DIGITALSPORTS AWARDS APPLAUSE SCHOLARSHIPS TO MIAA ATHLETES

The Applause
Scholarship is awarded to one MIAA athlete from each sports season, who
has achieved on and off the field, especially while overcoming
adversity.  This year’s winners are football player Garth Knoch III of
St. Paul’s (Fall), wrestler Matt DiBasilio of Baltimore Lutheran
(Winter) and track athlete Lucas Horn of Archbishop Curley (Spring).

JAKE PALUMBO DEPARTS AACS WRESTLING PROGRAM

KRIEGER & PALUMBO HAVE BIG YEARS IN THE CAA WITH GEORGE MASON

Krieger, a sophomore from Calvert Hall, led the Colonial Athletic Conference in home runs and RBI, and was named First-team All-CAA.  His 20 home runs tied a 21 year-old school record and he was one of the nation’s leading run producers with 68 RBI.

He also batted .365 with 12 doubles, 59 runs scored and a .712 slugging percentage.  After just two years, he has 28 home runs which ranks him ninth all-time at George Mason.  His best game in 2007 came against Charleston Southern when he had five hits, two home runs and eight RBI, which tied a school record.

Palumbo, who missed his entire senior season at Archbishop Spalding due to a serious knee injury, bounced back with an outstanding first season at George Mason.

Palumbo, the son of Towson Catholic athletic director Jeff Palumbo hit .315 with 10 doubles and 19 RBI as a starting infielder for the Patriots this spring and earned a place on the CAA All-Rookie Team.  His average was fourth highest on the team and he had 12 multi-hit games, including a set of three-hit efforts.

Splitting time between second and third-base, he made just six errors in 106 attempts to post a .963 fielding percentage.

A two-time All-MIAA pick at Spalding, Palumbo also lettered in volleyball and basketball for the Cavaliers.  It was with the basketball team that he injured his knee, costing him his final year of MIAA baseball.

INDIAN CREEK JOINS THE MIAA; EAGLES TO BEGIN PLAY THIS FALL

“We wanted to show people that we are a decent program, especially in
Anne Arundel County,” said Cook.  “Joining the MIAA was a logical
decision because of the quality of competition in the league.”

Cook is no stranger to the MIAA.  He coached football and basketball at
Severn before taking over the athletic

department at Indian Creek and credited current Severn A.D. Charles Duckett for his guidance and mentoring.   Nicknamed the Eagles, Indian Creek will compete in the MIAA’s “C” Conference with teams in soccer, basketball, lacrosse.  Two other teams, golf and ice hockey, will compete in the “B” Conference.  The new campus has a competition-quality gymnasium, two regulation athletic fields and one practice field, with additional facilities on the approved master plan for the near future.   In its first year of varsity competition in the MIAA, Indian Creek anticipates an enrollment of about 150 students, with an initial senior class of approximately 20.  Cook said the school expects to eventually grow to an enrollment of about 400-500 sudents.

SOUTH ROUTED IN UNDER ARMOUR ALL-AMERICAN GAME, BUT MIAA UNDERCLASSMEN SHINE

Loyola’s Joe Cummings scores three goals to earn MVP honors in the Underclassmen Game.

A CONFERENCE LACROSSE UNDERGOES COACHING CHANGES

Franklin departs Spalding and Wood replaces Hilgartner at Severn

HELMET TO HELMET CONTACT IS THE EMPHASIS IN 2007 FOOTBALL RULE CLARIFICATIONS/CHANGES

NFHS Board approves 14 rule revisions at its annual football meeting

Rules revisions regarding illegal helmet contact were among 14 rules revisions made by the committee at its January 20-21 meeting in Indianapolis. The rules changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

In Rule 2, the committee placed **** blocking, face tackling and spearing under the heading of “Helmet Contact — Illegal” to place more emphasis on risk-minimization concerns. In Rule 9-4-3, the committee added a note that lists examples of some types of illegal helmet contact that could result in disqualification.

Examples of illegal helmet contact that could result in disqualification include, but are not limited to: a) illegal helmet contact against an opponent lying on the ground; b) illegal helmet contact against an opponent being held up by other players; and c) illegal helmet-to-helmet contact against a defenseless opponent.

In addition, the committee formulated a definition of a flagrant foul, an often-used term in the rules book but which previously was not specifically defined. A flagrant foul will be defined as a foul that may or may not involve physical contact, but involves such acts as fighting, contacting a game official, fouls so severe as to place an opponent at risk, persistent or extreme abusive conduct and the use of vulgar language or gestures.

“While these changes mostly involve reorganization, the committee is confident that the rules now place a stronger emphasis on flagrant acts and illegal helmet contact,” said Bob Colgate, NFHS assistant director and liaison to the Football Rules Committee. “These revisions continue our ongoing emphasis on risk minimization and good sportsmanship.”

“Annually, the NFHS Football Rules Committee has sought ways to better promote the health and physical welfare of the participants and cultivate the high ideals of good sportsmanship,” said Brad Cashman, executive director of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association and chair of the NFHS Football Rules Committee. “The rules committee has again raised the standard in regard to both areas of concern.”

Changes in the football game jersey specifications that were approved last year for implementation in 2010 were revised slightly this year, and the implementation date was moved back to 2012. The revised rule will still require the visiting team’s game jerseys to be white and contrast with the home team’s jersey.

