Rotary Runfest Marred By Death

The Rockville Rotary’s >23rd annual running of its Twilight Runfest took a turn for the worse on Saturday night, when the sweltering conditions apparently caused a man in his 60′s to collapse and die.

According to the Associated Press:

A spokesman for the Montgomery County, Md., Fire and Rescue Service said officials believe that the heat and humidity were a factor. Spokesman Pete Piringer said the scheduled 8:50 p.m. start of the race was delayed due to the conditions. Piringer said about half a dozen other runners were treated at an area hospital for heat-related problems.

As someone who regularly runs in the heat and enjoys it, this certainly gives me pause.

Boys Soccer Team Invites Players

>Rockville Central friend, John Cooper-Martin, sends along this information.

The Rockville Tornadoes is an established U-14/Boys MSI Soccer Classic team that practices Mondays and Wednesdays in the Rockville/Aspen Hill area. They are seeking 2-3 field players as well as someone who would like to play goalie full time. Boys must be born between 8-1-94 and 7-31-95. The Tornadoes play in one local tournament each season and participate in one winter indoor session.

Final tryouts are on Monday, July 14th and Monday, July 21st from 5:30 to 6:30 at Parkland Middle School. Please email the manager, Pam Memenza, for additional information.
memenza@aol.com

Coach Toussaint has been coaching since 1994 and obtained his USSF “E” License in 1998. Since his son played for Coach Toussaint, John reports that he is excellent and runs a high-quality team.

Youth Baseball Tournament Starts Wednesday

And while we’re at it, >Rockville Central friend Nancy Corr dropped me a line to let me know that our own RBBA (Rockville Base Ball Association) July 4th Greater Washington Tournament is set to start on Wednesday at Dogwood Park.

“It’s a cool thing in the old hometown,” says Nancy and I couldn’t agree more.

What with our hometown Rockville Express burning up the collegiate league and RBBA covering baseball for kidsfrom 7 up to 18 — Our Fair City would make Abner Doubleday proud!

RMSC Sending 10 To Olympic Trials On Thursday

[UPDATE: >Alain Menguy sent me the full list. Thanks Alain!]

Word comes to us from Rockville Central friend Lisa Hill that we have some great swimmers headed to Omaha, NE on Thursday for Olympic trials. Our own Rockville-Montgomery Swim Club (RMSC to you locals) has, at last count, ten swimmers who made the cut. Wow!

Here’s my best take on a list — but I could only find seven names. Somebody help me out! (I will update if I get more names):

Here is the full list, courtesy Rockville Central friend Alain Menguy:

• Cara Chuang (Poolesville HS) – 100 Back
• Brady Fox (Georgetown Prep) – 100 Back, 200 Back
• Eric Friedland (Walter Johnson HS) – 100 Breast, 200 Breast
• Colleen Haase (Good Counsel / University of Georgia) – 200 Breast
• Katura Harvey (Richard Montgomery HS / University of NC) – 400 Free
• Adam Meyer (Whitman HS / Naval Academy) – 200 IM
• Mark Meyer (Whitman HS) – 200 Fly
• Sean Stewart (Wooton HS) – 200 Fly
• Matt Harris (?) – 100 Fly
• Josh Hafkin (Georgetown Prep / University of NC) is qualified but he will not be competing in the 2008 Trials meet.

Join us in sending along good wishes for the team!

POTD: Safe?

>

This dramatic photo is from Rockville Central friend Brenda Dunham at Saturday’s Rockville Express game. Of it, she says: “Rockville Express vs. Youse’s Maryland Orioles — Rockville’s Josh Cardosa shows his athleticism.” But did he get the runner out??

POTD: Play Ball!

>

Photo by Rockville Central friend Brenda Dunham. This is from Sunday’s Rockville Express season opener. That’s council member Phyllis Marcuccio, ready to throw out the first pitch.

Rockville Express Has A Hot Opening Day

>Even though my thermometer topped at 97 degrees, I had to stop by Opening Day for our Rockville Express team, the defending Cal Ripkin Sr. Collegiate League Champions, who played the Bethesda Big Train.

Admission is free to all the home games. The concession stand sells a variety of spiritwear, while O’Briens serves up the barbeque. Express Board Member Brad Botwin, sponsor Diana Whitfield of the Gude Drive Commerce Bank, and volunteer Teresa Telesco, were on hand to show their support.

Unfortunately I missed the first pitch thrown by Councilwoman Phyllis Marcuccio who was substituting for Mayor Susan Hoffmann. Brad Botwin reported that she did much better than last year. She has been practicing! As I watched the game with Mark Pierzchala, former President of the College Gardens Civic Association and candidate for mayor, he told me it was a strike, so I’m sorry I wasn’t there to see it!

