Mavericks

The No. 7 Eastern Tech football team is undefeated this year in large part because of a powerful running game and a stout defense. Senior quarterback Travis Crane proved that the Mavericks' passing game can't be taken lightly either, throwing for two touchdowns in a 27-0 victory over No. 12 Edmondson last night at CCBC-Essex. The win gave Eastern Tech (12-0) the Class 2A North title. "He's got nerves of steel," Mavericks coach Marc Mesaros said. "He's a tough kid, he doesn't fold under pressure, and we're real proud of him."

Moves Baseball BLUE JAYS -- Purchased contract of OF John-Ford Griffin from Triple-A Syracuse. Placed OF Vernon Wells on 60-day DL. GIANTS -- Recalled OF Fred Lewis from Single-A San Jose. Basketball BUCKS -- Signed F Michael Ruffin. MAVERICKS -- Signed G Devin Harris to five-year contract extension through 2012-13 season. Colleges EAST CAROLINA -- Dismissed baseball P Josh Dowdy from team for violating team rules. OHIO STATE -- Signed men's basketball coach Thad Matta to contract extension through 2016 season.

Two years ago, Eastern Tech's girls soccer team brought home a state championship, and coach Kim Williams sees some key similarities between then and now as the Mavericks prepare for another title game Saturday. "Both teams have a really high work ethic," Williams said. "They work hard every day. They put 150 percent effort into their practices, and they try their best to do the same thing in the games." The No. 10 Mavericks will face No. 2 River Hill, last year's Class 3A champion, for the title Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Broadneck High.

Eastern Tech showed No. 12 Franklin yesterday why it has been the fastest rising team in Baltimore County girls soccer this season. Then, the Indians showed why they have never lost to Eastern.The host Indians rallied from one goal down to edge the Mavericks, 3-2, when Brandi Sproul headed in her sister Lindsay Sproul's restart from about 20 yards in the 61st minute. The Sproul sisters accounted for all of the Indians scoring. Brandi had two goals and an assist. Lindsay had a goal and an assist.

Down by nine points at halftime against visiting Eastern Tech before a partisan homecoming crowd, second-ranked Randallstown, penalized 10 times yesterday, seemed to have lost control.Rams coach Anthony Knox had been ejected in the second period. But assistant Mike Sye took over, directing a come-from-behind, 26-21 Baltimore County 3A-4A League win as the Rams shut out 13th-ranked Eastern Tech in the second half."He [Sye] said, `Cut down on mistakes, we'll win,' " said linebacker Quan Mitchell.

Towson High lacrosse players develop a visceral disgust for losing.Eastern Tech's first-year coach Barry Heddings, a 1993 Towson graduate, described it as "a real bad feeling" after yesterday's 9-8 loss at Baltimore County Division I-rival Towson.Towson senior Gavin Kimball and junior teammate Ben DeFelice knew that feeling last season, when Chad Roeder coached Eastern Tech to its first win over the Generals, 7-4.But it was one of five losses which motivated then-first-year Generals coach Ben Berquist, a 1988 Towson graduate, to last spring's Class 1A-2A state runner-up finish.

Jerome Owens of No. 8 Eastern Tech rushed for 125 yards on 12 carries and scored two touchdowns yesterday. It almost wasn't enough.The defense of the visiting Mavericks (2-0) had to withstand intense fourth-quarter pressure by Woodlawn quarterback Vincent Fuller to survive with a hard-fought 19-12 win.Fuller completed 14 of 29 passes for 103 yards, and rushed for 42 more yards to lead the Warriors (0-2).The game was the conclusion of Thursday's game, which was stopped due to lightning with 47 seconds left in the first half.

Down by nine points at halftime against visiting Eastern Tech before a partisan homecoming crowd, second-ranked Randallstown, penalized 10 times yesterday, seemed to have lost control.Rams coach Anthony Knox had been ejected in the second period. But assistant Mike Sye took over, directing a come-from-behind, 26-21 Baltimore County 3A-4A League win as the Rams shut out 13th-ranked Eastern Tech in the second half."He [Sye] said, `Cut down on mistakes, we'll win,' " said linebacker Quan Mitchell.

Eastern Tech's Kevin Murray slugged his team to a nine-run lead over Patapsco, then replaced the starting pitcher for the final two innings of a wild 10-9 Baltimore County East Division win.And what a relief Murray was.The sophomore left fielder went 3-for-4 with four RBIs, including a three-run homer in the first inning, to lead the visiting Mavericks' 13-hit attack. Kenny Bolyard was 2-for-5 with two runs scored for Patapsco (3-1, 1-1 league), which rapped 10 hits.In an earlier 5-4 victory at Eastern Tech, Patapsco had built an early 5-0 lead before holding off the Mavericks.

After losing to No. 12 Franklin earlier in the season, Eastern Tech's No. 13 girls soccer team was determined yesterday not to make it two in a row.The Mavericks dominated Franklin from the start and scored off three corner kicks for a 3-2 victory, lifting them to their first Class 3A North regional crown. They advance to play in a state semifinal game Friday or Saturday.Kim Baker scored the game-winner in the 57th minute to give the Mavericks a 3-1 lead, as the Mavericks forced the Indians to play catch-up for two-thirds of the game.

Corey Polston rushed for 91 yards and two touchdowns as host Chesapeake-Baltimore County upset No. 6 Eastern Tech, 15-13, Saturday. The loss ended a 23-game regular-season winning streak for the Mavericks, who lost in the state championship game to River Hill the past two seasons. Eastern Tech had not lost in the regular season since a 21-0 setback against Hereford on Nov. 17, 2006. The Mavericks again lost to Hereford the following week in the regional playoffs. Since then, they had won 28 of 30 heading into Saturday's game The Bayhawks (4-0)

Coming off a lopsided loss in last year's Class 2A state final, Eastern Tech was intent on beginning this football season on a strong note. Facing Milford Mill on Friday night, however, the No. 7 Mavericks needed until the final minutes of a seesaw game to truly hit a fever pitch. After nearly blowing a two-touchdown lead, Eastern Tech scored 20 straight points in the final 4:21 to put away the Millers, 33-12, at CCBC-Essex. The Mavericks (1-0) now have won 27 of their past 29 games. "There's always going to be people that doubt us and spectators who aren't on our side, so it's a good thing that we come out and play strong," sophomore tailback Marquiese Bannister said.

A pack of Mavericks has joined the ranks of Carroll students this year, as the new Manchester Valley High School opened its doors on a bright, cool Tuesday morning, welcoming nearly 600 freshmen, sophomores and juniors. The school's inaugural year comes after a lengthy push - and much debate and controversy - from northeast-area residents, who sought a school to relieve crowding at Hampstead's North Carroll High. Along with the usual sounds of lockers slamming and students shuffling from class to class in the wide, airy hallways, a distinct sense - and smell - of newness also permeated the building.

1 Bird battle: Jeremy Guthrie (left) tries to stop the O's six-game losing streak in Toronto (1:07 p.m., MASN HD). Though with the exchange rate, it might be more than six. 2 Heat is on: Dwyane Wade scored 41 in Game 6 of the Eastern quarterfinals against the Hawks. Can he come up big in Game 7 (1 p.m., chs. 2, 7)? 3 Another Nugget: The Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony (Towson Catholic), in the NBA's second round for the first time, plays the Mavericks (3:30 p.m., chs. 2, 7). 4 Mighty good TV: Trailing 1-0 in the series, Anaheim plays at defending champion Detroit in the NHL Stanley Cup Western Conference semifinals (2 p.m., chs. 11, 4)

Improper anchoring caused boat accident nfl An agency investigating a deadly boating accident involving two NFL players and their two friends in the Gulf of Mexico concluded it was caused when the vessel was improperly anchored and the boat capsized after one of them tried to throttle forward to pry loose the anchor. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's investigation also cited carelessness and operator inexperience as contributing factors. The errors came when a storm front was moving in, making the water very rough.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 34 points, Jason Terry equaled a season high with 33 and the Dallas Mavericks handed the visiting Washington Wizards their fifth straight loss, 119-103 last night. The Wizards, the Eastern Conference's worst team at 14-49, led by 10 points in the first half before the Mavericks (38-25) rallied to tie it at halftime. Nowitzki had nine rebounds and a season-high seven assists, and Antoine Wright scored 16 points for Dallas, which was playing without Josh Howard. The Mavericks' starting forward has a sprained left ankle.

Roger Mason had 25 points and five assists against his old team as the San Antonio Spurs concluded their 19-day road trip with a 98-67 win over the Washington Wizards (13-43) at Verizon Center last night. Mason returned to his hometown and went 9-for-15 from the field, including 5-for-9 from three-point range, and had 10 points and two steals in a 19-4 run that capped the third quarter and gave the Spurs (37-17) a 78-57 lead. He was done for the night after that, as San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich rested his starters.

Angels drop out of bidding for Teixeira baseball The Los Angeles Angels have dropped out of the bidding for free agent Mark Teixeira, according to Angels spokesman Tim Mead, who yesterday confirmed a report by FoxSports that the Angels are moving in a new direction. The Angels were believed to be offering an eight-year deal worth between $160 million and $165 million. The decision was characterized as final, so it differs slightly from the announcement by the Boston Red Sox last week that they are not "a factor" in the negotiations.

CENTREVILLE - The final seconds had barely ticked off the scoreboard when Eastern Tech coach Mark Mesaros began focusing on next week's opponent. By virtue of his team's 28-6 win over host Queen Anne's last night, Mesaros and his No. 4 Mavericks earned their second straight trip to the Class 2A state title game and will face the team that defeated them last season, River Hill. "We're going to have our work cut out for us," said Mesaros, whose team improved to 13-0. "It's our second bite at the apple, and we're going to try not to waste it."

1 Playoff victory for Pikesville's football team, which advanced in the regionals for the first time with Friday's opening-round 22-18 win over New Town in Class 1A. 3 Goals scored by Eastern Tech's Amber Womack in Saturday's Class 2A state girls soccer final, which the Mavericks lost to River Hill in a shootout. 281 Yards by which Eastern Tech's football team outgained Poly in winning its 2A North regional semifinal Friday.