Lacrosse League

Four days before the NCAA Division I tournament's 16-team bracket is unveiled, this much seems clear. Only two of nine at-large spots appear to be open, and those selections could hinge heavily on the results of this week's America East and Colonial Athletic Association conference tournaments, plus the fates of a couple of bubble teams from the Ivy League and a Patriot League also-ran. The NCAA lacrosse committee will examine the Rating Percentage Index (RPI), a system based on the record of a team's opponents and the record of the opponents' opponents.

Loyola battling Maryland and Virginia for a conference championship? Mount St. Mary's preparing for an NCAA tournament game while Syracuse prepares for next season?Don't laugh. Get ready for an introduction to college lacrosse, Y2K style.As the sport enters the new millennium, the 12-team Division I men's NCAA tournament will go from a purely at-large format to determining at least half of its field by automatic berths. That has the 17 independent schools at the 53-team Division I level already thinking about moving into established leagues or joining forces to form new affiliations.

Thunder forward Gary Gait, who led the National Lacrosse League this season in scoring with 57 goals and 28 assists, was named winner of the NLL's Most Valuable Player Award yesterday, the fourth straight year he has received the honor.Gait, 31, acquired by the Thunder from Philadelphia in a mid-December trade, dominated the now-defunct Major Indoor Lacrosse League throughout the 1990s, earning first-team All-Pro honors the last seven years and claiming the league's MVP award the previous three.

The "bona fide star" that Thunder coach John Tucker lamented that his team painfully lacked last season has finally arrived.Gary Gait, perhaps the sport's greatest offensive player, made it official yesterday by signing with the Thunder.He will be in uniform when Baltimore opens its inaugural National Lacrosse League season against the Syracuse Smash and his twin brother, Paul, on Jan. 3 at Baltimore Arena."I think this is really the missing piece of the puzzle," said Tucker. "Gary can do things that no one else can do. He is the Michael Jordan of our sport."

Its leading returning goal scorer is a stockbroker. Its second leading scorer is a teacher at a school for children with learning disabilities. And one of its goalies runs a health club.Their primary occupations are diverse, but they all share a common part-time job and one ultimate goal -- returning the Baltimore Thunder to the top of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League.That's a tall order for a team that hasn't won the league championship since indoor lacrosse's inaugural season in 1987, but the Thunder, under the direction of first-year coach John Tucker, will take the first step toward reaching that lofty goal when it faces off against the Boston Blazers at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Baltimore Arena.

ARE YOUR KIDS excited or in a state of denial?2 Do not leave food out for more than two hours.AIA meetings to beginArundel Improvement Association will resume its monthly meetings at 8 p.m. Sept. 10.The speaker will be Capt. Emerson Davis, commander of the Northern District Police Station, who will discuss neighborhood police activities.0$ The AIA hall is at 705 Cross St.Fall lacrosseA fall lacrosse league for boys is being sponsored by the North County Lacrosse Association.Boys entering grades three through 12 are invited to play.

BaseballAtlanta Braves -- Announced OF David Justice will be placed on the 15-day DL, effective today, with a torn ligament in his right shoulder. Purchased the contract of OF Brian Kowitz from Triple-A Richmond.Orioles -- Recalled OF Curtis Goodwin and C Cesar Devarez from Triple-A Rochester. Placed OF Andy Van Slyke on the 15-day DL, retroactive to May 31. Sent OF Damon Buford to Rochester.Chicago Cubs -- Agreed to terms with C Rick Wilkins on a one-year contract. Released OF Felix Jose from Triple-A Iowa.

Are you already sick and tired of replacement players and scab ball?Fed up with greedy athletes and egomaniac owners?Disgusted with professional sports in general?Do you yearn for the good old days when the game was the thing and everything wasn't money, money, money?Well, I've got a sport for you and you can see it played at its best here this week.It's indoor lacrosse -- officially known as the Major Indoor Lacrosse League. The local entry is the Baltimore Thunder.Saturday night at the Arena the Thunder will play Philadelphia.

The Thunder tried to cure an ailing defense by signing Dave Pietramala after last season.But, one man could not stop the bleeding in last night's season opener as the Detroit Turbos had their way with the Thunder in the second half en route to a 15-8 victory before 7,879 at the Baltimore Arena.The Thunder, which gave up 18.3 goals a game last season -- highest in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League -- gave up five in each of last two quarters while enduring a 25-minute second-half scoring drought.

BaseballCalifornia Angels -- Released 3B Gary Gaetti.Milwaukee Brewers -- Placed IF Bill Doran (shoulder) on the 15-day DL, retroactive to May 26; recalled IF William Suero from Triple-A New Orleans.Arizona Fall League -- Named Steve Cobb director of marketing, effective June 14.CollegeAllegheny -- Named John Wilcher women's lacrosse coach.Butler -- Named Jerry Francis men's assistant basketball coach.Colgate -- Announced the resignation of Heidi Hazen, women's softball coach.Kings Point -- Named Joe Assante men's assistant soccer coach.

