The Starting Five

So, on Thursday Major League Baseball announced that the Houston Astros would shift to the American League West Division beginning with the 2013 season. In addition, two teams could be added to the wildcard mix in the playoffs possibly for the 2012 season.
With 15 teams in each league that means interleague baseball will be played every day of the year. Can’t wait to see how screwed up the schedules will be in 2013. It’s bad enough how the schedule-makers have been over recent years and now they’ve got to figure this out.
I am a baseball purist. I don’t like having 30 major league teams but that’s the way it is. More than ever with interleague play looming every day, I think it is imperative that Major League Baseball revert in one aspect — get rid of the designated hitter. Let’s get back to pitchers hitting. And if they don’t, then it’s got to be unified everywhere with 100 percent use in all games. But I prefer the eliminating the DH.

Saturday night truly was an Irish invasion at FedEx Field — a Notre Dame invasion.
You can’t imagine, without being there, what it looked like all around the place. It was Notre Dame everywhere, beginning with the groves of tailgaters that were everywhere. You’d have thought it was a Notre Dame home gome in South Bend.
As it were, I would say the stadium was at least two-thirds Notre Dame fans. I know Notre Dame fans are everywhere but it was just amazing to see them all at a game locally. And of course, we were treated to a 45-21 victory.
The football team looked great in the green jerseys and the special shamrocks on the helmets, shining brightly under the FedEx lights.
And the band — stunning performance as usual beginning with the fight song in pregame and the halftime show, which at the end turned into a combined performance with Maryland to salute the service branches. It was a great show by the bands.
It just showed the Notre Dame travel power. Next year, Notre Dame opens against Navy in Dublin, Ireland and also plays one of its home games at Soldier Field in Chicago against Miami.
A great night for Irish fans.

The 10th and final week of the prep football season is about to roll in and we’ve got one assured playoff spot in Washington County and two others that would like to make the grade.
Of course, we have 8-1 Boonsboro going to Smithsburg on Friday. The Warriors are second in the Maryland A West Region behind Fort Hill (9-0) and will get a home game with a win Friday. It would probably come against Mountain Ridge (8-1), who is third.
Things are interesting for North Hagerstown in 3A after the victory over Boonsboro last Friday.
The Hubs (7-2) are in sixth place, two spots out of getting a playoff spot. Seneca Valley and Damascus are definitely in. Urbana is third and Linganore is fourth and both those 6-3 teams play one another Saturday. The loser might be out of luck. Thomas Johnson, at 6-3 and with a 7.00 computer average, plays Frederick on Saturday. They should win. But North must hope Boonsboro beats Smithsburg to pick up bonus points there and of course, the Hubs must beat rival South Hagerstown on Saturday to have any chance.
And then in 2A, believe it or not, the 4-5 Williamsport Wildcats are clawing. They play at Clear Spring, also 4-5, on Friday and could be in a good position with a win. They are currently tied for fourth with Winters Mill, who is 5-4. But Winters Mill won’t generate much in its expected win over hopeless Francis Scott Key. If Williamsport wins, it’s likely to get a thank you gift of a first round game at Walkersville.
Stay tuned.