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Chris Davis' astonishing start to this season hasn't occurred by accident. Through 12 games, he's putting up numbers that are only fit for video games. But it's the result of the 27-year-old Orioles first baseman's realizing that he can truly get more with less. It's a result of countless discussions that Davis has had in the indoor batting cages with hitting coach Jim Presley, who told Davis to look at his 6-foot-3, 230-pound frame and realize he could hit homers without having to muscle a ball out. And it's the result of knowing he's going to be in the lineup every day - that's he's here in the big leagues to stay as a key piece of the Orioles and their success.

Home sales numbers released Wednesday for March offer an early indication that this spring might be the best selling season since the recession, provided that there are enough homes on the market to keep up with demand. Last month, Baltimore-area buyers entered into more than 3,200 contracts to buy homes, the first March to surpass that mark since 2007, the year the recession began, according to data collected by Metropolitan Regional Information Systems Inc., the region's multiple listing service, and its affiliate, Real Estate Business Intelligence LLC. The number of homes that went under contract last month was up 5.6 percent from March 2012, RBI said.

We've all heard that vaccines can lead to autism. But we've also heard that it's just a myth. And almost every health expert disputes the vaccine-autism link, as do numerous studies. But it's always in your mind: Am I doing the right thing? Some parents have tried to straddle those two schools of thought by having their infants vaccinated, but asking the pediatrician to space them out more than he or she normally would. A new study by the Centers for Disease Control says that spacing actually has no effect.

No one has won the Powerball jackpot since February so there is a roll over jackpot of $320 million up for grabs. The unofficial winning numbers drawn Saturday night were 17, 29, 31, 52 and 53. The Powerball was 31. Drawing results are pending. Meanwhile a winning ticket for last weekend's draw worth $1 million that was sold at the Thunderhead Bowl and Grill in Taneytown is still floating around. Lottery officials say winners have 182 days to come forward to claim their prize. Another $1 million ticket was sold last week at a Dundalk Giant and has since been turned in. iduncan@baltsun.com twitter.com/iduncan

It was almost a year ago - 363 days, to be exact - but it seems like eons now. John Ranagan fired home a low, bouncing shot with 5.6 seconds left in overtime to give Johns Hopkins an exhilarating 11-10 win over then-No. 1 Virginia, extend the Blue Jays' start to 8-0 and vault them to the top of The Baltimore Sun poll. Since then, however, the goals and late-game heroics have not been as frequent for Ranagan. As the midfielder embarks on the second half of his senior year with the Blue Jays, Ranagan is acutely aware of the expectations that have dogged him since he was named a first-team All-American in 2011.

1 Team to repeat as Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference champions since the league's first title game in 1996. Loyola is the only program to win back-to-back championships (2007 and 2008). No. 1 Calvert Hall will try to become the second this season. 8 State championships won overall by five-time defending champion Hereford, which ties the Bulls with Dulaney for the most among public schools in state history. Hereford also established a new mark for consecutive titles with its 13-8 win over Glenelg in the Class 3A-2A title game last season.