Winning Run

The baseball diamond at North Harford sits high on a hill above the stadium. Everything drains off this field including, it seems, last year's problems.On the hill, first-year coach Tim Larrimore and a strong group of holdovers from a disappointing 1990 hatched a plan to rebound from that 6-13 season. Tuesday, they pulled off the upset of the season so far, surprising Edgewood, 11-10.Rick Johnson scored the winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning. The senior reached on a fielder's choice, took second on a passed ball, went to third on Matt Machala's single and scored on a wild pitch.

Way to go, EddieCongratulations to my hero, Eddie Murray, for winning the unofficial National League batting title. [Murray finished second behind Willie McGee, who finished the season in the American League.] I've followed every one of your box scores since you entered the National League. I've praised you, too, and defended you against the local philistines. I was so happy for you overtaking Dave Magadan on the day before my birthday. I couldn't have received a better gift than my favorite baseball player taking the unofficial title on the last day.When the pressure is on, call up the best, No. 33. Way to go, Eddie!

Mark Parent and Mark McLemore couldn't have had more different emotions when they took center stage in yesterday's 7-6 Orioles win over Cleveland in 11 innings at Camden Yards.Parent hit a three-run homer into the center-field bleachers in the eighth to give the Orioles a 6-5 lead.The soft-spoken catcher had to be coaxed out of the dugout for a curtain call. Even then, Parent's acknowledgment of the throng of 46,336 was a short wave from the middle step."The only thing that was going through my mind was how much I appreciated Johnny [Oates]

As Mike Bordick slid across home plate with yesterday's winning run, the Orioles completed a 4-1 opening week with a 10-inning, 2-1 decision against the Detroit Tigers. Delino DeShields' flared single to left field off reliever Doug Brocail finalized the win, but its origin could be traced to Wednesday when a manager's slow hand avoided a bullpen burnout while assuring a team that panic no longer is in vogue within the home dugout. The Orioles have trailed in every game but awake today atop the AL East.

This time, instead of retreating, the Orioles made a stand. Instead of beating themselves, they allowed the Seattle Mariners to drop a three-run lead before putting the winning run on base with a walk. This time, the Orioles made off with a 4-3 win before 37,262 at Camden Yards because starting pitcher Sidney Ponson gave a mature performance and Mariners second baseman Mark McLemore made a rash read on a ninth-inning ground ball that became a game-ending mistake. Completing an encouraging comeback, the Orioles beat the Mariners when B.J. Surhoff's grounder short-hopped a charging McLemore and skipped into right field, allowing pinch runner Delino DeShields to score from second base.

Last night's Class 4A East region final pitting No. 3-ranked Severna Park against No. 6 North County had so many twists and turns, determining where to start was difficult.The end at Randazzo Park, which belonged to Falcons' senior pitcher Amanda Donaldson, seemed most appropriate.North County (20-4), battling back all night long, got within one run and had the bases filled with one out in the seventh, when Donaldson showed she had saved her best for last.On a three-two pitch, she got Brandi Schickton on a foul pop near first and then struck out Chrissy Suit swinging to clinch a 6-5 win, sending the Falcons to Tuesday's state semifinal against Bowie.

"Is this the tying run or the winning run?" asks Brown."He's the tying run," says Constantine, his partner. "He's 330."J. T. Brown pulls out a note pad and stares down. The blood has pooled and speckled on the dealer's Orlando Magic hat, on his U.N.L.V. shirt, on his Champion sweats, on his high-top Nikes. He lies in full street corner regalia between two West Fayette Street rowhouses, the city's 330th slaying, waiting only for the morgue wagon.Three hundred and thirty: A staggering psychological milestone for a city where cocaine, semiautomatic pistols and a new generation of violent young men have turned once-stable neighborhoods into free-fire zones.

Player of the YearCourtney Wunderlich, Westminster: Game after game, Wunderlich quietly went about her business, and by the time the Westminster season concluded, it was evident just how valuable she was to the county champion Owls. "Silent but deadly," said Westminster coach Scott Tobias. "She can hurt you offensively and defensively. She did it all." Hitting fifth, Wunderlich batted .477 with 19 RBIs and 15 runs scored. Five of her 11 extra-base hits were homers and she seemed to always come up with the big hit when the Owls needed it most.

Baseball* 15-and-under boys -- The Pasadena Panthers downed GORC, 8-4, in the first of three victories last week.Ray Wagner, who went 2-for-3 with a home run, earned the win and Tom Lupinek recorded the save. Josh Wark, Dave Dolch, Mike Drain, Nick Klug and Brian Griffith each knocked in a run.The Panthers defeated Howard County, 6-5, as Lupinek pitched 4 1/3 innings of relief to earn the victory.Jay Brandt knocked in the winning run and Klug and Wagner each had an RBI. Marvin Hazen made a spectacular catch in the seventh inning to preserve the win.In the final game, the Panthers defeated Cape St. Claire, 11-5, as Wagner pitched five innings for the win.Adam Sutton, who pitched the final inning, had an RBI along with Wagner, Drain and B.J. Ford.

TORONTO -- It was almost as if this one was scripted by the gods of misadventures.In one of the most storied World Series ever played, the Toronto Blue Jays staged one of the most remarkable turnarounds in history here last night. In the process, they beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 8-6, to become the first team in 15 years to win back-to-back championships.A three-run home run by Joe Carter with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning off Mitch Williams, the Phillies' erratic closer, carried the Blue Jays to their dramatic victory.