Shorebirds

FREDERICK -- Last season, the big names, Ryan Minor and Calvin Pickering included, bypassed Frederick on the Orioles' farm-system ladder and went directly from lower Single-A to the Double-A level.This time, the Keys have landed the marquee players.Pitching phenom Matt Riley and first-rounder draft picks Jayson Werth and Darnell McDonald will play in the Carolina League and form the nucleus of a Frederick team that has the ingredients to be the city's best in a decade."Potentially, this club could be real good," said former Orioles catcher and new manager Andy Etchebarren.

SALISBURY -- The usual pre-game ceremonies and post-game fireworks launched the Delmarva Shorebirds' home season last night, but the game itself didn't offer much encouragement.The most successful team in the Orioles' farm system the last two seasons didn't do anything particularly well and lost its fifth straight in the South Atlantic League, 6-2, to the Piedmont Boll Wevils before 5,896 fans at Perdue Stadium.Shorebirds starter Steve Bechler had a commendable outing, permitting one earned run in 5 1/3 innings, but three Delmarva errors led to three unearned Piedmont runs and the home bullpen was not effective.

SALISBURY -- Three years ago, Joyce Dunn didn't know baseball from backgammon. She couldn't tell a line drive in the gap from a routine pop-up to center field, a cutoff throw from a drag bunt.That was before the Shorebirds came to town, before the Wicomico County elementary school principal volunteered to become a combination housemother, booster and Section 115, right-behind-the-dugout, season-ticket zealot for a couple dozen ballplayers she calls "the boys."Yes, "the boys" all dream that the grueling 15,000-mile season of bus rides to bush-league parks in six states will eventually pay off with a shot at baseball's big time.

Phone numbers to call for ticket information for the Orioles and minor-league teams in the state.Orioles 410-685-9800Bowie BaysoxDouble-A Eastern League 301-805-6000Frederick KeysSingle-A Carolina League 301-662-0013Hagerstown SunsSingle-A S. Atlantic League 301-791-6266Delmarva ShorebirdsSingle-A S. Atlantic League 410-219-3112 or 888-BIRDS-96

HAGERSTOWN -- A year has made a major difference in the fortunes of the Orioles minor-league affiliates.In 1997, five of them qualified for postseason play and three won championships. In 1998, there are no more survivors.The Hagerstown Suns insured that last night at Municipal Stadium, eliminating Delmarva in the first round of the South Atlantic League playoffs, 4-0, behind left-hander Clayton Andrews.Hagerstown, a Toronto Blue Jays farm club, whipped the Shorebirds for the 10th time in 14 meetings at its home park and advanced to the semifinals against an opponent to be determined.

SALISBURY -- The defending South Atlantic League champions are within a loss of relinquishing their title.A tough 2-1 defeat to Hagerstown last night at Perdue Stadium insures that the Delmarva Shorebirds will have to stay alive in the playoffs on the road.And they are 4-9 this season at Hagerstown, where the best-of-3, first-round series switches for Game 2 tonight.The Suns, first-half winners of the Northern Division, came from behind with two eighth-inning runs to capture the opener with the winner scoring on Eddy Garabito's throwing error.

His lineage includes former big-league infielders Dick Schofield Jr. and Sr., his uncle and grandfather, and Dennis Werth, his stepfather, who played for the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals.But Delmarva Shorebirds catcher Jayson Werth first learned baseball skills from his mother."When I was a little kid, she always had me outside hitting tennis balls, using a bat or something," said the 1997 first-round Orioles draftee. "Later, it was my stepfather who worked with me, got me on the right track."

The Delmarva Shorebirds fought an uphill battle in their home opener last night but couldn't get over the peak.Trailing 6-0 midway through the game, Delmarva had the potential winning run at the plate twice in the late innings before dropping a 6-4 decision to the Capital City Bombers in a South Atlantic League game before 3,970 at Perdue Stadium in Salisbury."

At 6 feet 5, 283 pounds, Delmarva Shorebirds first baseman Calvin Pickering is tough to miss. And when the offensive firepower the Orioles came to expect suddenly went, it too was conspicuous.Hampered by an injury that sapped his power and skewed his mechanics, the 20-year-old from the Virgin Islands wallowed through most of the season's first half. But now Pickering finally is healthy, focused and hammering the ball again.And with the second half under way, he's looking forward with the same fervor as the Shorebirds team that lost the first-half title of the South Atlantic League's Northern Division (and automatic playoff berth)

ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Ryan Minor went 5-for-5 with a double and a hit his eighth homer of the season last night, leading the Delmarva Shorebirds past the Asheville Tourists, 13-9, in a Single-A South Atlantic League game last night.Minor's five hits set a franchise record. Calvin Pickeering hit his sixth homer of the season and Tim DeCinces hit his seventh for Delmarva (25-22).Pub Date: 5/23/97

SALISBURY -It's not easy to be the answer to a trivia question. But Ryan Minor, the man who replaced Cal Ripken Jr. on Sept. 20, 1998, and ended his consecutive-games streak at 2,632, is at peace with his place in baseball history, even if it comes up while he's eating dinner on the road. "You hear that question asked a ton," Minor says as he sits in the dugout of his employer, the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds. "And people don't even realize you're sitting there and you're the guy that played that night.