Although I couldn’t stay until the end, the game was played with enthusiasm by these young men. The home team crowd was lively and cheering. When the bases were loaded and an Express player’s hit was caught by the Big Train making it three outs, Mark explained that the hit would have gone further if the bat was metal. Even so, the batting was impressive. Both teams were both so energetic. Their spirit was contagious.

At one point the announcer reminded the crowd that a donation could be made the the “Lights at the Knights” campaign. With lights on the field the temperature could be 20 degress cooler at night game! In case you don’t know, Rockville Community Baseball and Rockville Express are raising $250,000 to install lights at Knight’s Field on the Montgomery College Rockville campus. They are only $20,000 away from their goal. You can donate at the Rockville Express website or send a check made out to “Rockville Community Baseball, Inc.” to RCB Inc., P.O. Box 10188, Rockville, MD 20849.

Former Montgomery County Council Member Bruce Adams was intently watching the game. He was instrumental in bringing collegiate baseball to our area and it was my pleasure to meet him.

Don’t let the summer slip by without rooting for our home team. The schedule is on the Rockville Express site or find the games listed in my Weekend to Weekend.

Also, Boy Scout Night at the Bethesda Big Train is Saturday, July 12, 2008 at 7:30 PM. All Cub Scouts, Webelos, Boy Scouts and Venture Crews in uniform can experience a free night of baseball. Plus, you never know, I was invited to promote Rockville Central on Big Train Radio, so I might be around!

Rockville Express Needs Host Families…Today!

The >Rockville Express players are arriving for their first practice today, Sunday, June 1st, and the team still needs six host families for the out-of-town players. If you can help, contact Brad Botwin at bb67chev@aol.com, or stop by their first practice from 5 PM – 6 PM at the Montgomery College Rockville field off Mannakee Street.

The Rockville Express plays in the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League, which attracts talented college players from around the country. Someday they may be major league stars and they need a place to stay!

The team wants you to know:

The Major Responsibilities of a Host Family

–Be available to host until August 3, 2008.
–Provide a clean, safe, and pleasant environment for the player to sleep.
–Provide food and/or meals for the player.
–Provide access to laundry equipment, players do their own laundry.
–Players provide their own transportation.

The Major Benefits of Hosting

–You will be more involved in the community.
–The player will be a positive role model for your children.
–You have the opportunity to make a positive impact on a young man’s future.
–When you host a player, you are not just taking on a guest for the summer. Your family will be embarking on an experience that will make you part of an extended baseball family.

Opening Day for the Rockville Express is June 8, 2008 at 5 PM on Knight’s Field on the Montgomery College Rockville campus. Admission to these home games is free! Bring the whole family and become part of this Rockville summer pastime.

State Swim Championships This Weekend In Rockville

This from >Rockville Central friend Alain Menguy:

“Just to let you know that this week-end at the Rockville Swim Center, hosted by the Rockville-Montgomery Swim Club (RMSC) will be held the 2008 Maryland State Long Course Championships! All the details about the championship are available here.”

“I attached a photo from last year championship, where my son Hugo (red cap) is in a close race (100 back) with Kenneth.”

Thanks Alain!

This Week In Sports 5/1/08

>From Tim Fauber, Events Contributor

Real Maryland beat the Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2-0 Saturday, Ron Cerritos recievied a red card in the second half and will sit out when Real plays their first away game against West Mass Pioneers.

These are the last games of the regular season. Next week I let Rockville know which of the high school teams will make it into the county finals.

BASEBALL

Saturday 5/3/2008
B-CC at Richard Montgomery 2 pm
Damascus at Rockville 2 pm
Wootton at Northwest 2 pm

Monday 5/5/2008
Richard Montgomery at Watkins Mill 5:15 pm
Rockville at B-CC 5:15 pm
Wheaton at Wootton 5:15 pm

Wednesday 5/7/2008
Rockville at Northwest 5:15 pm

LACROSSE

Saturday 5/3/2008
Quince Orchard at Wootton V 2 pm
Watkins Mill at Richard Montgomery V 4 pm

Monday 5/5/2008
Rockville at B-CC V 5:15 pm

Cheering For The First City Track Meet

Tonight cheers and clapping rose above the runners as the City of Rockville >Department of Recreation and Parks held its first track meet of the season at Wooten High School. Non-stop running filled three hours as the kids in first grade through middle school competed in good-spirited fun. The field was filled with shot puts and long jumps, while teammates continually rushed to the starting line to race on time.

With determined looks, the runners competed their best in front of the crowd and their peers, sometimes surprising even themselves. The crowd always cheered the loudest for the runners in the back of the pack, encouraging a finish with smiles. The Striders, who practice at Montgomery College, dominated most heats with excellent form.

Ayanna Upsher, running in the first heat of her life and placing first for the Striders, said “It was fun and exhilarating. Hearing my teammates cheer was great!”

Parents talked about the real need for exercise and encouraging their children to improve their personal bests.

The kids really gave it their all!

This Week In Sports 4/24/08

>From Tim Fauber, Events Contributor

Last Week saw the Wootton varsity Baseball team beat Blake 6-4 in a 7th inning rally. Impressive since Blake has been dominating this season.

Our new USL D2 soccer team, Real Maryland Monarchs, played their home opener in a downpour, losing to Western Mass Pioneers 1-0.Their next game is Saturday, April 26 7:30 pm against Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

BOYS BASEBALL
Friday 4/25/2008
Wootton at Damascus 3:30 pm

Saturday 4/26/2008
Blake at Richard Montgomery 1:30 pm
Northwood at Rockville 1:30 pm

Monday 4/28/2008
Kennedy at Rockville 3:30 pm
Richard Montgomery at Magruder 3:30 pm

Tuesday 4/29/2008
Quince Orchard at Wootton 3:30 pm

Wednesday 4/30/2008
Springbrook at Richard Montgomery 3:30 pm

Thursday 5/1/2008
Rockville at Einstein 3:30 pm
Wootton at Whitman 7 pm

BOYS LACROSSE

Friday 4/25/2008
Blake at Wootton V 7 pm/JV 5:15 pm

Saturday 4/26/2008
Northwest at Richard Montgomery V 12 pm/ JV 10 am
Seneca Valley at Rockville V 12 pm/JV 10 am

Monday 4/28/2008
Wootton at Gaithersburg V 7 pm/JV 5:15 pm

Tuesday 4/29/2008
Richard Montgomery at Einstein V 7 pm/ JV 5:15 pm

Wednesday 4/30/2008
Wootton at Sherwood V 5:15 pm

Thursday 5/1/2008
Richard Montgomery at Rockville V 5:15 pm

GIRLS LACROSSE
Friday 4/25/2008
Wootton at Blake V 7 pm/JV 5:15 pm

Saturday 4/26/2008
R. Montgomery at Northwest V 12 pm/JV 10 am
Rockville at Seneca Valley V 12 pm/JV 10 am

Monday 4/28/2008
Gaithersburg at Wootton V 7 pm/JV 5:15 pm

Tuesday 4/29/2008
Einstein at Richard Montgomery V 5:30 pm/ JV 3:30 pm

Wednesday 4/30/2008
Wootton at Sherwood V 7:15 pm

Thursday 5/1/2008
Richard Montgomery at Rockville V 7:15 pm

GIRLS SOFTBALL

Friday 4/25/2008
Blake at Richard Montgomery 3:30 pm
Wootton at Damascus 3:30 pm

Saturday 4/26/2008
Northwood at Rockville 12:30 pm

Monday 4/28/2008
Kennedy at Rockville 3:30 pm
Richard Montgomery at Magruder 3:30 pm
Wootton at Northwest 3:30 pm

Tuesday 4/29/2008
Quince Orchard at Wootton 3:30 pm

Wednesday 4/30/2008
Springbrook at Richard Montgomery 3:30 pm

Thursday 5/1/2008
Rockville at Einstein 3:30 pm
Wootton at Whitman 3:30 pm

BOYS TENNIS (Last Week)

Friday 4/25/2008
B-CC at Richard Montgomery 3:30 pm
Rockville at Einstein 3:30 pm
Wootton at Damascus 3:30 pm

Monday 4/28/2008
Churchill at Rockville 3:30 pm
Richard Montgomery at Seneca Valley 3:30 pm
Watkins Mill at Wootton 3:30 pm

Wednesday 4/30/2008
Northwest at Rockville 3:30 pm

TRACK AND FIELD (Last week)
Tuesday 4/29/2008
Richard Montgomery and Georgetown Prep at Northwood 3:30 pm

BOYS VOLLEY BALL

Friday 4/25/2008
Magruder at Wootton Coed 5:15 pm/Boys 7 pm Boys 5:15 pm
Richard Montgomery at Wheaton Coed 3:30 pm/ Boys 5:15 pm

Monday 4/28/2008
Rockville at Churchill Coed 5:15 pm/Boys 7 pm
Wootton at Blair Coed 5:15 pm/Boys 7 pm

Wednesday 4/30/2008
Springbrook at Richard Montgomery Coed 5:15 pm/ Boys 7 pm

Thursday 5/1/2008
Rockville at Wootton Coed 5:15 pm/Boys 7 pm

Bain 74th In Boston Marathon

>A common fixture among the top finishers in regional running races, Christopher C. Bain, 30, placed 74th in Monday’s prestigious 112th Boston Marathon, with an impressive pace of 5:50 and an overall time of 2:32:43.

