Open Season

koelble@herald-mail.com FREDERICK, Md. - Thomas Johnson has several seniors on its baseball team who were members of the Patriots' state championship club two years ago. Those veterans are expected to be an integral part of any success TJ has this season, and Lowell Coats was one who made sure the Patriots got off to a fast start in their season opener Saturday afternoon. Coats only looked at two pitches in his first two at-bats and delivered a double, triple and five RBI as TJ waltzed to a 9-1 lead after two frames and held on for a 9-6 triumph over previously unbeaten Jefferson.

BOYS BASKETBALL SYKESVILLE, Md. -- South Hagerstown rallied with a 3-point barrage to force overtime, then went on to defeat Century 59-58 in the season opener for both teams Friday night. Ahmad Fields hit a pair of 3-pointers, including one that tied the game at 51 with less than one minute remaining in regulation. The Rebels jumped to a six-point lead in overtime before the Knights scored on a 4-point play. Andre Pierre hit a pair of free throws for a 59-55 lead and Century scored on a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

PREP VOLLEYBALL ROMNEY, W.Va. -- Aeriel Munson had 17 assists for Hedgesville as the Eagles opened the season with a 25-14, 25-16, 22-25, 25-13 win over Hampshire. Lauren Hockenberry added 10 kills for the Eagles (1-0), while Jordan Butler had 10 digs. PREP GOLF Williamsport 173, South Hagerstown 198 at Hagerstown Greens, Par 35 Williamsport: Zach Weber 39, Scot Drury 41, Chris Karr 45, Adam Eichelberger 48. South Hagerstown: George Canova 47, Luke Shindle 50, Eric Sprecher 50, Issac O'Brien 50. Record: Williamsport 4-2. Berkeley Springs 194, Washington 198 at Locust Hill, par 36 CHARLES TOWN, W.Va.

kate@herald-mail.com FAYETTEVILLE, Pa. - For the first time in 53 years of professional summer theater, Totem Pole Playhouse is air-conditioned. But there's good news for audience members who like the piney fragrance that wafts through the wooden louvers of the theater nestled in Caledonia State Park. Those louvers still can be opened to the mountain breezes. The air conditioning wasn't needed for the Saturday, May 31, season opener - "Art," directed by Carl Schurr, Totem Pole's producing artistic director.

No matter how momentous or ordinary a first is, it boils down to one thing. It's only a starting point. The Hagerstown Community College women's basketball team defeated Potomac State 80-58 on Monday in its season opener. It was the first game for HCC's new head coach Vicky Bullett and the majority of the Hawks roster. But firsts don't last. “Coaches are never satisfied,” said Bullett. “Basketball is a game of runs, but we didn't defend very well. When coaches see the things that they worked on all week before a game, they aren't happy, but they have to be patient.” Bullett will have a year's worth of patience ahead of her as she opened her first season of coaching the Hawks, replacing Marlys Palmer after 32 years on the bench.

MERCERSBURG, PA. The Whitetail Resort officially opened Saturday and celebrated with a banner announcing its first chairlift of the season. The riders on the first chairlift got to ride through the banner. Although the resort opened at 8:30 a.m., a line had begun to form at 7 a.m., according to Matt See, marketing coordinator of Whitetail Resort. "This is one of the best opening-day conditions we've had in a while," See said. "Everything seems to be going great. " More than 500 people were expected on opening day, according to Don MacAskill, the resort's president.

pepperb@herald-mail.com WASHINGTON COUNTY - The holiday shopping season means longer lines and full parking lots to some, but to police, a rush of shoppers means just one thing - more shoplifters. Recently, the Washington County Sheriff's Department made several arrests in connection with alleged shoplifting at Valley Mall, Prime Outlets at Hagerstown and Crosspoint Shopping Center, which sits on Cole Road near the mall. "With the holiday season coming, retail theft is just going to get worse," Sheriff's Department Investigator Greg Alton said.

BOYS BASKETBALL CARLISLE, Pa. - Colby Nitterhouse started the season with a double-double, scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to lead Chambersburg to a 46-37 victory over Mechanicsburg in the opening round of the Carlisle Tip-Off Tournament on Friday. Jonathan Motichka added nine points and five steals for the Trojans, who outscored Mechanicsburg by 10 points in the second half. Tonight, the Trojans were to play the winner of Friday's late game between Carlisle and Hollidaysburg.