Shoulder Surgery

North Harford senior Corey Jubb is a two-way lineman for North Harford, which is trying to make the playoffs for a third straight season. He is being recruited by Maryland, Towson and Delaware. Jubb, 6 feet 4 and 330 pounds, is coming back from shoulder surgery after an injury that left him playing in pain throughout most of the season. Jubb suffered the injury when he fell awkwardly on his shoulder during the Hawks' win over Joppatowne. Jubb has been on varsity since his freshman year, and coach Ken Brinkman and the Hawks are looking to him as one of their leaders.

A HAND FOR BOLLER Quarterback Kyle Boller floated a perfect 44-yard pass over cornerback Willie Gaston into the hands of rookie wide receiver Yamon Figurs. That play caused the crowd to erupt in applause. A GOOD READ The secondary seemed to read the routes the receivers were running and jumped on them with moderate success. Cornerbacks Samari Rolle and Chris McAlister each grabbed interceptions, and cornerback Evan Oglesby ended practice with another interception. BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO Linebacker Joe Martin nearly added his name to that list of defensive players with an interception.

ONE FOR MOORE Wide receiver Clarence Moore might have helped his cause by diving and catching a 41-yard pass (above) from quarterback Kyle Boller. Moore needs more catches like that to separate himself from a pack that includes Devard Darling and rookie Yamon Figurs, a third-round pick. LOOK OUT, O.J. Director of player development O. J. Brigance could have applied for hazard pay. Standing in as a running back during a drill, Brigance was plowed over by linebacker Jarret Johnson. LITTLE BIG MAN One of the largest men to play for the Ravens, former offensive tackle Orlando Brown, wore a Spud Webb jersey at practice yesterday.

Bel Air senior designated hitter Anthony Huling is battling through a difficult season on and off the field. He has had to deal with his father, Wally, being diagnosed with melanoma. Wally Huling recently was declared cancer-free after surgery. On the field, Huling has been slowed by injuries, including a chronic shoulder problem. After batting .350 as a sophomore -- when he helped the Bobcats reach the state semifinals -- he hit .375 last year before dipping below .200 this season. He normally is a catcher, but the shoulder injury forced him to spend all of this season as a DH. In his spare time, Huling sings, writes songs and plays guitar.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- Three weeks into a scheduled four-week rehabilitation program, Orioles pitcher Kris Benson has chosen to have season-ending surgery to repair a partially torn right rotator cuff. Benson met with Orioles vice president Jim Duquette on Tuesday morning and was later given approval to have the surgery after he conferred with team doctors. He left the team to return home to Atlanta and is expected to have the surgery early next week. It will likely be performed by Dr. David Altchek, the New York Mets team medical director.

Just two days before pitchers and catchers report to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for the start of spring training, the Orioles are facing the reality that they will likely be without one of their most reliable starters for much if not all of the season. Kris Benson, expected to be the veteran anchor of a young Orioles rotation and either its No. 2 or No. 3 starter, will likely have surgery to repair a partially torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder, his agent Gregg Clifton confirmed yesterday.

The San Diego Chargers' decision on Drew Brees' future became much cloudier yesterday when the quarterback said he needs surgery for a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder. Brees dislocated his right shoulder in a home loss to the Denver Broncos on Saturday, and a magnetic resonance imaging exam on Sunday revealed the torn cartilage. The fifth-year pro plans to travel today to Birmingham, Ala., to get a second opinion from orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews, and would like to have surgery this week.

The Orioles today announced a series of roster moves that set their roster at the 25-player limit to begin the 2005 season. The Orioles optioned left-handed pitcher Eric DuBose and infielder/outfielder Ramon Nivar to Triple-A Ottawa. They also reassigned right-handed pitcher Jay Witasick and infielder Enrique Wilson to minor league camp. On Friday, the club placed three players on the disabled list. Pitcher Kurt Ainsworth (right shoulder surgery), pitcher Jason Grimsley (ligament replacement surgery)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Orioles pitcher Kurt Ainsworth most likely will undergo surgery to repair his right shoulder, with a goal of returning for the 2006 season. Retirement, it seems, no longer is an immediate consideration. Ainsworth returned to Fort Lauderdale Stadium yesterday morning, arriving in the clubhouse at 7:48 with the results of his magnetic resonance imaging test in one hand. Examined in Baltimore the previous day, Ainsworth found out that the pain in his shoulder is related to slight tears in his labrum and rotator cuff and a divot in the socket.

Another Orioles pitching prospect has run into a health issue, this one involving left-hander Adam Loewen, who has been found to have a torn labrum. Loewen, the fourth pick in the 2002 draft out of British Columbia, underwent a magnetic resonance imaging test Wednesday at Camden Yards. Team physician Dr. Charles Silberstein also injected dye into the shoulder, which showed the tear. The Orioles will put Loewen on a five-week throwing program beginning Sept. 20. The best-case scenario has him ready for spring training, but if surgery is needed, he'll miss eight to 12 months.