Youth Baseball

Tomorrow morning in North Baltimore, I expect to be surrounded by Crickets. I'll probably catch a glimpse of 14 Gophers. And it would not be surprising to encounter roving bands of Knights and Wizards. It sounds harrowing, but it's Opening Day of the youth baseball season. Of all the traditions and rituals of kids sports, nothing compares with Opening Day. For the parents, there's the challenge of finding a parking space and the risk some chilly mornings of losing a finger to frostbite.

With the fate of a minor-league stadium in Aberdeen hanging in the balance for months, Orioles star Cal Ripken Jr. has come to the rescue, agreeing to head the $25 million project and bring it to fruition. Ripken issued a statement yesterday announcing plans to move forward on a 5,000- to 6,000-seat stadium and Youth Baseball Academy with six youth stadiums. Groundbreaking on the complex off Route 22 near Interstate 95 is expected to take place within the next three weeks. "To begin construction on this project is very exciting to me," said Ripken, an Aberdeen native, in a news release.

One of the secrets for the Oakland Athletics' domination of the American League for the past three years has been uncovered.It's IncrediBall.This soft, spongy ball that resembles a regulation major-league baseball in appearance and circumference (nine inches) but is lighter (3 1/2 ounces compared with 5 ounces) has helped make Oakland's 1990 Cy Young Award winner Bob Welch and Rick Honeycutt better fielding pitchers.IncrediBall also has helped A's catchers improve their ability to block low balls in the dirt.

The Columbia Youth Baseball Association is reviewing its hiring process after a coach with a prior sex offense conviction was charged with molesting a 14-year-old player nearly two weeks ago.Association President Mark S. Lenes said the CYBA was unaware of the coach's prior record, and that future hiring may involve background checks on applicants.Lenes said people interested in coaching or managing a team have always filed an application that asks only their name,address and the position they want.

A 24-year-old coach in a Columbia youth baseball league who was charged last week with sexually abusing one of his players is on probation for a similar incident in Prince George's County.Terry Kevin Ward was arrested by Howard County police Friday and charged with child abuse and a fourth-degree sexual offense for allegedly masturbating on a 14-year-old player with the Mets team of the Columbia Youth Baseball Association.Ward, of the 5400 block of Cedar Lane, was released Saturday after he posted a $2,500 bond.

City Council President Bernard C. "Jack" Young, Baltimore City Schools CEO Andrés Alonso and Tim Holley, Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association vice president and Baseball Sport Committee chairman, announced the formation of the President's Cup -- a citywide baseball tournament designed to bring together the city's public and private school teams -- at a City Hall press conference Thursday. Young said he pushed to create the President's Cup as a way to showcase youth baseball, which has been on the decline in many cities, including Baltimore, for much of the past decade.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES trainer Richie Bancells wants his pitchers to take a month off -- no throwing to catchers or targets. They need time to rest their arms and minds. If this advice is good for major leaguers, it should be sound, too, for Little Leaguers who increasingly are playing baseball year-round. Spring, summer, fall and winter -- even in cold-weather states -- young players are adding velocity to their fastballs or perfecting their swings.The trend toward year-round baseball is growing.

It doesn't seem like it's been all that long since the days when Aberdeen, to folks who lived elsewhere, was synonymous with Aberdeen Proving Ground and little else. Though the post remains a cornerstone of the community's economy, when it comes to being the touchstone image for Aberdeen, youth baseball is giving the Army a lot of competition. No one who has spent more than a few weeks in these parts need be reminded that Aberdeen is the boyhood home of Cal Ripken Jr., a wholesome and hardworking figure who never forgot where he came from.

With the Continental Amateur Baseball Association (CABA) 18-and-Under World Series winding down, and the final of the championship bracket set for 5 tonight at Joe Cannon Stadium in Harman's, Big Lew (nothing irreverent, it's what everyone calls him) Holmes is beaming with pride.And while the championships have Holmes, who serves as president of the Anne Arundel Amateur Baseball Association (AAABA) and CABA East Regional director, tickled, it has not prevented him from looking to the future.

Christian Morales scored two first-half goals Thursday and the Baltimore Bays Chelsea Under-15 Boys clinched a spot in the US Youth Soccer National Championships final in Overland Park, Kan., with a 5-2 win over the Mount Hamilton PAC Tigres of California. After a fifth-minute goal from Jeremy Degraffenreidt and another score from Christopher White in the 35th, Morales scored in the 37th and then again in the 45th minute for a 4-1 lead. Romilio Hernandez scored shortly after halftime for Baltimore, which defeated the Concorde Fire Elite, 4-3, in its opener Wednesday.