Sports

Whether she’s on the volleyball court, in the classroom, writing a song or out somewhere performing it, Perry Hall junior Abbie Znamirowski adheres to a couple of staples.The 16-year-old Nottingham resident is driven to do her very best and do so in a positive manner that impacts others.AdvertisementIt’s a winning foundation on all fronts.“I feel better when I’m more positive and if I’m positive, everybody else is able to feed off that positivity, so I think that’s the one thing I know I can always do,” she said.AdvertisementWith academics the priority and a heavy workload that includes five Advanced Placement classes this semester, Znamirowski, an “A” student, has learned to balance her invested activities.For now, volleyball takes precedence as the second in line. As an outside hitter and team captain, she and the Gators (3-2) are in the midst of a rewarding season.Growing up playing softball, Znamirowski was looking for a change and tried out for volleyball in her freshman year. She’s proved a quick study, getting called up to varsity for the Gators’ playoff run last year and earning a starting role this season. After six seniors graduated last year, Perry Hall has a largely new cast that’s finding similar success.Znamirowski has brought consistently fine play as one of the team’s best passers in addition to improving her hitting skills. Just as important, her natural leadership skills are invaluable.“Abbie’s organized and rallies the girls and when I ask her to do something, I know it will get done,” Perry Hall coach Laura Britton said. “And she’s one that shows when she’s excited, so when she makes a kill or we do something really well, she brings that spirit to the court. So it spreads through everyone and when she gets hyped up, they get hyped up.”Znamirowski always makes time for her music, which she first developed an itch for when she was in second grade.An idea can pop up from anywhere: A typical long day at school, something more major or an interesting interaction with somebody. Often, it can just be a random thought.That’s when she heads to her room and puts pen to paper to express what she feels. Her guitar is always within reach. If deemed worthy, a lyric is matched with a melody and she goes from there.AdvertisementInfluenced by pop star Taylor Swift, Znamirowski wrote her first song titled “Sparkle” in the second grade. After learning to play the guitar when she was 10, she wrote “Let It Go” — a song about friendships.Performing at the Fields of Fire Country Concert in White Marsh on Sept. 9, she sang an original song called “Bored” that hit home with the crowd. It’s a satire on a high school relationship gone wrong.The idea of going to her room and writing a song that specifically expresses how she feels at that moment and then performing it to others that relate is a rush and reward for Znamirowski.“They’re like, ‘Wait, I’ve had this same feeling.’ It’s just so cool for people to say they really love the song because they felt the same way. It’s very validating, but it’s also just like this community feeling of support for each other. So it’s just been so surreal,” she said.Her parents, Kevin Znamirowski and Brianna Hendley, constantly described Abbie as “an old soul” while she was growing up. They see the time she puts into her music and hear when she’s practicing and are proud of the end product when her songs are finished.“It’s amazing to hear what she comes up with, the words and how creates her story. She’s always thinking in that way of how do I make this a little deeper, a little more intense so that when you’re listening to it, you hear it one way but then when you really pay attention, you’re actually hearing it another way,” Hendley said. “It always brings me to tears because I get so nervous when I hear her sing in public, but she just has this confidence. I always ask her: ‘Are you nervous doing this?’ and she says ‘No. I’m excited.’ She loves it.”AdvertisementPerry Hall junior Abbie Znamirowski awaits a serve during a recent match against Hereford. “What I’ve learned from watching our team is that we do our best when we’re having the most fun and when our energy is up,” she said. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)Varsity HighlightsWeeklyGet the latest high school sports stories, photos and video from around the region.After the Gators’ 3-0 start, Znamiroswki observed something different when they fell to Baltimore County rival Towson on Sept. 21.“What I’ve learned from watching our team is that we do our best when we’re having the most fun and when our energy is up,” she said.“In the Towson match, there were times from what I saw and felt personally, we weren’t trying for fun, but we were trying to make it work. When we’re having fun, we make it work because everyone is enjoying each other and feeding off each and working together. So it’s not necessarily about winning in those situations but that we’re literally having fun and that’s the most important.”She hopes the setback proves to be a valuable lesson learned and she’s determined to help the Gators stay focused on the fun part. Teammate Aspen Ganovski, a fellow junior, has come to expect that from Znamirowski.“She’s really positive and really helps the team because she’s always so uplifting,” Ganovski said. “She’s very dedicated to our team and never gives up. And being a captain, if someone is having a [tough time] during the game, she always lifts them up.”A novice in the sport when she tried out as a freshman, Znamirowski said the instant connection with teammates is what piqued her interest the most. She’s sure to be savoring all the rewards and life lessons that have followed.Advertisement“I’m just thankful that they’re so supportive and it’s so cool to have them supporting my volleyball and also them being willing to support my other interests, too, like my music,” she said. “Seeing how we’re succeeding is very rewarding and cool to see. I’m really proud of our girls.”"It’s just so cool for people to say they really love the song because they felt the same way," Abbie Znamirowski said. "It’s very validating, but it’s also just like this community feeling of support for each other. So it’s just been so surreal." (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)

According to one metric, the two best teams in the American League are playing in the wild-card round this week. The winner will play the Orioles in the best-of-five American League Division Series beginning Saturday.While Tampa Bay and Texas ended the regular season with records worse than the Orioles’ mark of 101-61, the Rays (99-63) and Rangers (90-72) sport run differentials much better than Baltimore’s.AdvertisementThe Orioles are tied with the Houston Astros for the circuit’s third-best run differential at plus-129, while the Rangers rank second at plus-165 behind the Rays’ plus-195. Those totals produce Pythagorean records, an estimate based solely on run differential, of 94-68 for Baltimore, 96-66 for Texas and 100-62 for Tampa Bay.[ Orioles reset: Baltimore’s depth fueled its best regular season in decades. Now comes the real test. ]Of course, run differentials and a formula named after a Greek mathematician don’t decide ballgames. The Orioles went 8-5 against the Rays this season, failing to lose a series to their AL East foe, and 3-3 versus the Rangers in two series played before June.AdvertisementHowever, after the marathon that is a 162-game season, run differential is oftentimes more predictive of future success than a team’s actual record.Either way, the figures just go to prove that the Orioles will face a formidable opponent in the ALDS, whether the Rangers or Rays prove victorious in the best-of-three wild-card series.But, if the Orioles could choose, which team would they prefer to play?Ahead of Game 1 between the Rangers and Rays on Tuesday, here are the arguments for Baltimore fans rooting for either team to advance to play the Orioles in the ALDS.Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien, center, slides safely into second, beating the tag of Rays shortstop Taylor Walls on Sept. 17, 2022. (Scott Audette/AP)The argument for the Rangers being a better matchup for the Orioles is perhaps an easier one to make. Texas won nine fewer games and had a worse run differential than the Rays. The Rangers are, essentially, the weaker team.Compared with the Rays, the Rangers have a worse starting rotation and a weaker bullpen. While their offense is better than Tampa Bay’s, it’s marginally so and doesn’t make up for the team’s deficiencies on the mound.While the Orioles have fared well against top-line starting pitching this season, those hurlers have outsized importance in the postseason. One or two elite starters can lead a team to a series win, and the Rangers don’t have those.[ The Orioles are heading to the playoffs. Here’s everything you need to know. ]Their success this season has been in spite of injuries to former Cy Young winners Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer, the latter of whom they acquired at the trade deadline. Jon Gray, a reliable starter in his second consecutive good year with the Rangers, is also on the injured list, although he could return for the ALDS.AdvertisementThat’s not to say, of course, that the Rangers have a bad rotation. Their starters’ combined 3.96 ERA is better than Baltimore’s 4.14. All-Star Nathan Eovaldi, left-hander Jordan Montgomery, Dane Dunning and manager Bruce Bochy’s choice for a fourth starter is far from an easy slate. But