Swiney

The situation called for someone that could deliver in the clutch."If there's anyone on my team I would want in that situation, it's Stacey," Howard coach Dave Vezzi said.That's Stacey Swiney.Freshman Stacey Swiney."The more pressure, the better I do," Swiney said.She proved that dramatically yesterday with a one-out double in the sixth that broke up Emily Hall's no-hitter and helped Howard to a four-run inning and a 4-2 victory over visiting Centennial in the 3A East region championship.

Moves Baseball MARINERS: Named Bob Fontaine VP for scouting, Roger Jongewaard VP and special assistant to GM, Benny Looper VP of player development and scouting, Frank Mattox director of player development and Greg Hunter director of minor league operations. MARLINS: Signed OF Gerald Williams to minor league contract; invited him to major league camp. PADRES: Agreed to one-year, $1.85 million contract with P Rod Beck with club option for 2005. Basketball NBA: Fined Mavericks coach Don Nelson $7,500 for publicly criticizing officials.

Sophomore catcher Stacey Swiney knocked in three runs yesterday -- two on a first-inning home run that cleared a 200-foot fence -- to propel visiting Howard past Glenelg, 3-2, and earn the 12th-ranked Lions their first outright title in 20 years."

Jessica Burns did everything she could yesterday to help Howard win its Class 2A state semifinal game against North Caroline at Randazzo Park.The senior third baseman made a run-saving catch of a sharp line drive in the fifth inning. Her two-out single in the sixth inning capped a three-run rally that tied the game and sent it into extra innings. And she paid the price for scoring a run in the ninth, colliding hard with the catcher.Remember her for that.For sure, Burns' two-out, ninth-inning error that allowed North Caroline to tie the game was costly.

One of the biggest reasons Howard is the favorite for the Howard County championship is the battery of Kelly O'Neill and Stacey Swiney.The first-team All-County duo from a year ago wasted no time establishing their presence in the No. 8 Lions' season-opening 3-1 victory over No. 15 Centennial yesterday afternoon.O'Neill pitched a two-hitter, and Swiney provided the offense with a two-run double in the fifth inning that proved to be the difference."We played well considering the amount of time that has been spent outside so far this spring," said Howard coach Dave Vezzi.

Howard sophomore Stacey Swiney, an all-county catcher last year, already has missed three softball practices this spring.And she'll miss at least two more.But who's counting?"When something like this comes along," Swiney said, "it's the last thing on my mind."That's because Swiney and her basketball teammates are still alive in the Class 2A South region playoffs. The Lions, who lost to Oakland Mills twice in the regular season, out-rebounded and out-hustled the host Scorpions last night en route to a 56-49 quarterfinal round victory.

Howard's Sarah Berg had struck out the inning before. She made sure it didn't happen again.The junior shortstop delivered a two-out, two-run double in the fifth inning yesterday, helping the eighth-ranked Lions to a 3-2 league win over No. 15 Centennial at Howard."

Jessica Burns did everything she could yesterday to help Howard win its Class 2A state semifinal game against North Caroline at Randazzo Park.The senior third baseman made a run-saving catch of a sharp line drive in the fifth inning. Her two-out single in the sixth inning capped a three-run rally that tied the game and sent it into extra innings. And she paid the price for scoring a run in the ninth, colliding hard with the catcher.Remember her for that.For sure, Burns' two-out, ninth-inning error that allowed North Caroline to tie the game was costly.

Glenelg, which lost twice to Howard in the regular season, scored four times without a run-scoring hit and got a solid performance from pitcher Marni Brown to beat the county champions, 4-1, in a first-round Class 2A South Region playoff game yesterday at Glenelg.The 13th-ranked Gladiators (16-5) will play tomorrow at Prince George's County's Surrattsville High School."It's hard to beat a good team three straight times," said Howard coach Dave Vezzi, whose team won both games, including last Tuesday's at Glenelg, by one run. "They made the plays they had to make."

River Hill's Holly Gick struck out five batters in the first inning of yesterday's game at Howard."That was a first," Howard coach Dave Vezzi said. "It was pretty weird."Still, the Lions managed to score two runs in the inning."That's not a good omen," River Hill coach Dave Vitigliano said.He was right. Howard added three more runs in the third and another in the fifth en route to a 6-1 victory. Stacey Swiney led the 11th-ranked Lions (5-1 overall and league) with a double and triple and scored twice.

