white-wine grape. This clean, fresh, vibrant, fruity but dry wine from Luigi Bosca would be ideal to sip along the Rio de la Plata in summery Buenos Aires right now, but even we ice-bound norteamericanos can thoroughly enjoy its orange, pear, apricot and minty flavors indoors until the winter departs.

Ice happens in any season. Steve Zubrick, science officer at NWS Sterling, was asked about the largest Maryland hailstones ever recorded. He found a science journal report on a storm in Annapolis on June 22, 1915, that dropped 12 stones averaging 3 to 3-5 inches in diameter. Two 4-5 inch stones were reported -- in Baltimore on June 18, 1970 and in La Plata, linked to the F4 tornado on April 28, 2002.

So now that we've made it through one major holiday, with all of its attendant traffic woes, we've got another two staring us in the face. My first advice about holiday travel is: Don't. My backup advice is: Don't try to drive south on Interstate 95. With the traffic on I-95 in Northern Virginia, you'll be lucky to reach Richmond in less time than it took General Grant's army. Last week, this column explored the only even theoretically viable route: U.S. 301 through Southern Maryland.

WALDORF - South River coach Bruce Bowen said what separates Josh Eure from other golfers is his commitment to the game. Eure spends most of his offseason chipping, putting and driving golf balls to perfect his swing. That practice paid off yesterday at Potomac Ridge in Waldorf as Eure won the boys state title with a two-day score of 147, five strokes better than second-place Jay Dove of La Plata. "Coming back this year, I wanted it more than I ever have before," Eure said. "It was my senior year, and I was one of the favorites coming into it. I really wanted to win this one."

650 workers at APG might strike Sunday 1 About 650 contract workers at Aberdeen Proving Ground are threatening to strike, starting Sunday. Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers voted all day yesterday on a contract that they said does not offer even a cost-of-living raise. Results of the vote were not made public yesterday. In an e-mail, Henry Scott, a union representative, said the weekly pay raises offered in the three-year contract "don't even amount to a tank of gas."

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.

Games at Ripken Stadium Class 1A Harford Tech (15-7) vs. St. Michael's (17-5) Time -- 1 p.m. Outlook -- Making their second straight appearance in the state final four, the Cobras are facing the Saints of Talbot County. The Saints, who won their only state final in 2001, ad vanced to today's game with an 11-2 romp over Sparrows Point in the semifinals. The Cobras defeated Clear Spring of Washington County in the state semifinals. Junior P-SS Ryan Neukum and seniors Chris Peacher, Bryan Legarda and Jared West lead the Cobras.

Carl and Barbara Baldus refer to their very wide, one-story brick house as a rambler. In the "Old Line" Colonial location of Charles County in Southern Maryland, the sprawling house sits at the top of a long driveway amid acres of rolling green and landscaped gardens that include a large pond. Both have lived in Charles County all their lives. When he was 19, Carl Baldus, now 77 and owner of Baldus Realty, purchased 93 acres of land in the town of La Plata before going off to serve in Korea.

ACCOKEEK -- They come to the street races for the thrill, to win money on bets, to prove something. But yesterday, racing fans, along with residents, mourners and curious onlookers, came to a flat stretch of highway here for a very different reason: to leave flowers, to pick up car pieces, to grieve and to ask if something could have been done to stop a drag race that killed eight people early Saturday morning. Some wondered aloud whether the tragic accident will bring an end to the chronic, dangerous scene or if the races will just crop up in a new location.