Pitch

Orioles pitcher Rick Sutcliffe returned to his family's home in Kansas City, Mo., on Sunday night after learning that his mother had died, manager Johnny Oates announced last night.But Oates said that Sutcliffe told him by telephone yesterday that he planned on returning to Baltimore today and pitching tonight against the California Angels before flying to the Midwest to complete the funeral arrangements.When he called Sutcliffe to send his condolences, Oates wasn't counting on the veteran right-hander to make his regular start.

Reprinted from yesterday's late editions The Orioles timed Rick Sutcliffe's five-game suspension perfectly. When he dropped his appeal, it set up their pitching rotation for the next four series, including the three on this homestand against the Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays.Sutcliffe beat the Tigers, 6-2, Wednesday night and is now 3-0 with a 1.39 ERA against them since joining the Orioles. As a bonus, he won't face the Yankees, against whom he's 1-3 with a 8.37 ERA the past two seasons.

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Rookie center fielder Curtis Goodwin tripled on the first pitch thrown to him in the Orioles' first exhibition of spring, and as he rounded second, third base coach Steve Boros was already formulating a little speech in his mind.Starters: Orioles' Mike Mussina vs. Blue Jays' Pat Hentgen

Eight youngsters showed up at Liberty High School two Sundays ago ina chilly kickoff for the latest local recreation program --fast-pitch softball for teen-age girls.The program, said organizer George Myers, is intended to acquaint youngsters with fast-pitch so they areready to face it in high school varsity competition.And for those already playing there, it offers an additional chance to whack away at the fast ones in the summer.Myers plans to run practices until roughly mid-April, when he hopes to form teams in under-14, 16 and 18 categories.

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- At the one-third mark of the exhibition season, Orioles manager John Oates said he's had no surprises, but pinpointed starting pitching as the most pleasing development."

WITH ALL the turmoil swirling around Sidney Ponson, the Orioles could use some help on the pitching mound, and I figure I could offer my services. This season, I compiled a 5-1 record as my team won its Catonsville Rec League championship. Sure, it's slow-pitch softball. But I've been watching a lot of baseball on TV, and those major-leaguers have a tough time with slow throwers. Imagine what effect my 20 mph (or slower) submarine pitch will have on a slugger's timing. I even have a knuckler, just like that Wakefield guy with the Red Sox, and you know how well they're doing lately.

Books on baseball and the 1814 British Invasion were awarded the Maryland Historical Society's book prize this week for helping preserve state history and culture. James H. Bready's "Baseball in Baltimore: The First 100 Years" (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998) chronicles the history of Maryland baseball from the Excelsiors and the Lord Baltimores to today's Orioles. Bready, 81, is a long-time Baltimore resident and has written for The Evening Sun and The Sun since 1945. Anthony Pitch recounts the Washington battle of the War of 1812 in "The Burning of Maryland: The British Invasion of 1814" (United States Naval Institute Press, 1998)

NEW YORK -- All around him, there seemed to be the kind of unhappiness and upheaval that swirls through the New York VTC Yankees clubhouse even in the best of times. Dave Eiland simply pulled up a chair in front of his locker, though, and thumbed casually through the pages of a magazine, apparently oblivious to the developing controversy.By Yankees standards, it wasn't much. Dave LaPoint and Andy Hawkins, told they were losing their places in the pitching rotation so that Eiland and Steve Adkins could start, reacted angrily.

One thing clearly separates North Carroll and the rest of Carroll County's high school softball teams this season -- pitching.Junior Kandi Lippy grew up watching her father's fast-pitch team and her two older brothers who played the game. She began playing slow-pitch in the second grade and started pitching fast-pitch in the seventh.After a sophomore season in which she improved with every game to help lead the Panthers to a state playoff appearance, Lippy is now the foundation of an 11-6 team that is making a run at the region playoffs.