Swiney

Player of the YearEmily Hall, Centennial, junior, pitcher: Hall transferred from California before the school year started and was the key to 15th-ranked Centennial (15-4) successfully defending its county title. She finished with a 14-3 record (including a no-hitter against Hammond), had a 1.94 ERA and struck out 143 and walked 48 in 119 innings. A scrappy leadoff hitter, Hall batted .611, the second highest in school history (Jenny Todd hit .640 in 1982). She had 43 hits, including the team's only home run, and her on-base percentage was .630 (47 out of 75)

Teams at a glance`Atholton Raiders1995 record: overall 16-6, league 9-5.Coach: Dave VitaglianoTop players: Holly Gick, So., P; Carolyn Wilson, Sr., CF; Lea Nichols, Sr., SS; Lindsay Gilliam, Jr., 2B; Mandy Robins, Sr., OF; Kerry McWhorter, So., P; Eileen McQueeney, Sr., 1B; Merritt Mauck, Jr., 3B/DH.Outlook: Among the top players, only Nichols (.305, 20 runs, 12 stolen bases) and Mauck (.348, 17 RBI) batted over .300 last season. "Those people who batted in the .200s last year are going to have to step up and contribute," said Vitagliano.

One of Howard County's largest volunteer fire companies has been so racked by internal political strife in recent months that its members say they now only respond to serious fire calls -- leaving more routine calls to the station's career firefighters.The turmoil at the Elkridge Volunteer Fire Company -- at Old Baltimore-Washington Boulevard and Montgomery Road -- came to a head last week when members of its 11-person board of directors requested that its president resign. In addition, two other board members and two chairmen of fire company committees have resigned recently as a result of the strife.

Howard pitcher Kelly O'Neill told herself to concentrate. Yes, the home plate umpire had just kicked her grandfather from the stands and told him to leave the area, but she had problems, too. Visiting Wilde Lake already had scored twice in the top of the third, and had the bases loaded and one out."My job is to pitch," said O'Neill, whose grandfather, Tom O'Neill, had questioned the umpire's ball-and-strike calls. "What happened [with her grandfather] is not my responsibility."O'Neill got the next two outs on strikeouts, then turned the game around with her bat. She gave Howard the lead for good with a bases-empty homer in the fifth, then hit a two-run blast in the sixth to lead the 11th-ranked Lions over the 12th-ranked Wildecats, 10-5.

Moves Auto racing NASCAR: Fined Mike Beam, crew chief for Ricky Craven, $500 for using unapproved jacking bolts during the NAPA 500 on Oct. 27. ... Michael "Fatback" McSwain was released from contract at Robert Yates Racing, then immediately hired as Bobby Labonte's new crew chief. Baseball BLUE JAYS: Agreed to minor-league contracts with P Doug Linton and P Trever Miller. CARDINALS: Declined to exercise $5.25 million option on P Dave Veres. CUBS: Named Gary Hughes special assistant to GM. Agreed to terms with free-agent P Mike Sirotka on minor-league contract; he hasn't pitched in majors since 2000.

In a game that was as exciting as it was error-filled, 11th-ranked Howard scored three runs in the sixth inning and got a game-ending out at the plate in the seventh to defeat No. 15 Glenelg, 6-5, yesterday at Howard.The victory gave the defending regional champion Lions (8-1 overall and league) a one-game lead over surprising Wilde Lake (8-3, 7-2) at the season's halfway point. Glenelg (8-2, 6-2) is third, followed by Mount Hebron (6-3, 6-3) and Centennial (7-4, 6-3).Howard committed two of its four errors in the sixth inning.

Chanelle Carter scored 16 points as visiting Howard upset No. 3 Hammond, 52-49, last night in girls basketball.Carter, Stacey Swiney and Lisa Pasteur combined for 41 points for the Lions (2-2). Rene Hines had 16 for the Bears (1-1), who led 29-20 at halftime.Milford Mill 75, Franklin 36: Chante Alexander notched 21 points as No. 11 Milford Mill coasted past visiting Franklin. Jenna Bradford added 19 points for the Millers.Western 61, St. Frances 30: Marion Moore scored 16 and Crystal Falline added 13 as No. 13 Western (1-2)

No. 15-ranked Howard took advantage of two Atholton errors and a one-out, bases-loaded double by Rah-nee Kelly to score three times in the bottom of the seventh for a 4-3 victory over the ninth-ranked Raiders yesterday in a Class 2A South region game at Howard.The Lions (13-6) will play 13th-ranked River Hill (15-5) Monday. The Lions, who had dropped first-round games the last two seasons, have lost six straight to the Hawks.Atholton (17-2), which went from last place to first place this season in Howard County, sent nine batters to the plate in the top of the seventh to score three times for a 3-1 lead.

Ben Gugliotta pitched a no-hitter, striking out 11, as Glenelg won, 12-1, over host Fairmont Heights in a Class 2A, South quarterfinal yesterday.Glenelg (16-5) advances to tomorrow's region semifinal against Oakland Mills.Oakland Mills 7, Lackey 2: John Sunderdick went 2-for-3 with two RBIs to help Oakland Mills (7-12) past visiting Lackey in a Class 2A, South quarterfinal. Oaklan Mills meets Glenelg in tomorrow's region semifinal.Howard 8, J.M. Bennett 1: Left-hander Jason Redmond pitched four innings, gave up two hits, one run, walked four and struck out six as visiting Howard (6-10)

Atholton Raiders1996 record: 12-7 overall, 9-4 league.Coach: John Zitko.Top players: Shannon Eierman, Sr., SS; Shelly Crotts, Sr., 3B; Lindsay Gilliam, Sr., 2B; Stephani Arnold, Jr., OF.Outlook: Junior Melaney Porter, who started in Friday's 4-2 opening-season loss at Glenelg, will be one of three pitchers used by Zitko. Junior Shannon Barrett and freshman Jenny Poston also will see action. "We're going to have to rely on all three," Zitko said. "We might even use all three in one game." The Raiders have a solid infield, led by Eierman, who is co-captain with Crotts.