Tacoma

Blast players don't expect to get back to their hotel rooms early tomorrow night, when they travel to Tacoma to take on the Stars. Tacoma means overtime, just like San Diego means the zoo and St. Louis means the arch.In four trips to Washington state a year ago, the Blast lost three overtime games -- 5-4, 5-4, and 6-5 in triple overtime. It did manage one victory, that too coming in overtime and by the familiar 5-4 score."It's going to be a difficult challenge against my old teammates," said Blast goalkeeper Cris Vaccaro, who played for Tacoma for two seasons, including all four of those games.

TELEVISION HIGHLIGHTS MLB Orioles@Boston (T) MASN9 a.m. Orioles@Boston MASN7 Houston@Washington MASN27 Braves@Phillies MLB7 White Sox@Oakland WGN-A10 Atlanta@Philadelphia (T) CN810:30 Houston@Washington (T) MASN11:30 MiLB Triple-A champ.: Columbus vs. Tacoma VS.8 C. foot.

TACOMA, Wash. -- The book on the Blast coming to the Tacoma Dome has been remarkably consistent of late: four visits stretching over parts of the last two seasons had resulted in four one-goal losses -- three in overtime.Baltimore would have none of that last night, rallying from a 3-2 halftime deficit to post a 6-4 win -- thanks to two goals each by Rusty Troy, Joe Koziol and rookie Kris Kelderman.Thus, the Blast (8-8) was able to break a three-game losing streak in its first game without injured veteran midfielder Mike Stankovic.

Adam Jones Outfielder The 22-year-old outfielder, often compared to Mike Cameron, was a first-round selection in the 2003 draft and was Seattle's Minor League Player of the Year in 2005. Jones made his major league debut the next year, appearing in 32 games and hitting .216 with one homer and eight RBIs. He came up as a shortstop but was moved to the outfield, where he can play all three positions, but he projects as a center fielder with the Orioles -- if another trade isn't consummated -- because of his speed and athleticism.

Tacoma coach Keith Weller's situation is much like that of the Major Soccer League today -- up in the air.Weller is perched 40 feet above the parking lot at the Tacoma Mall. He is camping out on a five-foot by eight-foot platform for five days, encouraging indoor soccer fans to buy season tickets."I'm up here trying to sell a thousand season tickets by Sunday night," said Weller, who was reached above the city on his cellular telephone. "We don't know how it will go, but I'm game to try this.

TACOMA, Wash. -- The book on the Baltimore Blast coming to the Tacoma Dome has been remarkably consistent of late: Four visits stretching over parts of the past two seasons had resulted in four one-goal losses -- three in overtime.Baltimore would have none of that last night before 5,942 fans, as the Blast rallied to post a 6-4 victory -- thanks to two goals each by Rusty Troy, Joe Koziol and rookie Kris Kelderman. Thus, the Blast broke a three-game losing streak and evened its record at 8-8.Down by 3-2 at halftime, Baltimore limited Tacoma to three shots in the third quarter to build a 4-3 lead.

TACOMA, Wash. -- It took 90 minutes, 57 seconds in the Tacoma Dome yesterday, but Tacoma Stars forward Gary Heale finally got some help in turning back the Baltimore Blast.It came from teammate Billy Crook, who scored Tacoma's sixth goal in the Stars' 6-5 triple-overtime win, and from referee Herb Silva, who gave Tacoma the chance it needed to put away the Blast.With 33 seconds remaining in the second overtime, Silva flagged Richard Chinapoo for tripping Tacoma's Greg Ion."I never touched him," Chinapoo said.

Freddie Thompson kept insisting he didn't come to the Baltimore Arena last night with revenge on his mind.But it looked as if Thompson had some scores to settle as he darted around the floor and helped the disciplined Tacoma Stars deal the Baltimore Blast a 5-3 defeat before a crowd of 4,650.Thompson, who was released by Baltimore before this season started, and the Stars gave the Blast a 60-minute clinic and showed again they are a much better team without scoring star Preki.Tacoma (10-5)

TACOMA, Wash. - Standing yesterday at the clapboard house where police now believe the accused snipers made their first kill, an Army staff sergeant clad in fatigues, a black beret and boots voiced regrets and shed tears - both for his family and the country. If only the link had been made earlier between the death of his niece, gunned down at his front door in February, and the pair charged in this month's sniper shootings, so much heartbreak could have been avoided, said Staff Sgt. Joseph Nichols.

TACOMA, Wash. -- If you've never heard of Dale Chihuly, you must not know Tacoma. That's understandable, because the city is easily overlooked and underestimated, nestled as it is south of Seattle and bordered on three sides by extensions of Puget Sound. On some maps of "Seattle and Vicinity," Tacoma is part of the "Vicinity." But it has that native son named Dale Chihuly, the man who turns out startling art made entirely of glass or glasslike substances. Exhibits of his work -- enormous flowers, gaily colored vases, abstract sculptures -- have been permanently installed or temporarily exhibited all over the world.

