Triple Threat

Western center Dana Johnson, a high school All-America, will be playing her final game for the Doves in Sunday's Metro Classic against Seton Keough. For most teams, that would prompt worries about next season's slump.But Western isn't most teams. In addition to Johnson and senior Keya Woods, the Doves start, in coach Breezy Bishop's opinion, the three best sophomores in the state: forwards Kisha Ford and Kelly Evans and point guard Erica Dailey. And when the seniors leave, the team will be all theirs.

THREE HOWARD countians have made Team America for the annual world duathlon championships Oct. 19 and 20 in Alpharetta, Ga., north of Atlanta. Duathlon, an arcane sport that is a combination of distance running and cycling, conducts its competitions by age group. The three residents have been to world meets before, and each competes in a different age group. They are Trey Cassidy (30-34 years old), Don Forgione (50-54) and John Elliott (60-64). Cassidy, principal of Glenelg Country School, and Forgione, a federal health-care employee, live in Ellicott City.

Somewhere in his past, recent or distant, Paul Triplett must have gotten a four-of-a-kind in a poker game, hit on a 16 playing blackjack and won or just plain had a really good day in Vegas or Atlantic City. What else explains the remarkable run of good fortune Triplett is having as athletic director at Mount St. Joseph, which has No. 1 teams in three sports, boys basketball, indoor track and wrestling? "It's been fun for me as the athletic director because the kids have been doing such a great job and they work their butts off," Triplett said.

Enduring a postgame interview room at UMBC Stadium on May 25 was tough for Alyssa Semones and her Westminster girls' lacrosse teammates. The Owls had just lost to state power Severna Park, 14-7, in the Class 4A-3A state championship. The fact that it was Westminster's only loss after 16 consecutive victories just made matters worse. But the senior captain handled that painful moment the same way she did her successes in four years at Westminster. While the hurt from a loss in her final high school game was evident, so was Semones' class and dignity in front of media and state high school officials.

John Cena traces his rise in the entertainment business, from the mat to the mall cineplex, back to a chance conversation he had six years ago while at Gold's Gym in Venice, Calif. That discussion - with a pro wrestler-in-training - led Cena to enter a wrestling school in Southern California. Since then, not only has Cena become the top attraction in World Wrestling Entertainment, but he has used his grappling exploits to gain a foothold in the mainstream. After releasing a successful rap CD last year, Cena is looking to lay the smack down at the box office.

When the Browns snagged ex-Ravens star Jamal Lewis as a free agent, Cleveland general manager Phil Savage bet that Lewis still had something left in the tank. Savage, Baltimore's former director of player personnel, was right. Lewis gained more than 1,300 yards last season and is on track for 1,100 this year. And while fans here might wonder whether the Ravens gave up too soon on Lewis - and got a dubious trade-off when they dealt for Willis McGahee - they should put those concerns aside.

Clarence Scharbauer was talking about money and horses two subjects with which he is well-acquainted."The first 3 million was easy," Scharbauer said. "It was the second 3 million that was tough."Then the cattle and oil baron from the west Texas town of Midland -- "We're just country folks" -- made his point of distinction."Alysheba won $6 million without any bonuses."Alysheba, the bay colt Scharbauer bought in 1985 for his wife, Dorothy, and daughter Pamela, is thoroughbred racing's all-time leading money winner, having surpassed John Henry in 1988.

COLLEGE PARK -- And down the stretch they come in a three-way duel for the starting quarterback job at Maryland. It's returning starter Calvin McCall on the inside, with strong-armed Latrez Harrison gaining on the outside and highly regarded junior college transfer Shaun Hill hanging tough in the middle as they head to the finish line. And the winner is? "It's too close to call," said Maryland coach Ron Vanderlinden yesterday before he sent his team through a final workout in preparation for tomorrow's annual Red-White spring game at Byrd Stadium at 7 p.m. "Latrez, Calvin and Shaun are all playing well and giving us better quarterback play than any time since I've been here," said Vanderlinden, who heads into his fourth season next fall.

If there was one moment this spring when former Oriole Pete dTC Incaviglia went from being a long shot to a lock in the Detroit Tigers' camp, it was when the nonroster invitee ripped a ball into the gap during an exhibition game and didn't stop running until he reached third base.Doubles and home runs had been Incaviglia's calling cards. A stand-up triple?The ball didn't get stuck in the fence, either. It was all Inky, 40 pounds lighter and unwilling to fade into oblivion."Actually, I had three of them.