Tim Welsh

The Baltimore Thunder took sole possession of first place in the American Division of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League last night, beating the New York Saints, 15-14, before 8,109 at the Baltimore Arena.The victory was the third in a row for the Thunder (3-2), which now travels for two games and returns home March 2 to play the Pittsburgh Bulls.The Thunder scored the first two goals of the game and nevetrailed, although the Saints (2-3) tied the game at 5 early in the second period.Baltimore's Jeff Gombar made 33 saves, and Tom Manos, who finished up in the fourth quarter, had six saves.

After extending one streak, Johns Hopkins men's swimming team is intent on extending another. The Blue Jays will go to the NCAA Division III championships at Miami of Ohio on March 20-22 seeking to finish in the top 10 for the 27th straight year in what was once the NCAA's small college division and is now Division III.Last month, Hopkins extended a streak that spans two conferences, three coaches and many individual swimming champions. The Blue Jays' string of 27 consecutive conference championships is the longest in the country.

VS. NEW ENGLANDBLAZERS* WHEN: Tomorrow, 8 p.m.* WHERE: Baltimore Arena.* OUTLOOK: The Thunder (0-2) is having goalie problems. Tom McClelland is on the inactive list after doctors recommended he undergo back surgery because of a disk problem, and Jeff Gombar suffered a broken nose in 20 places after a Brian Kroneberger practice shot crashed through his mask last week. Gombar is expected to play against New England, sharing duty with Tom Manos. A new player, Jim Beardmore, will be in reserve.

When Tim and Pat Welsh joined the Thunder in 1989, Pat, who is a year younger than his brother, immediately went to work on a couple of the Thunder's most undesirable career records.By the time Pat retired in 1993, he had become the Thunder's all-time leader in penalties (43) and penalty minutes (102).To help keep his team at full strength, Tim tried to leave his brother's records alone and he started going after some others.Four games into his seventh Major Indoor Lacrosse League season, the two-time All-American from the University of North Carolina broke Jeff Jackson's career record of 80 goals to become the Thunder's all-time leading goal scorer with 81.Tim Welsh, 29, also leads the franchise in games played (54)

PITTSBURGH -- Pat Welsh's goal at 13:10 of the fourth quarter gave the Thunder a 16-14 victory over the winless Pittsburgh Bulls before 6,275 at the Civic Arena last night.The victory practically guarantees a Major Indoor Lacrosse League playoff spot for the Thunder (2-5), which is now 1 1/2 games ahead of Pittsburgh (0-6) with one game to play. Six of the league's seven teams qualify for the playoffs."We're just thrilled to get a win. It's been a long time coming," Thunder coach John Stewart said.

After extending one streak, Johns Hopkins men's swimming team is intent on extending another. The Blue Jays will go to the NCAA Division III championships at Miami of Ohio on March 20-22 seeking to finish in the top 10 for the 27th straight year in what was once the NCAA's small college division and is now Division III.Last month, Hopkins extended a streak that spans two conferences, three coaches and many individual swimming champions. The Blue Jays' string of 27 consecutive conference championships is the longest in the country.

When Tim and Pat Welsh joined the Thunder in 1989, Pat, who is a year younger than his brother, immediately went to work on a couple of the Thunder's most undesirable career records.By the time Pat retired in 1993, he had become the Thunder's all-time leader in penalties (43) and penalty minutes (102).To help keep his team at full strength, Tim tried to leave his brother's records alone and he started going after some others.Four games into his seventh Major Indoor Lacrosse League season, the two-time All-American from the University of North Carolina broke Jeff Jackson's career record of 80 goals to become the Thunder's all-time leading goal scorer with 81.Tim Welsh, 29, also leads the franchise in games played (54)

If the Baltimore Thunder expects to survive the first round of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League playoffs, it will have to clean up its act.That assessment comes from Thunder coach John Stewart, who is annoyed that his players draw so many penalties.That is one reason, he said, that the Thunder lost its final four regular-season games to finish last in the American Division behind the New York Saints and Philadelphia Wings.There is still a glimmer of hope: The Thunder (3-5) will play the Wings (3-5)

Baltimore Thunder goalkeeper Kevin Bilger knows what it's like to be on standby.During his high school lacrosse days at Calvert Hall, Bilger waited behind the Cardinals' starting keeper, Tom Sears, who later earned All-America honors at North Carolina before starting in goal for the U.S. World Team.After walking on and making the team at Maryland, Bilger again found himself second on the depth chart, this time under another Calvert Hall alumnus, Kevin O'Leary.Throughout his rather innominate career in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League, Bilger has drifted in and out of starting roles.

