Wakefield

Gordon N. Wakefield, 53, maintenance technician Gordon N. Wakefield, a maintenance technician in Baltimore and a Vietnam veteran, died Monday of a cerebral hemorrhage at Frederick Memorial Hospital. He was 53 and lived in Jones Creek. He suffered the hemorrhage while marching in a veterans' parade Nov. 6 in Brunswick. Mr. Wakefield was born in Baltimore and served in the Army during the Vietnam War, receiving an Army Commendation Medal, Bronze Star and other honors. After his service, he worked for the Coast Guard, Martin Marietta Corp.

MILWAUKEE - The Blast's two-year run as Major Indoor Soccer League champions is officially over after its 11-8 loss to the Milwaukee Wave yesterday at U.S. Cellular Arena. The Blast wrapped up the season with a five-game losing streak and a 15-24 record, nine games behind the Wave, whose victory extended its streak of regular-season championships to seven. Despite some early success yesterday, the Blast was again frustrated by Milwaukee goalkeeper Nick Vorberg, the league leader in wins and goals-against average.

BOSTON -- Livan Hernandez struggled through his shortest outing of the season, leaving him searching for answers. Tim Wakefield pitched six strong innings to lead the Boston Red Sox to their fifth straight victory with an 11-3 win over the Washington Nationals last night. While Wakefield cruised, Hernandez (5-8) left the game after 1 2/3 innings and watched his ERA soar to 5.64. "I'm worried about him," Nationals manager Frank Robinson said. "This is the way he has been except for two or three starts this year, and he has just not been consistent enough."

The Blast has had problems with Chicago ever since the Storm entered the Major Indoor Soccer League a year ago, and last night was no different at 1st Mariner Arena. But this time, before a crowd of 8,028 that got to see a physical contest, the Blast scored the game's last three goals and held the Storm scoreless for the final 25:28 en route to a 6-3 victory. Defender P.J. Wakefield made his first points of the season count. He scored a goal and had three assists as the Blast avenged last week's 4-3 defeat in Chicago.

Home is where the wins have come for the Blast this season, and last night was no different. For the seventh time in nine games at 1st Mariner Arena, the Blast prevailed, turning back its old rival, the Milwaukee Wave, 12-7, for its third straight victory to remain in fifth place in the Major Indoor Soccer League. Now 9-7 after falling below .500 two weeks ago, the Blast was boosted by defender P.J. Wakefield's seven-point night. A solid defensive effort against the MISL's leading scorer, Greg Howes, was another key factor.

Carroll County's Piney Branch and Wakefield Valley clubs have drawn veteran opponents for first-round action of the Maryland state golf team matches.Piney Branch takes on Elkridge, one of the founding clubs of Baltimore golf, while Wakefield's 12-member squad faces Argyle of the Washington sector.This marks the first time Wakefield has met Argyle. Previously, Baltimore-area teams haven't been paired against a Washington opponentuntil the final round.Some 62 teams -- the largest field ever --are lined up for the matches on Saturday.

Broadneck won a jewel of a game last night at Joe Cannon Stadium in Harmans to win the 3A state championship by 2-1 over South Carroll.With Arundel winning the 4A state final Friday by 11-0 over Perry Hall, Broadneck (18-6) marked the third time (1980, Old Mill and Brooklyn Park, 1991, Arundel and Northeast) since the playoffs under the current format began in 1975 that Anne Arundel teams claimed two in the same season.In taking their second state baseball title (first in 1983), theBruins survived a bizarre sixth inning in which two of their players were ejected, one for wearing jewelry, the other for arguing balls and strikes.

Mark Stover should start following his instincts more often.The Broadneck coach had a feeling Marty Toskov was going to be the man in yesterday's Class 3A East Region final matchup with visiting J.M. Bennett, so he moved him up in the order to cleanup.Toskov, who normally bats seventh or eighth, responded by going 3-for-3 and knocking in two runs in a 4-0 win for the Bruins."Marty is a good contact hitter and today I decided to move him to the No. 4 slot because I just had a hunch," said Stover, who doesn't need intuition to know that his team will be playing in a state semifinal tonight at 7 against Thomas Stone at Joe Cannon Stadium.

Athletics: Tony Phillips' walk in the second was his 1,262nd, tying him for 29th all-time with Jack Clark and Ken Singleton.Red Sox: The last time Tim Wakefield faced another knuckleballer was Aug. 16, 1996, against the Angels' Dennis Springer. First baseman Mike Stanley was scratched from the lineup because of back spasms.Pub Date: 5/03/99

On the field: The game's first flyout came in the fifth inning. Unfortunately for Orioles starter David Wells, it wasn't in the Red Sox's half of the inning -- Jose Canseco hit a fly to center that dropped for a double. Luis Polonia then hit the first flyout of the game leading off the bottom of the fifth.In the clubhouse: Manager Davey Johnson expressed his expectations for the Orioles in the second half of the season. "There's only one place to get and that's the World Series," Johnson said.