Named Maryland

With the deadline to file for this fall's elections a little more than two weeks away, Billy Boniface is months behind. The 42-year-old has not held any fundraisers, and he just started sending out mailings. With his race likely to be decided in the Republican primary, he has just more than 90 days to make his case to Harford voters for the first time. But Boniface, who has filed to run for County Council president, and his supporters know he has one intangible on his side. Boniface is part of the fourth generation of a prominent county horse-breeding family, which, in some corners of Harford, is more notable than any elected position.

Maryland General Hospital, a 227-bed community teaching hospital near downtown Baltimore, named interim President Sylvia Smith Johnson as its next president and chief executive officer, the University of Maryland Medical System announced yesterday. Smith Johnson, 53, has served as interim president since November, when her predecessor, Colene Daniel, left to head two hospitals in Washington. A former chief operating officer at Maryland General, she has more than 30 years of hospital management experience.

Rebecca Hamilton of Lisbon was named Miss Maryland Agriculture 2005 Friday evening on the opening day of the Maryland State Fair in Timonium. Hamilton, 16, was chosen to compete for the state title when she was named Miss Howard County Farm Bureau this month. The contest included participants from 23 counties, the largest group of competitors in six years. "I think this is going to be an incredible opportunity for me throughout the year," said Hamilton, who plans to visit every county in Maryland to increase awareness of agriculture.

Moves Baseball BREWERS: Extended broadcast agreement with WTMJ-AM. DIAMONDBACKS: Optioned P Brian Bruney to Triple-A Tucson. Purchased contract of P Scott Service from Tucson. EXPOS: Signed SS Seth Bynum and assigned him to extended spring training. PADRES: Placed P Jake Peavy on 15-day DL, retroactive to May 20, with strained flexor tendon in right arm. Purchased contract of P Brian Sweeney from Triple-A Portland. ROYALS: Placed OF Juan Gonzalez on 15-day DL, retroactive to May 22, with muscle strain in back.

Amanda Williams first thought about entering the Miss Maryland Teen USA pageant as a freshman in high school. Her mother, Melissa Williams, remembers looking at the stack of entry forms in the kitchen of the family's Jarrettsville home. "I talked her out of it, I don't know if I had these stereotypes or what," Melissa Williams said. The next year, Amanda presented the forms to her mother but saw a different outcome. "When she told me that she wanted to use it as a steppingstone for her career, we said, `Sure you can enter,'" her mother said.

When Will Bowers of Archbishop Spalding signs with the University of Maryland today, he will become the first Anne Arundel County basketball player to receive a full scholarship from the Terps directly out of high school. Bowers is among dozens of local high school seniors planning to sign national letters of intent during an early signing period that begins today. In doing so, they acknowledge acceptance of athletic scholarships to NCAA Division I programs. The signing period for basketball and other sports -- including lacrosse, baseball and softball -- extends through next Wednesday.

Back in 1984, Stan Gelbaugh considered himself just another talented University of Maryland quarterback trying to help the Terrapins win, while hoping to survive long enough to throw a football for a living in the NFL. Gelbaugh would go on to draw a paycheck for 11 seasons, primarily as a backup in Buffalo and Seattle. And by the time he retired in 1996, Gelbaugh knew he had blossomed at an unlikely time, during an era that smiled unusually on the quarterbacks who paraded through College Park.

Michael Collier, a Catonsville poet who directs the creative writing program at the University of Maryland, College Park, has been named the state's poet laureate. In making the selection, Gov. Parris N. Glendening called Collier "one of Maryland's treasures, a distinguished scholar who is respected by his peers, his students, and the public for the richness of his craft." Collier, 47, has headed the acclaimed Bread Loaf Writers Conference in Ripton, Vt., since 1994. His latest collection of poems, "The Ledge," is a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award.

Baseball Athletics: Activated IF Randy Velarde from 15-day DL. Recalled P Ariel Prieto from Triple-A Sacramento. Optioned IF Adam Piatt to Sacramento. Designated P Ron Mahay for assignment. Braves: Recalled C Fernando Lunar from Double-A Greenville. Cubs: Released P Bobby Ayala. Mariners: Assigned OF John Mabry to Triple-A Tacoma on injury rehabilitation. Red Sox: Recalled P Tim Young from Triple-A Pawtucket. Optioned P Rob Stanifer to Pawtucket. Tigers: Placed OF Wendell Magee on 15-day DL with a left hand injury.

BaseballBrewers: Named Larry Aaron and Justin McCray scouts. Named Tom Allison, Bobby Heck and Ric Wilson scouting crosscheckers.Indians: Signed P Brian Barber to minor-league contract and invited him to spring training.Mariners: Announced that team has reached two-year friendship agreement with Fortitudo Bologna Baseball Club of Italian Professional League.Red Sox: Named Billy Gardner Jr. manager of Double-A Trenton.Reds: Named Gary Hughes director of professional scouting and special assistant to general manager.