“The changes made this year by the committee will provide manufacturers and schools a clearer direction on the specifications,” Colgate said. “The committee extended the implementation date to give schools an opportunity to make the necessary adjustments during the normal uniform rotation and replacement cycles during the next five seasons.”

In Rule 8-2-2, an enforcement option has been added when there is a foul by the opponent of a team scoring a touchdown. In addition to its previous option of accepting the result of the play and having the penalty enforced on the try-for-point, the scoring team may choose to have the foul enforced on the ensuing kickoff.

Two changes were made in Rule 1-2-3 regarding “The Field and Markings.” A 4-inch-wide broken restraining line is now required around the outside of the field, and the line must be at least two yards from the sidelines and end lines. The only exception to this rule will be in stadiums where the total field enclosure does not permit the line. In addition, a line, 4 inches wide by 12 inches long, that bisects the limit line at each 5-yard line extended, may be used.

“These lines are used to assist line-to-gain crews, as well as providing additional safety features for players, officials and sideline media; helping game officials with an unobstructed sideline operating area; and providing coaches with an unobstructed view from the coaching box,” Colgate said.

Rule 1-2-3 now will also provide rule support for the location and dimension of a three-yard line marking that appears on the field diagram. A line, 4 inches wide by a minimum of 24 inches in length, shall be centered and placed three yards from each goal line.

The committee added two new articles to Rule 10-4 regarding basic spots for enforcement of penalties. The basic spot will be the 20-yard line for plays when the end of the related run is in the end zone followed by a loss of possession and the ball re-enters the playing field and then goes out of bounds.

Following are other changes approved by the Football Rules Committee:

– Added the word “legal” to the definition of a passer to help clarify Rule 2-31-11.

– Provided an opportunity for a coach who assumes the head coaching responsibility during a game (when the head coach has been disqualified) to call a time-out.

– Beginning with the 2008 season, required forearm pads to meet same specifications as gloves and hand pads as set forth by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association in 1994. The new rule will require forearm pads to have the NFHS/NCAA label attached beginning in 2008.

– In six-, eight- and nine-player football, reduced the free-blocking zone to a zone three yards on either side of the snap and three yards behind each line of scrimmage.

In terms of the number of participants, football is the most popular high school sport for boys. According to the 2005-06 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, 1,071,775 boys played 11-player football, with another 25,000 involved in six-, eight- and nine-player football. In addition, 1,264 girls played high school football in 2005-06.

About the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)

The NFHS, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the national leadership organization for high school sports and fine arts activities. Since 1920, the NFHS has led the development of education-based interscholastic sports and fine arts activities that help students succeed in their lives. The NFHS sets direction for the future by building awareness and support, improving the participation experience, establishing consistent standards and rules for competition, and helping those who oversee high school sports and activities. The NFHS writes playing rules for 17 sports for boys and girls at the high school level. Through its 50 member state associations and the District of Columbia, the NFHS reaches more than 18,500 high schools and 11 million participants in high school activity programs, including more than 7 million in high school sports. As the recognized national authority on interscholastic activity programs, the NFHS conducts national meetings; sanctions interstate events; produces publications for high school coaches, officials and athletic directors; sponsors professional organizations for high school coaches, officials, spirit coaches, speech and debate coaches and music adjudicators; and serves as a national information resource of interscholastic athletics and activities. For more information, visit the NFHS Web site at www.nfhs.org.

TWO FORMER CALVERT HALL PITCHERS DRAFTED BY MLB

Jon Kibler (2004) and Tim Sexton (2005) join Yermal and Gioioso as 2007 MIAA pickds

Kibler, a left-handed pitcher, was taken in the 30th round by the Detroit Tigers, after showing a strong arm during his junior year at Michigan State.  He was a third-team All-Big Ten selection after going 4-3 with a 3.92 ERA.  During the season he tossed three complete game wins, was second on the team with 41 strike outs and tied for second with 66.1 innings.

He transferred to Michigan State last fall after an All-American junior college career at CCB-Dundalk.  During his days at Calvert Hall, he earned All-Metro honors in baseball and was also an All-MIAA pick in baseball and football.

Sexton, a member of Calvert Hall’s 2005 MIAA A Conference championship team, which set two state records for wins that were only eclipsed by this year’s team, was selected in the 25th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers, out of Miami-Dade Junior College.

Sexton started his college career at George Washington, but transferred to Miami-Dade this year and had recently signed to play for the College of Charleston next year.  He is a 6′-5″ power throwing right-handed pitcher.

In 2005, Sexton suffered a loss in Calvert Hall’s first game of the year, but the team would not lose again as it ran off 31 straight wins to set records for more consecutive wins in a season and most wins in a season.  He finished 6-1.

Both players have college eligibility remaining and each will have to decide if it is in their own best interest to sign professional at this time.

CRAWFORD IS NCAB ALL-AMERICAN AT MARYLAND

A one time All-MIAA pick, Crawford, a second-baseman, batted .420 this spring in 27 games.  He had eight doubles, a triple and a home run.  He also scored 30 runs and drove in 19.  In addition, he had nine stolen bases.

Maryland won its conference and then a captured a regional tournament to advance to the NCBA national tournament in Fort Myers, Florida, where it was eventually eliminated by North Carolina, which would go on to win the title.

YERMAL IS DRAFTED BY BALTIMORE ORIOLES

McDonogh star now has to opportunity to follow in the footsteps of former Eagle teammate Brandon Erbe; Loyola’s Gioiso also drafted by Baltimore in 50th round