Wakefield

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."

Philadelphia -- After rallying to win a pair of one-goal games, the Blast made sure it took early control of yesterday morning's game against the Philadelphia KiXX, and needed less than a minute to do it. Giuliano Celenza scored the first of his two goals 55 seconds into the game, Joel Bailey had two goals and P.J. Wakefield added three assists to power the Blast to an 8-4 victory before 9,356 at the Wachovia Spectrum. Robbie Aristodemo, Adauto Neto, Carlos Garcia and Sumed Ibrahim also scored for the Blast (12-6)

Blast forwards Giuliano Celenza and Adauto Neto and defenders Danny Kelly and P.J. Wakefield were selected to represent Baltimore in this year's All-Star Game. The MISL All-Star Game is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 11 at Milwaukee's U.S. Cellular Arena. Neto joined the Blast this season after the MISL Dispersal Draft and leads the team with 23 points. Baltimore products Celenza and Wakefield will be making their second All-Star appearance. Kelly, a 14-year veteran will be playing in his fifth All-Star Game.

Intent on making changes on both offense and defense after finishing in last place last season, the Blast brought in such players as Adauto Neto and Robbie Aristodemo for scoring Punch, but found defensive help in an unusual place - on offense. P.J. Wakefield was one of the Blast's top offensive threats during his first three years with the team. But team officials loved his versatility and thought he would have little trouble switching to the back, and he's helped the team's defense become much stingier.

STOCKTON, Calif. -- The Blast ruined the party. The California Cougars finally played their first home match of their first season, but the visitors were the only ones who had fun. The Blast was quicker and better than the Cougars all over the field and handled them, 10-6, in front of 3,711 at Stockton Arena. The Blast (4-3) had four players score two goals apiece. Denison Cabral scored his two in a slow-paced first half, and P.J. Wakefield scored his two in the second half. The Blast also got offense from its two most prolific scorers as Giuliano Celenza scored his ninth and 10th goals of the season, and the Blast's leading scorer Adauto Neto scored twice.

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.

As a child, Deborah Clark was always active. She spent most of her time outside playing games, hanging from tree branches, roller-skating or cycling. Although she had no great aspirations to be a physical education teacher, a one-year stint in a teaching lab at Longwood University, in Farmville, Va., changed her mind. This year she is marking 30 years as a teacher - including 21 in Harford County - and she has been named the Maryland State Elementary School Physical Education Teacher of the Year by a state association.

BOSTON - Thank goodness for B.J. Surhoff. Thank goodness for a 40-year-old veteran who can still run down fly balls with the Green Monster behind him, bailing out a starting pitcher who had the bases loaded in the seventh, no one out and not a creature stirring in the bullpen. "B.J. did a really good job. That could have been a real turning point in the game. Maybe I have to take him out to dinner," Sidney Ponson said after his 9-3 win over the Boston Red Sox was preserved and, better yet, in the books.

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.

On November 22, 2004 GEORGE J. WAKEFIELD; beloved son of the late Albert A. Wakefield and Mary Wakefield (nee Pinkas); loving brother of the late Ruth Hoffman, Olive Wirth, Albert, James, & Robert Wakefield; brother-in-law of Thomas Wirth. Also survived by four nephews, three nieces and one god-son. Relatives are invited to call Schimunek Funeral Home Inc, 3331 Brehms Lane, on Tuesday and Wednesday, from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, at St. Wenceslaus Church at 11 A.M. Interment will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery.