Junior League

The Washington County Junior Football League played games at Mike Callas Stadium for the first time on Monday night, as the Hagerstown Browns and Hagerstown Giants played 'A' and 'B' games. The Giants squeezed past the Browns 12-6 in overtime in the 'B' game, involving fifth and sixth graders. The Browns returned the favor by edging the Giants 8-6 in the 'A' game. "I hope that the high schools and the junior leagues can work as a single force to help promote football in this county," Giants coach Phil Johns said.

HALFWAY - The Washington County Junior Football League got about everything it could ask for to begin its 37th season on Monday. The annual Labor Day kickoff was greeted with decent weather, good support and competitive games. The total package put a smile on the face of league president Greg Price. "It was a good day," Price said. "I'll say that the league is much more equal by the scores today. Since the B team has gotten more playing time, that has made a difference.

The Greene Turtle, on Shank Farm Way at the Stone House Square shopping center, donated $5,000 to the Hagerstown Junior Basketball League. The money was raised at the Greene Turtle's inaugural golf tournament. A check presentation was made recently at the restaurant.

YOUTH FOOTBALL Wash. Co. Junior League 'A' Division Boonsboro Titans 28, Smithsburg Jets 6 Titans (7-1): Matt Smidlein 2 TDs; Kyle Briggs, Justin Green TD each; Josh Harwood 2 PAT kicks; C.J. Saunders INT; Freddie Funke fumble recovery.

Tenpin bowler Tiffany Dillman, competing in the Thursday Adult/Junior League at Hagerstown's Dual Lanes, bowled her first 700 series last week. Dillman tossed games of 221, 269 and 226 for a 716 set. "I've been close before (698 set two years ago) and I finally got to 700," the 20-year-old Hagerstown resident said. "I wasn't thinking much about it. " Dillman has been bowling since she was 4 years old and currently competes in two leagues at Dual Lanes. Although it was her high career set, Dillman tossed a 280 game two years ago and actually strung together 11 consecutive strikes in a No-Tap Tournament this year.

The following is information regarding District 1 Little League registration and tryouts: American When - Registration: Saturday, 1 p.m. (ages 5-12). Tryouts: Saturday and Sunday, 1 p.m. (all ages); Monday and Tuesday, 6-8 p.m. (ages 9-10) Where - Brandenburg Field, Mill Street, Hagerstown Phone - 301-791-2099 Clear Spring When - Registration: Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tryouts: Saturday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (ages 7-8), 2-4 p.m. (ages 9-12, 13-16)

Kevin Naylor has become very used to waiting. But now, the wait has become a whole lot shorter. For years, Naylor wanted the chance to be the head coach for a high school basketball team. He cut his teeth in the junior league and as an assistant at both the prep and junior college level. He was waiting for his chance. That wait all but ended Friday with the announcement by athletic director Mike Tesla that Naylor was hired to be the next basketball coach at South Hagerstown, replacing Dennis Seman, who resigned in July to accept teaching and coaching positions in Myrtle Beach, S.C. "I was out of my mind with happiness when I found out (on Wednesday)

The Little League umbrella includes groups for baseball players ages 6 to 18. There are about 4,000 players in District 1, which includes Washington, Allegany and Garrett counties. · T-Ball, for players ages 6 to 7. · Minor League, for players ages 8 to 12. · Major League, for players ages 9 to 12. Major League commonly is recognized as Little League. · Junior League is for players age 13. · Senior League is for players ages 14 to 15. Washington County also has a girls softball league.

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - Mercyhurst College ended Shepherd University's four-game winning streak by beating the Rams 67-54 in men's basketball action at the Butcher Athletic Center on Tuesday night. Avi Fogel led the Lakers with 17 points. Jeff Daisley tossed in 14 points, while Terry Smith added 10 points and seven rebounds. Darren Stackhouse and junior forward Yves Moliva each had 17 points to pace the Rams (5-3). Stackhouse also hauled down a game-high 12 rebounds. BRIEFS Maugansville seeks coaches Maugansville Little League is looking for baseball coaches for the 2006 season.

