Norfolk

RICHMOND, Va. - Courtesy of an unusually high number of layups and tip-ins, Norfolk State defeated Coppin State, 78-66, in the quarterfinals of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament at Richmond Coliseum last night. The loss ended the season and gave Coppin (13-15) its first losing record since 1987-88, coach Fang Mitchell's second season. "I thought that we ran into a very determined team tonight," Mitchell said. "They [the Spartans] were ready to meet the challenge." After a close first half, the Spartans dominated the second half, leading by as many as 18 points.

In a brisk fall breeze, a colorful fleet of 39 sailing vessels set out from the Bay Bridge yesterday on the 11th annual Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race to Norfolk, Va. Conditions were close to perfect for the start of the 127-mile sprint down the bay, with the sun shining and a 15- to 20-knot wind from the northwest. By dusk, with the fleet off Cove Point, led by Wondwind, Imagine..!, and Californian, the wind had dropped to below 10 knots, and half-a-dozen boats were in a pack behind the leaders.

The freighter Teval left the port of Baltimore just before Christmas and should be delivering a load of cargo containers in Buenos Aires later this week. Back here in Maryland, officials are hoping that the state's biggest stake in the international shipping business isn't going to follow the Teval out of town. The Argentina-bound Teval was the last vessel stopping in Baltimore as part of Evergreen Marine Corp.'s service linking the East Coast with South America. The Taiwanese shipping giant is pulling out of the trade, planning to serve South America not with its own ships but by chartering space on another company's vessels -- vessels that call at Norfolk, Va., not Baltimore.

While watching Jake Arrieta struggle on the mound against the Phillies on Friday night, Orioles manager Buck Showalter firmly believed that sending Arrieta to Triple-A was the best solution. Arrieta himself thought it was a real possibility. He talked to his father on the phone Friday night about the likelihood. But the Orioles brass contemplated Arrieta's fate to the 11th hour and decided to move their Opening Day starter to the bullpen to work out his problems instead of optioning him to Norfolk.

Delmarva Shorebirds shortstop Matt Tucker said he doesn't come to the ballpark every day thinking about his batting average or any other statistics. "I'm here to make it to the major leagues," the Aurora, Colo., native said Friday afternoon from Lexington, Ky., where he was waiting to play the Legends. "That's what we're all here for." Tucker, 24, said the Single-A Shorebirds' emphasis is on winning and not "whether I hit .300 or .250." Tucker leads the Shorebirds this season with a .309 batting average in 28 games.

Jason Dubois made it through the Florida portion of spring training with his health intact, which would have been perfect if there hadn't also been a Norfolk, Va., portion. Dubois pulled his hamstring while running out a ground ball during an exhibition game against the Washington Nationals that was played at the home of the Orioles' new Triple-A affiliate. He went on the disabled list, which delayed his debut with the Tides. Back in the lineup and making up for lost time, Dubois is starting to heat up. He also is giving the Orioles another name to consider if they want to add a right-handed hitter to a lineup that often lacks punch.

When Single-A Frederick pitcher Brandon Erbe is on his game, he reminds the Orioles why they drafted him in the third round two years ago. Executives from other teams wonder how they could have passed on him. He flashes major league talent that can be blinding. But when Erbe struggles, he reminds everyone that he's only 19 and has a long way to go. And, boy, can he struggle. Erbe, a graduate of McDonogh, entered yesterday's start with a 6-4 record and 6.07 ERA in 18 games. He had allowed 89 hits in 86 innings, with 48 walks and 76 strikeouts.

The Orioles have attempted to bolster their lack of catching depth by sending minor league right-hander Rob Delaney to the Los Angeles Angels organization for veteran catcher Chris Snyder. Snyder, 32, will meet the team in Seattle on Tuesday and presumably will take over the back-up catching void created when Taylor Teagarden dislocated his left thumb Saturday. The Orioles recalled Luis Exposito for Sunday's game - he did not play -- but now it is likely he will lose his place on the big league roster Tuesday with the pending arrival of Snyder, a veteran of parts of nine major league seasons.

NORFOLK, Va. - In majestic procession, the tall ships left this naval port yesterday to send Operation Sail 2000 on its way to its next stop: Baltimore. The 31 sailing ships that will turn Baltimore harbor into a municipality of masts will start arriving in the Inner Harbor today. The first three are expected to dock before noon. They are the Guayas, a 258-foot barque from Ecuador; Italy's 331-foot, full-rigged Amerigo Vespucci; and the 191-foot Indonesian barquentine Dewaruci. The fleet will be docked around the city waterfront, from the Inner Harbor west wall along the piers, at Fells Point and out to Locust Point and Canton.