According to my search, Bain is the only person who listed a Rockville residence to crack the top 100. If anyone has better information, please let me know. (Thanks to Rockville Central reader Bill Bird for the tip about the Marathon’s results search page).

This picture, from Washington Running Report, shows Bain in the Annapolis Ten Miler a few years ago.

I ran the Los Angeles Marathon once, and try as I might I only came within spitting distance of a four hour time (4:14 actually).

I am in awe of this neighbor!

High School Volleyball: RM Outlasts Wootton

>Rockville Central readers have expressed enthusiasm for our new coverage of sports in Our Fair City. Among the writers has been John Hartranft, who is coach of Thomas Wootton High School’s boys volleyball team.

He keeps a blog called Dig This! for the team, and wrote a stirring piece about last Friday’s game between his team and Richard Montgomery High School.

It begins:

Sports memories — and fantasies — are constructed and revealed in different forms. For baseball fans, it’s bottom of the ninth and two out with the base loaded. For football, it’s the final two minute drill driving for a victory. In soccer, it’s a tie score in overtime heading toward a shootout. Whatever sport you happen to enjoy playing, or watching, or cheering on your favorite team, you know when something special is happening on the field of play. Your hands sweat, your heart races, your emotions flip-flop with every turn and twist. And in the end, the difference between winning and losing can be measured by the widest grins, the weight in a pair of cupped hands supporting a bowed head, energy renewed by celebration, and heartbreak consoled only by time and reflection.

Crosstown rivals Richard Montgomery and Wootton battled on the volleyball court in a five game match on Friday, April 18. . . .

Go here to read the whole post. It’s good!

This Week In Sports 4/17/08

Today Rockville Central welcomes Tim Fauber as an Events Contributor. Thanks to him for pulling together this listing of all of the high school and pro/semi pro sporting events!>

Rockville has two semi pro/pro leagues in our area:

The Maryland Nighthawks whose season ended in March with a record of 6-14, the bottom of their division.

Our newest team is Real Maryland Monarchs, who will play their first season at Germantown Soccerplex then move to Richard Montgomery HS next season on the new artificial turf field. They open their season this Sunday, April 20, 2008, 4PM at the Soccerplex against the West Mass Pioneers.

High School Sports

Boys Varsity Baseball

Friday 4/18/2008

Richard Montgomery at Quince Orchard 3 pm
Wootton at Blake 7 pm

Saturday 4/19/2008

Rockville at Watkins Mill 12:30 pm

Monday 4/21/2008

Churchill at Richard Montgomery 3:30 pm
Rockville at Wheaton 3:30 pm
Wootton at Sherwood 3:30 pm

Wednesday 4/23/2008

Richard Montgomery at Wootton 3:30 pm
Seneca Valley at Rockville 3:30 pm

Boys Lacrosse

Saturday 4/19/2008

Rockville at Walter Johnson V 12 pm/JV 10 am
Wootton at Magruder V 12 pm/JV 10 am

Tuesday 4/22/2008

Richard Montgomery at Wootton V 7 pm/ JV 5:15 pm

Wednesday 4/23/2008

Rockville at Blake V 7 pm/JV 5:15 pm

Thursday 4/24/2008

Whitman at Richard Montgomery V 5:30 pm/ JV 3:30pm

Girls Lacrosse

Saturday 4/19/2008

Magruder at Wootton V 12 pm/JV 10 am
Walter Johnson at Rockville V 12 pm/JV 10 am

Tuesday 4/22/2008

Wootton at Richard Montgomery V 5:30 pm/ JV 3:30 pm

Wednesday 4/23/2008

Blake at Rockville V 7 pm/JV 5:15 pm

Thursday 4/24/2008

Richard Montgomery at Whitman V 7 pm/ JV 5:15 pm

Girls Softball

Friday 4/18/2008

Richard Montgomery at Quince Orchard 3:30 pm
Wootton at Blake 7 pm

Saturday 4/19/2008

Rockville at Watkins Mill 10 am

Monday 4/21/2008

Churchill at Richard Montgomery 3:30 pm
Wootton at Sherwood 3:30 pm

Tuesday 4/22/2008

Rockville at Wheaton 3:30 pm

Wednesday 4/23/2008

Richard Montgomery at Wootton 3:30 pm

Thursday 4/24/2008

Seneca Valley at Rockville 3:30 pm