Pitch

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.

NEW YORK -- Last night's rainout will enable the Orioles to pitch David Wells twice at Yankee Stadium, force the Yankees to start Kenny Rogers in Game 4 and potentially reduce the impact of the New York bullpen.Other than that, it won't help the Orioles one bit.Could it be that owner Peter Angelos outbid George Steinbrenner to sign Mother Nature? Could it be that Tropical Storm Josephine will turn out to be MVP of the American League Championship Series?The Yankees have (David) Weathers, but yesterday the Orioles had The Weather.

It will go down as a one-pitch save for Gregg Olson. Not that it was quick -- or easy.Olson closed out the Orioles' 7-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers yesterday, but not before a 1-hour, 4-minute rain delay tested the humor and patience of his teammates."

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Hoyt Wilhelm was the quintessential knuckleballer. Wilbur Wood won 20 games throwing it. Eddie Fisher made it sing. Dutch Leonard. Barney Schultz. Others.Now, there are two: Tom Candiotti of the Cleveland Indians and Charlie Hough of the Chicago White Sox. And Hough, at 43, is nearing the end.Is the knuckleball?"I don't think so," Hough said. "I think somebody will come along and throw it."As he spoke, he tossed the baseball up about 6 inches with his right hand and caught it, invariably with his grip and the seams in perfect knuckleball alignment, with fingertips -- not knuckles -- above the seams at their narrowest point.

In early July, when Mike Mussina asked for extra rest between starts, Johnny Oates said it was like E. F. Hutton talking.The problem was, Oates didn't always listen."

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Right-hander Dave Johnson said yesterday that he has moved into the final phase of his recovery from a deep groin-muscle strain, but admits that he may have to pitch with some pain.He'll throw two innings of simulated-game action in the bullpen today and pitch against live hitters a couple of times before a decision is made on when he'll return to the active roster."It seems to be coming along," Johnson said. "It's still sore between workouts, but I feel so good throwing that I'm very anxious to get out there."

At best, Arthur Rhodes was a long shot to log the first complete game of the year for the Orioles. But the odds were considerably shorter that the often erratic left-hander wouldn't survive the fourth inning yesterday.For the first time in four starts, Rhodes had a lead of more than one run with which to work. But, thanks to three walks and a triple with two outs, he was on the verge of an early dismissal.A 6-1 lead had dwindled to a pair of runs and Rickey Henderson was one ball away from taking the potential tying run to first base when Rhodes made the pitch that probably saved his day. The count was 3-and-1, Mark Williamson was ready in the bullpen and Rhodes was rapidly closing in on a warm shower.

Sean Fairbanks was putting on his uniform yesterday in the locker room at Arundel getting ready to board the team bus to Cape St. Claire when coach Bernie Walter gave him the news.Walter told the 6-foot-4, 210-pound senior catcher that he didn't need his mask, shin guards nor his aluminum bat and batting helmet."Are you ready to pitch?" asked Walter.Fairbanks said he was. He pitched a four-hitter through six shutout innings before tiring in the seventh as the No. 8 Wildcats turned back the No. 11 Bruins, 12-2.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- About Nolan Ryan.Leave the old man alone, OK?Let him pitch in peace. Let him pitch until he's either 95 or can no longer hit 95 on the radar gun, whichever comes first.Where does it say Ryan has to retire before his first Social Security check arrives? And why do people with two good eyes write that retirement nonsense? What you see is what you get. And what you see is a big-time, big-name, crusty legend who remains as mound-mean as one of his bulls back on the ranch. The competitive fire burns bright and the right arm throws heavy smoke.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- If everything goes according to plan, Sid Fernandez will make his first start for the Orioles against the Rangers in Texas on April 17.That's the timetable manager Johnny Oates has laid out after Fernandez was examined yesterday and given clearance to resume throwing."