TACOMA, Wash. -- If you've never heard of Dale Chihuly, you must not know Tacoma. That's understandable, because the city is easily overlooked and underestimated, nestled as it is south of Seattle and bordered on three sides by extensions of Puget Sound. On some maps of "Seattle and Vicinity," Tacoma is part of the "Vicinity." But it has that native son named Dale Chihuly, the man who turns out startling art made entirely of glass or glasslike substances. Exhibits of his work -- enormous flowers, gaily colored vases, abstract sculptures -- have been permanently installed or temporarily exhibited all over the world.

TACOMA, Wash. - Standing yesterday at the clapboard house where police now believe the accused snipers made their first kill, an Army staff sergeant clad in fatigues, a black beret and boots voiced regrets and shed tears - both for his family and the country. If only the link had been made earlier between the death of his niece, gunned down at his front door in February, and the pair charged in this month's sniper shootings, so much heartbreak could have been avoided, said Staff Sgt. Joseph Nichols.

TACOMA, Wash. - This city of 200,000 on Puget Sound can seem like one big military town, with both Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base sprawling to the south. So it's not surprising to hear residents sounding angry and a bit defensive when talk turns to sniper suspect John Allen Muhammad's nine years of Army service, some of it spent at Fort Lewis. Sometimes it is hard to tell what people find more annoying - that he was even in the Army, or that his military career has been mentioned time and time again in news reports since his arrest Thursday.

The hunt for the serial sniper who has killed 10 and gripped the nation in an unfolding plot of terror seemed to be racing toward a showdown last night as investigators sought two men - one a former soldier - who have been linked to the crimes through a fingerprint traced to an Alabama double-shooting. John Allen Williams, 41, also known as John Muhammad, and Lee Boyd Malvo, 17, who lived together at a Tacoma, Wash., house before moving cross-country, were being sought for questioning last night.

In some circles, you say Tacoma, and they figure you're talking about a Japanese- designed pickup truck. Thousands of people landing at SeaTac International Airport in Tacoma, Wash., right now have no idea what the "Tac" in the airport name is all about. Meaning that Tacoma, the third largest city in Washington (population about 195,000), is another one of those forgotten places that have the misfortune to be situated near an internationally known and gorgeous West Coast playground. Tacoma was primed for great things when it was designated as the terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad's transcontinental line in 1873 --- instead of Seattle.

BaseballMariners: Optioned OF Charles Gipson to Triple-A Tacoma. Recalled OF Raul Ibanez from Tacoma and activated him from 15-day DL. Promoted P Gil Meche from Double-A New Haven to Tacoma. Assigned P Matt Thornton to Single-A Wisconsin.Padres: Assigned P Antonio Diaz to Single-A Fort Wayne.Reds: Assigned P Stan Belinda to Triple-A Indianapolis.CollegeMetro Atlantic Athletic Conference: Named Rev. Harold E. Ridley president.Butler: Announced G Brandon Miller has transferred from Southwest Missouri State and will be eligible starting in 2000-2001 basketball season.

BaseballOakland Athletics -- Optioned P Reggie Harris (0-0, 12.00 ERA) to Class AAA Tacoma. Recalled IF Fred Manrique from Tacoma.BasketballCleveland Cavaliers -- Placed C Brad Daugherty on injured list. Activated C Milos Babic.HockeyWashington Capitals -- Recalled G Jim Hrivnak from Baltimore (AHL).

OCTOBER 20 -- at Wichita, 8:35-- at Kansas City, 8:3527 -- St. Louis, 7:3530 -- Cleveland, 7:05NOVEMBER3 -- Kansas City, 7:35-- San Diego, 8:0511 -- Wichita, 6:0515 -- at San Diego, 10:3517 -- at Tacoma, 10:3521 -- Dallas, 7:3523 -- at St. Louis, 8:3530 -- at Cleveland, 8:05DECEMBER1 -- Cleveland, 7:35-- Wichita, 7:359 -- Tacoma, 6:0514 -- at Kansas City, 8:3515 -- at Tacoma, 10:3520 -- at Dallas, 8:3522 -- San Diego, 10:3526 -- at Kansas City, 8:3527 --...

BaseballAthletics: Recalled P Paul Fletcher from Triple-A Edmonton. Optioned P Bobby Chouinard to Edmonton.Cubs: Recalled P Kevin Foster from Triple-A Iowa. Placed P Amaury Telemaco on 15-day DL.Mariners: Recalled P Matt Wagner from Triple-A Tacoma. Optioned C Chris Widger to Tacoma.Red Sox: Placed P Stan Belinda on 15-day DL. Recalled P Rich Garces from Triple-A Pawtucket.Tigers: Released former Orioles C Mark Parent. Recalled P Greg Keagle from Triple-A Toledo.Bowie (Double A): Placed P Shane Hale, P Marcus Hostetler and P Kevin Ryan on DL for rest of season.