Young Players

There was a time when Vero Beach was a sleepy little town that came alive for six weeks every year when the Dodgers moved into Dodgertown for spring training. The players jokingly referred to it as "Zero Beach," back when I was a Dodgers beat writer here in the early 1980s. The area has been built up considerably since then, and a few of those Dodgers players and coaches who used to joke about it have moved here to enjoy the relatively quiet life along this picturesque stretch of Atlantic coastline.

As No. 6 St. Frances avenged an early season loss to No. 3 McDonogh last night, the 58-42 victory came as a result of the young Panthers' development as a team rather than McDonogh falling into a slump. The visiting Eagles, who started the season 16-0, suffered their second straight loss. The Panthers (12-6) have won five of their past six to pull even with McDonogh at 11-2 in the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference. "This says a lot about St. Frances' growth as a team," said McDonogh coach Tom Gizzi, whose squad won a 54-41 decision on Dec. 6. "We caught them in the second game of the year, but they were very, very young.

For the last five summers the University of Maryland at College Park has sponsored the National Orchestral Institute. From 770 applicants nationwide, a little less than 100 of the best young orchestral musicians in the country (ranging in age from 18 to 31) are selected from outstanding conservatories and from orchestras not large enough to have summer seasons.These musicians, on the threshold of professional careers, then spend three weeks studying orchestral playing under several outstanding conductors and well-known orchestral musicians.

Last season, Laurel High's boys soccer team felt it could be their time to win a regional championship. However, after a 10-5 regular season that earned them the No. 10 seed in the 4A regional playoffs, Laurel's season ended with a bitter 1-0 loss to second-seeded Parkdale in the second round of the playoffs. Players have put that playoff loss and last year behind them and have focused on the promise of this year's team. Some of the senior leaders say this could be Laurel's best team in years, despite their youth and the loss of many seniors from last year's team.

Youth is not always served in the National Football League.That was the message from Ravens coach Ted Marchibroda and the team's vice president of player personnel Ozzie Newsome yesterday as they sifted through the wreckage of the team's 3-7 season.In the wake of the poor showing in the 14-13 loss to the San Diego Chargers Sunday, both said the team's youth is one of the problems it has yet to overcome."I think it's maturity," Newsome said. "That's probably the biggest point. You have to understand how to win. We have a young team.

In making their last major cutdown, the Ravens opted for youth over experience when they unexpectedly released veteran special teams standout Harold Morrow, according to moves reported to the NFL last night. The decision opened an extra spot on the team's 53-man roster, enabling the Ravens to keep three young players - receiver Clarence Moore, defensive tackle Aubrayo Franklin and quarterback Josh Harris - who all had been on the bubble. Morrow, 31, was known for his bruising style on coverage teams, recording 140 career special teams tackles.

Frank Wycheck, the former University of Maryland running back who was suspended by the NFL the final four games last year because of steroid use, is going to try to make a comeback with the Washington Redskins this year.The Redskins, who originally planned to leave Wycheck exposed in the expansion draft until the league ruled a suspended player wasn't eligible for the list, have agreed to terms with him on a one-year deal for the $178,000 minimum.Wycheck said the steroid entered his system inadvertently when he was using the compound DMSO to treat a thigh bruise last summer.

New Orioles outfielder Chris Singleton bears a slight resemblance to the guy with the same last name who used to roam the outfield at Memorial Stadium. Enough so that he has spent his career living with the misconception that he is the son of former Orioles star Ken Singleton. "It seemed like every day of my rookie year, somebody would ask me, `How's your father?' " said Singleton with a laugh during his introductory news conference yesterday at Camden Yards. Apparently, it didn't bother him very much, because the 29-year-old center fielder has chosen to wear No. 29 in his first season with the Orioles -- the same number worn by Ken Singleton for a decade (1975-84)

Bryn Mawr Mawrtians1995 record: 1-6-2.Coach: AnneMarie Merow.Top players: Sarah Cook, Soph., D; Julie French, Sr., M; Katlin Isaacs, Jr., M; Elizabeth Knight, Soph., M-S; Teresa Sherry, Fr., S-M; Shelley Smith, Jr., D.Outlook: The Mawrtians are one of four new teams to join the Catholic League B Conference this season. There's a strong crop of young players to build on, several of whom have played year-round. Smith and Cook lead a stronger backfield.Catholic Cubs1995 record: 12-5-4.Coach: Jerry Dieter.

NBA players, coaches and officials were stunned by the news that Michael Jordan, who led the Chicago Bulls to three NBA titles and won seven consecutive NBA scoring titles, was announcing his retirement today.Los Angeles Lakers forward James Worthy, who played with Jordan on North Carolina's 1982 NCAA championship team, was shocked."The guy's a competitor," Worthy told ESPN2. "If I had to bet, I would say that he would never retire. They'd have to throw him out of the league."But life is bigger than basketball.