Clear Spring

Triskaidekaphobia is the fear of the number 13. Valley had no fear of that Wednesday night as it picked up 13 hits en route to a 13-1 smothering of Clear Spring in a Maryland District 1 11-12 Tournament opening-round game that was shortened to five innings due to the 10-run rule. Valley used the long ball early and often in the win. Five home runs by three players — Drew Mathias, Ryan Kolich and Duke Zimmerman — paced Valley to victory. “We have a lot of good hitters on this team,” Valley manager Mike Mathias said.

Softball league The Washington County Girls Softball League is gearing up for the 2011 season. The league will hold registration on Saturdays, Feb. 5 and 19, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 20, from noon to 5 p.m. at Dick’s Sporting Goods. The league will also be at Extra Innings on Friday, Feb. 25, from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays, Feb. 12 and 26, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 27, from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, go to www.eteamz.

The Town of Clear Spring will flush fire hydrants during the week of May 17. Town Clerk Juanita Grimm said residents should expect their water to turn cloudy during the process.

A garage fire was reported in the 12800 block of Independence Road Thursday night at 8:30 p.m., a fire official said. The Clear Spring Volunteer Fire Department responded and was still on the scene at 10:15 p.m., the official said. No further details were available.

Plowing contract awarded CLEAR SPRING - Licking Creek Paving & Hauling will plow Clear Spring's streets again this winter. The Clear Spring Town Council voted Monday to approve the bid by the Big Pool company for the town's snow- removal contract. Licking Creek was the only bidder, Mayor Paul D. Hose Jr. said. Its bid was for the same rates as the town paid last year, he said. Hose said the bid was for $70 per hour. It also included $70 per hour for the use of a backhoe, $75 per hour for a dump truck and $15 per hour for certified flaggers.

Even though there is only one returning player for Clear Spring from last year’s Maryland District 1 9-10 championship squad, the team was able to successfully begin defense of its crown on Friday night. Clear Spring combined 16 walks from Halfway pitchers with six hits and plenty of aggressive base running on wild pitches for a 19-9 victory over Halfway. Clear Spring returns to action in the winners’ bracket today, hosting Valley at 1 p.m. “We didn’t talk to them at all about defending the title.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011 PREP SOFTBALL CLEAR SPRING — Amber Forrest’s double in the sixth inning scored Heather Schlotterbeck with the winning run after Schlotterbeck reached base on an error, and Clear Spring beat Williamsport 3-2 in an MVAL Antietam game Wednesday despite being two-hit by Wildcats pitcher Ariah Giles. The Blazers (3-2, 1-2) took a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Brooklyn Drury doubled and scored on a throwing error that allowed Sarah Blickenstaff to reach base.

A 17-year-old boy was charged Wednesday in an arson threat in the 11000 block of Big Spring Road in Clear Spring, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office. The threat was reported at 5:31 p.m., spokesman K. Nieberlein said in a fire marshal's office news release. The structure involved was a three-story family dwelling, Nieberlein said. It was discovered by an occupant, Nieberlein said. The release did not say how the threat occurred.