Howard pitcher Kelly O'Neill hasn't washed her uniform in two weeks, and she doesn't plan to do so any time soon.O'Neill's uniform last found the wash after Long Reach beat the Lions 16 days ago. Since then, Howard has won six straight, including yesterday's 5-0 decision over visiting Long Reach in a Class 2A South region semifinal.O'Neill's not about to change a thing. "I'm superstitious," she said.She's also on a roll.O'Neill followed Monday's 13-strikeout, two-hit performance in a 1-0 extra-inning win over River Hill with a one-hit, nine-strikeout showing against the Lightning.

One of the biggest reasons Howard is the favorite for the Howard County championship is the battery of Kelly O'Neill and Stacey Swiney.The first-team All-County duo from a year ago wasted no time establishing their presence in the No. 8 Lions' season-opening 3-1 victory over No. 15 Centennial yesterday afternoon.O'Neill pitched a two-hitter, and Swiney provided the offense with a two-run double in the fifth inning that proved to be the difference."We played well considering the amount of time that has been spent outside so far this spring," said Howard coach Dave Vezzi.

Howard's Sarah Berg had struck out the inning before. She made sure it didn't happen again.The junior shortstop delivered a two-out, two-run double in the fifth inning yesterday, helping the eighth-ranked Lions to a 3-2 league win over No. 15 Centennial at Howard."

Howard, trailing by seven points with 1: 41 to play, tied Mount Hebron with four seconds left in regulation, then made five of nine free throws in overtime for a 53-50 victory last night at Howard."

Coach of the YearKelly Storr, Wilde Lake: "It was a fantastic way to go out," said Storr, who is stepping down after her fifth and most successful season. The Wildecats tied for fourth (12-6) in the county and were 15-8 overall, their first winning record since 1980. They advanced to the Class 2A South region final -- the school's first region final -- before losing to Lackey. When Storr began coaching softball at Wilde Lake, she had 10 players and no JV team. During that season, Wilde Lake had to forfeit three games because it didn't have enough players.

Glenelg, which lost twice to Howard in the regular season, scored four times without a run-scoring hit and got a solid performance from pitcher Marni Brown to beat the county champions, 4-1, in a first-round Class 2A South Region playoff game yesterday at Glenelg.The 13th-ranked Gladiators (16-5) will play tomorrow at Prince George's County's Surrattsville High School."It's hard to beat a good team three straight times," said Howard coach Dave Vezzi, whose team won both games, including last Tuesday's at Glenelg, by one run. "They made the plays they had to make."

Howard, trailing by seven points with 1: 41 to play, tied Mount Hebron with four seconds left in regulation, then made five of nine free throws in overtime for a 53-50 victory last night at Howard."

Moves Baseball MARINERS: Named Bob Fontaine VP for scouting, Roger Jongewaard VP and special assistant to GM, Benny Looper VP of player development and scouting, Frank Mattox director of player development and Greg Hunter director of minor league operations. MARLINS: Signed OF Gerald Williams to minor league contract; invited him to major league camp. PADRES: Agreed to one-year, $1.85 million contract with P Rod Beck with club option for 2005. Basketball NBA: Fined Mavericks coach Don Nelson $7,500 for publicly criticizing officials.

Sophomore catcher Stacey Swiney knocked in three runs yesterday -- two on a first-inning home run that cleared a 200-foot fence -- to propel visiting Howard past Glenelg, 3-2, and earn the 12th-ranked Lions their first outright title in 20 years."

River Hill's Holly Gick struck out five batters in the first inning of yesterday's game at Howard."That was a first," Howard coach Dave Vezzi said. "It was pretty weird."Still, the Lions managed to score two runs in the inning."That's not a good omen," River Hill coach Dave Vitigliano said.He was right. Howard added three more runs in the third and another in the fifth en route to a 6-1 victory. Stacey Swiney led the 11th-ranked Lions (5-1 overall and league) with a double and triple and scored twice.