I mentioned the Delmarva Shorebirds would be offering a Matt Wieters bobblehead to the first 1,000 fans Sept. 4. The Frederick Keys announced they will be handing out Wieters bobbleheads to the first 1,000 fans May 9. (For more, go to baltimoresun.com/osondeck)

1 Don't bobble it: If you're down in Ocean City this weekend, pick up Nick Markakis in Salisbury. Actually, it's a Markakis bobblehead, to be given away at tonight's Shorebirds game (7:05). 2 Eggs and Ralph: If you're reading this early enough, you can "Breakfast with the Fridge" at the Inn and Conference Center at Maryland. Terps football coach Ralph Friedgen will speak from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. 3 Release the 'Hounds: The Loyola men's soccer team obviously has the tools, going 19-3-1 last year.

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.

SALISBURY -- Only at a ballpark named for the first family of chicken could you have a left-field fowl pole. Or a stadium staff called "the flock." At Arthur W. Perdue Stadium, just a quick turn off U.S. 50 on the way to or from the beach, chicken made Single-A baseball possible, but fans make it special. There's Gil and Joyce Dunn, booster club leaders, who take Delmarva Shorebirds into their home, steer many of them through their first steamed crab dinner, cheer them when they're slumping and cheer for them when they're riding high.

I attended Sunday's Sowebo festival for the first time in my life. If you like to people-watch, this is the place. The artwork on display is incredible. And that's just the tattoos. A moment of silence for actor Paul Gleason, who died over the weekend from mesothelioma, a rare lung cancer associated with asbestos. The name might not sound familiar, but you know him as the principal in The Breakfast Club. He also appeared in Trading Places and Die Hard. What does this have to do with sports?

Yesterday TRIPLE-A INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE Ottawa 10, Charlotte 8 DOUBLE-A EASTERN LEAGUE Akron 3, Bowie 2 -- The Baysox (22-25) lost as the host Aeros scored two runs with two outs. SINGLE-A CAROLINA LEAGUE Frederick 2, Lynchburg 1 -- For the visiting Keys (21-24), Morgan Clendenin doubled home the winning run in the ninth to beat the Hillcats. SINGLE-A SOUTH ATLANTIC LEAGUE Delmarva 12, Hagerstown 1 -- The visiting Shorebirds (29-17) roughed up Suns pitchers Jim Wladyka and Josh Appell for 10 runs in the final two innings.

Yesterday Triple-A International Ottawa 6, Indianapolis 4: Fernando Tatis went 3-for-4 for the visiting Lynx (5-2). Double-A Eastern Bowie 6, Erie 4: Cory Keylor went 2-for-3 with three RBIs to lead the visiting Baysox (7-3). Single-A Carolina Lynchburg 3, Frederick 1: Dustin Yount drove in Frederick's lone run in the top of the second, but the visiting Keys dropped to 5-3. Single-A South Atlantic Delmarva 5, Lakewood 2: James Hoey picked up his third save of the season for the Shorebirds (7-2)

Yesterday Single-A S. Atlantic League playoffs Hagerstown 7, Delmarva 4: The Suns forced a deciding Game 3 against the Shorebirds by using a three-run third inning to take the lead. The Shorebirds won the first game, 13-3, on Wednesday. Michael Devaney (11-4) got the win and Carlos Perez (11-9) took the loss. Marcelo Perez closed the game out, pitching to four batters in the ninth. Five different players drove in runs for Hagerstown and eight of the nine starters had at least one hit. Delmarva's Juan Gutierrez hit two bases-empty home runs.

Yesterday Single-A South Atlantic League Hagerstown 6, Lake County 5: Russ Triplett hit his second homer, a three-run shot, in the eighth inning to give the Suns (7-12) a 6-4 lead in a win over the host Captains (9-10). Triplett ended up with three hits and four RBIs. Mike Devaney gave up four runs, one earned, in six innings for Hagerstown. Jose Gomez (1-1) got the win in relief, and Marcelo Perez earned his seventh save. Delmarva 7, Lexington 1: Orioles ace Erik Bedard pitched five shutout innings in a rehabilitation assignment with the Shorebirds.