Outlook

Buck Showalter and Dan Duquette talked briefly with the media Sunday night in a conference call from Florida after the Orioles' charter plane - which had to make an emergency stop in Jacksonville because of smoke in the kitchen area - landed. Showalter talked about that experience, and both men spoke about the Orioles clinching a playoff berth for the first time in 15 years. The team learned of the Los Angeles Angels' loss while in the air. Showalter on the plane mishap: “I didn't get my coffee so I am a little ornery.

Today should be a perfect fall day, with a high around 72 with lows in upper 50s. Good weather to enjoy the Baltimore Book Festival or the Orioles as they salute Brooks Robinson on this last weekend of the regular season. Sunday will be in the mid-70s with a slight chance of late rain. From Monday through Wednesday, the Orioles will play under the dome of Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Fla., where they will finish up the season with three games against the Tampa Bay Rays . The weather there will be partly cloudy, temperatures in the low 90s and thunderstorms forecast every day. The dome's roof is lit orange when the Rays win, but perhaps this time they will light it up for the Orioles.

Aberdeen Head coach : Keith Bustin (first year) 2011 record : NA Top returning players : Brionna Jones, Sr., (Hitter); Jimmia McCluskey, Sr., (Hitter) Key newcomers : Tatiana Gomez, Sr., (Setter) Outlook : NA Bel Air Head coach : Tim Markland (fifth year) 2011 record : 12-6 Top returning players : Amanda Rodriguez, Jr., (Setter); Tia Williams, Sr., (Hitter); Jackie DeLuise, Sr., (Hitter); Celeste Roland, Sr.,(Hitter)

- For three days, they hobnobbed with Republican stars, were pursued by reporters, cast ballots for their party's presidential nominee and generally had a taste of life at the center of the political universe. Today, Maryland's delegation to the Republican National Convention returns home to a state where Mitt Romney is given little chance of carrying in November and a slate of congressional candidates is being heavily outspent in every district but one. In other words, state Republicans come back to reality.

1. McDonogh Coach: Harry Canellakis Last season: 18-3, No. 1 Postseason: IAAM A Conference champion Outlook: Graduating one of the program's finest classes -- led by two-time All-Metro Player of the Year Ashley Spivey -- the two-time defending league champions will need key returnees to thrive in bigger roles. There's clearly enough talent to bring home another crown. 2. Archbishop Spalding Coach: Bob Dieterle Last season: 14-6-1, No. 2 Postseason: IAAM A Conference finalist Outlook: The Cavaliers are determined to get redemption after a second straight loss to McDonogh in the IAAM A Conference title game last season.