The Navy men's lacrosse team is charting unfamiliar territory. For the first time since 2003, the No. 15 Midshipmen did not win the Patriot League tournament and receive an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. That means Navy (9-5) must wait until Sunday for the selection committee to determine its postseason fate. "It's really nerve-racking, putting our season in somebody else's hands," senior attackman Nick Mirabito acknowledged. "We had an opportunity to secure that, but we didn't get it done."

Moves Baseball MLB -- Suspended Rangers minor league P Francisco Cruceta 50 games for testing positive for performance-enhancing substance. MARLINS -- Recalled OF Reggie Abercrombie from Triple-A Albuquerque. Optioned OF Eric Reed to Albuquerque. METS -- Signed P Brian Lawrence to minor league contract. REDS -- Released P Rheal Cormier. Placed P Eric Milton (Maryland) on 15-day DL. Activated P Jared Burton from 15-day DL. Colleges NCAA -- Reduced suspension of former Ohio State men's basketball coach Jim O'Brien from five years to two years.

Four days before the NCAA Division I tournament's 16-team bracket is unveiled, this much seems clear. Only two of nine at-large spots appear to be open, and those selections could hinge heavily on the results of this week's America East and Colonial Athletic Association conference tournaments, plus the fates of a couple of bubble teams from the Ivy League and a Patriot League also-ran. The NCAA lacrosse committee will examine the Rating Percentage Index (RPI), a system based on the record of a team's opponents and the record of the opponents' opponents.

Katherine Marie Struck, a former budget analyst and youth lacrosse league founder, died of breast cancer Sunday at her Odenton home. She was 46. Born in St. Louis, she was the daughter of John J. "Jack" McMahon, a former professional basketball player and coach. She was raised around the country while her father held positions with the Cincinnati Royals, the San Diego Rockets and the Philadelphia 76ers. She earned a bachelor's degree in 1979 from what is now McDaniel College and was a budget analyst for the Navy in Washington from 1980 until 1993.

When the men's lacrosse committee gathers in Indianapolis on Sunday to figure out the 16-team NCAA tournament bracket, it will examine Rating Percentage Index positions, strength of schedules and, above all, tournament candidates' wins against top 5, top 10 and top 15 opponents. "Bad" losses probably will not carry enough weight to make a difference, said committee chairman Jon Hind, Butler University's assistant athletic director. For starters, numerous teams likely to fill out the 10 at-large bids have three, four or five losses, a reflection of the parity in the sport.

Loyola battling Maryland and Virginia for a conference championship? Mount St. Mary's preparing for an NCAA tournament game while Syracuse prepares for next season?Don't laugh. Get ready for an introduction to college lacrosse, Y2K style.As the sport enters the new millennium, the 12-team Division I men's NCAA tournament will go from a purely at-large format to determining at least half of its field by automatic berths. That has the 17 independent schools at the 53-team Division I level already thinking about moving into established leagues or joining forces to form new affiliations.

Thunder forward Gary Gait, who led the National Lacrosse League this season in scoring with 57 goals and 28 assists, was named winner of the NLL's Most Valuable Player Award yesterday, the fourth straight year he has received the honor.Gait, 31, acquired by the Thunder from Philadelphia in a mid-December trade, dominated the now-defunct Major Indoor Lacrosse League throughout the 1990s, earning first-team All-Pro honors the last seven years and claiming the league's MVP award the previous three.

The "bona fide star" that Thunder coach John Tucker lamented that his team painfully lacked last season has finally arrived.Gary Gait, perhaps the sport's greatest offensive player, made it official yesterday by signing with the Thunder.He will be in uniform when Baltimore opens its inaugural National Lacrosse League season against the Syracuse Smash and his twin brother, Paul, on Jan. 3 at Baltimore Arena."I think this is really the missing piece of the puzzle," said Tucker. "Gary can do things that no one else can do. He is the Michael Jordan of our sport."

Its leading returning goal scorer is a stockbroker. Its second leading scorer is a teacher at a school for children with learning disabilities. And one of its goalies runs a health club.Their primary occupations are diverse, but they all share a common part-time job and one ultimate goal -- returning the Baltimore Thunder to the top of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League.That's a tall order for a team that hasn't won the league championship since indoor lacrosse's inaugural season in 1987, but the Thunder, under the direction of first-year coach John Tucker, will take the first step toward reaching that lofty goal when it faces off against the Boston Blazers at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Baltimore Arena.

ARE YOUR KIDS excited or in a state of denial?2 Do not leave food out for more than two hours.AIA meetings to beginArundel Improvement Association will resume its monthly meetings at 8 p.m. Sept. 10.The speaker will be Capt. Emerson Davis, commander of the Northern District Police Station, who will discuss neighborhood police activities.0$ The AIA hall is at 705 Cross St.Fall lacrosseA fall lacrosse league for boys is being sponsored by the North County Lacrosse Association.Boys entering grades three through 12 are invited to play.