Conococheague's run finally came to an end at the Maryland State Junior League Tournament. Chesapeake City snapped Conococheague's four-game winning streak with an 11-0 victory in the championship game Friday. It was the seventh game in seven days for Conococheague, which finished 5-2 for the tournament. “It was a heck of a run, but we just ran out of gas,” Conococheague manager Jeff Forsythe said. “Coming up through the losers' bracket and playing seven games was tough.

Thursday, July 26, 2012 YOUTH BASEBALL BERLIN, Md. - Conococheague defeated Chesapeake City 9-4 on Thursday in the championship round of the Maryland Junior League state tournament. The victory forces a final game Friday. No other information was available at press time. Thomas Evans 11-12 Tournament Federal 9, Halfway 5 Federal: Alex Walter HR, 3 RBIs; Kaleb Corbin HR; Max Conrad 3 hits; Andrew Blake 2 hits. Halfway: Mike McCook HR; Zack Rupp 3 hits; Bret Artz 2 hits, 2 RBIs; Gavin Thompson 2 hits.

The first-grade students and their teachers at Maugansville Elementary School would like to thank those who contributed money to replace trees in the Ruritan Park. Initially, their plan was to replace one tree, but amazingly there was enough money collected to purchase two maple trees for the park. On Thursday, May 31, the students helped plant the trees.  The teachers would like to thank Bill Walker for preparing the ground and for helping plant the trees. They would like to thank Steve Hose for his assistance with planting.  Finally, they would like to thank Snavely's Garden Center for delivering the trees.  The success of this project exemplifies how we can work together to make positive changes to our environment.  Congratulations to all of you who helped make this happen.

Another year of youth football kicked off this weekend as teams in the Washington County Junior Football League squared off at Martin L. "Marty" Snook Memorial Park. On Monday, in the Junior Division, the Williamsport Bears took on the Smithsburg Jets. The Hagerstown Giants and the Hagerstown Packers were scheduled to meet afterward. The season openers on Labor Day weekend drew hundreds of families to the park to root for players and cheerleaders. Jenny Page and her sister, Sherry Cunningham, were there to watch Page's son, Nicholas Andreaccio, play his first game as a Bear.

Fielding a football team at a small school is always a numbers game. Coaches have to scour the halls to find kids, then convince them to try out for the team. Clear Spring coach Craig Bathgate has found that an increase in one number - wins - makes an increase in another number - players - much easier to come by. “It is a lot easier to get kids since we've had a little success,” Bathgate said. “Most of the numbers are in the freshman and sophomore classes now, and we have record numbers in the junior league.

On Feb. 26, Aaron Brooks won his third Maryland Junior League wrestling championship and Isaiah Brooks won his second. Aaron competed in the 10 and younger division and Isaiah in the 12 and younger division. The event was held at Smithsburg High School and Smithsburg Middle School gyms. Both boys will travel to Chicago to compete in the national championships on April 9 and 10.

The Hagerstown Junior Basketball League would like to thank the community for participating in its raffle. The following are the winners: First place, $1,000 to Kregg Reynolds of Knoxville, Md.; second place, $500 to Beth Trimble of Hagerstown; third place, $200 to Ron Lancaster of Wolfsburg, Pa.; fourth place, $100 to Judy Jones of Hagerstown; fifth place, $75 to Francine Pauter of Frederick Md.; sixth place, $50 to Maria Cline of Hagerstown; seventh...

HAGERSTOWN -- When Washington County Junior Football League coach Todd Brant had to choose Monday between letting five of his players go through with a court-ordered weigh-in or having some members of the league's board of directors resign over the issue, he told his players to disappear. Brant said his understanding of the situation was that if he allowed his Williamsport Vikings to weigh in before Monday's playoff game, board members would resign, and the "whole league would come to a halt right then and there.

The Greene Turtle, on Shank Farm Way at the Stone House Square shopping center, donated $5,000 to the Hagerstown Junior Basketball League. The money was raised at the Greene Turtle's inaugural golf tournament. A check presentation was made recently at the restaurant.

HALFWAY -- The professional football season does not begin until Thursday, but the next generation of players hit the field Monday at Martin L. "Marty" Snook Park in Halfway for the opening day of Washington County Junior Football League. More than 1,100 children are signed up as football players or cheerleaders this year, said Scott Paddack, president of the league, as he announced plays during a Titans-Raiders matchup Monday afternoon. The league has 22 football teams and 14 cheerleading groups, he said.