It was in 1989, during their maiden season with the Baltimore Thunder, that general manager Darrell Russell got a notion of what life would be like in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League with the Welsh brothers.The Thunder was playing the New England Blazers when Tim Welsh got into a fight. Off came his helmet and in came a cheap shot that broke his nose.Pat Welsh, his fraternal juices flowing, joined the fray. After getting in the referee's face and delivering his two cents' worth, Pat was ejected.

Baltimore Thunder goalkeeper Kevin Bilger knows what it's like to be on standby.During his high school lacrosse days at Calvert Hall, Bilger waited behind the Cardinals' starting keeper, Tom Sears, who later earned All-America honors at North Carolina before starting in goal for the U.S. World Team.After walking on and making the team at Maryland, Bilger again found himself second on the depth chart, this time under another Calvert Hall alumnus, Kevin O'Leary.Throughout his rather innominate career in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League, Bilger has drifted in and out of starting roles.

PITTSBURGH -- Pat Welsh's goal at 13:10 of the fourth quarter gave the Thunder a 16-14 victory over the winless Pittsburgh Bulls before 6,275 at the Civic Arena last night.The victory practically guarantees a Major Indoor Lacrosse League playoff spot for the Thunder (2-5), which is now 1 1/2 games ahead of Pittsburgh (0-6) with one game to play. Six of the league's seven teams qualify for the playoffs."We're just thrilled to get a win. It's been a long time coming," Thunder coach John Stewart said.

If the Baltimore Thunder expects to survive the first round of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League playoffs, it will have to clean up its act.That assessment comes from Thunder coach John Stewart, who is annoyed that his players draw so many penalties.That is one reason, he said, that the Thunder lost its final four regular-season games to finish last in the American Division behind the New York Saints and Philadelphia Wings.There is still a glimmer of hope: The Thunder (3-5) will play the Wings (3-5)

To Rick Sowell, the Thunder vs. the Detroit Turbos is much like Duke against Nevada-Las Vegas.Everyone within sound of Billy Packer's voice knows what happened to mighty UNLV when it ran into Duke. Sowell is hoping for a similar result when the Thunder meets the Turbos for the Major Indoor Lacrosse League championship tomorrow (8 p.m.) at the Baltimore Arena.The Thunder has lost twice to Detroit this year, 20-16 and 22-14, but by no means are the Turbos invincible. The New York Saints beat them twice this winter.

Pre-game at the Baltimore Arena:In a filthy locker room that smells like week-old Cheddar cheese and looks like a rest stop from hell, 18 players sit listening to a school administrator-turned-coach.Some of the players wrap tape around the handles of thei lacrosse sticks. Others stare at the blackened carpet, which once upon a time might have been blue.The coach, John Stewart, is writing numbers on a chalkboard. Once, he led Loyola High School to two Maryland Scholastic Association lacrosse titles.

* WHAT'S AHEAD: Vs. Detroit Turbos, Saturday (8 p.m.) at Joe Louis Arena. Thunder's next home game is against the Pittsburgh Bulls March 2.* WRAPUP: The Thunder (4-2) won its fourth straight game, beating the New York Saints, 14-10, to maintain its lead in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League's three-team American Division. Goalie Jeff Gombar was acclaimed the MVP after registering an astonishing 60 saves. The Saints took 90 shots, 70 on goal."It was the best job by a goalie I've seen in my five years in the league," said Thunder general manager Darrell Russell.

The Baltimore Thunder took sole possession of first place in the American Division of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League last night, beating the New York Saints, 15-14, before 8,109 at the Baltimore Arena.The victory was the third in a row for the Thunder (3-2), which now travels for two games and returns home March 2 to play the Pittsburgh Bulls.The Thunder scored the first two goals of the game and nevetrailed, although the Saints (2-3) tied the game at 5 early in the second period.Baltimore's Jeff Gombar made 33 saves, and Tom Manos, who finished up in the fourth quarter, had six saves.