compared with AL Cy Young candidate Zach Eflin and fireballer Tyler Glasnow, the two right-handers at the top of Tampa Bay’s rotation, Texas’ might be the easier task.Tampa Bay’s bullpen is also far better than Texas’. Despite a midseason addition of Aroldis Chapman, the Rangers’ relief corps has a 4.77 ERA this season that ranks 24th in the majors and worst among playoff teams. In September, the Rays’ bullpen had a streak of 36 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings, while Texas’ posted a 5.08 ERA.The Rays are also playing perhaps their best baseball since their torrid 22-5 start. They went 27-13 since Aug. 16, while the Rangers are 18-24 during that same stretch.The Rays' Manuel Margo, right, celebrates with Randy Arozarena after making a catch against the Orioles on Sept. 17. (Patrick Smith/Patrick Smith/Getty Images North America/TNS)The Orioles have already proved they can handle the Rays. They went 8-5 against Tampa Bay and won games in myriad ways — from comebacks to outdueling the Rays to outhitting them.Like the Rangers, the Rays are also without several key pieces. Wander Franco, the Rays’ best player at just 22 years old, is still on administrative leave as Major League Baseball and the Dominican Republic investigate an alleged relationship between Franco and a minor. Ace Shane McClanahan, a two-time All-Star, is out after undergoing Tommy John elbow reconstruction in August. Starters Jeffrey Springs and Drew Rasmussen are also out for the year after undergoing elbow surgeries. Slugger Luke Raley, who hits in the middle of Tampa Bay’s order against right-handed starting pitchers, and former Terps standout Brandon Lowe, the Rays’ starting second baseman who replaced Franco in the No. 2 hole, are also on the IL.[ With playoff bye, Orioles will soon receive 5 straight days off — as many as the last 8 weeks combined: ‘It’s huge’ ]Those absences make the Rays’ rotation less scary — having to face McClanahan, Springs, Eflin and Glasnow in the ALDS would be a tough obstacle for any team — while also making their lineup much less formidable than the Rangers.AdvertisementWhat Texas might lack on the pitching side the club has more than made up for with the bats. The Rangers have the best offense in the AL with 881 runs scored, averaging 5.44 runs per game — nearly half a run more than the Orioles. Their lineup is bolstered by AL Most Valuable Player candidate Corey Seager, whose 1.013 OPS ranks second behind only the Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani. Second baseman Marcus Semien has been one of baseball’s most valuable players in the majors with 7.4 wins above replacement, tied for fifth in the sport, according to Baseball-Reference. And slugger Adolis García leads the team with 39 homers and 107 RBIs.Baltimore Orioles InsiderWeeklyWant to be an Orioles Insider? The Sun has you covered. Don't miss any Orioles news, notes and info all baseball season and beyond.Meanwhile, no player on the Orioles has an OPS within 198 points of Seager’s, a WAR within one win of Semien’s or a home run total within 10 of García’s. AL Rookie of the Year front-runner Gunnar Henderson is the closest with an .814 OPS, 6.3 WAR and 28 homers.But the games aren’t played on paper, as the cliche goes. No matter who they play, the biggest determinant of whether the Orioles move onto the ALCS is themselves.ALDS, Game 1Rays/Rangers at OriolesSaturday, TBAAdvertisementTV: Fox or FS1Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AMRangers shortstop Corey Seager, right, celebrates with second baseman Marcus Semien after both scored on Seager's home run against the Astros on Aug. 9, 2022. (David J. Phillip/AP)

Orioles fans cheered Thursday night when the club announced in a videoboard message that the team had agreed with the State of Maryland on a deal to keep the club O’s in Baltimore for the long term. The current stadium lease extension is set to expire Dec. 31.No details were provided at the game. On Friday, representatives of the club and Gov. Wes Moore said they had signed a “memorandum of understanding,” containing a series of agreed-upon terms as a precursor to a lease.AdvertisementThe agreement was hailed by elected officials, fans and others. But questions remained about what the document proposes, when an actual lease might be signed, and why it has taken years to arrive at this point.Here are 10 questions and answers about the lease situation:AdvertisementIt’s a nonbinding “memorandum of understanding” that is not a lease but could be a significant step toward one. The MOU says it outlines “key components” of the team’s and stadium authority’s plans and remains subject to “additional modification.” It was signed by Orioles Chairman and CEO John Angelos and Maryland Stadium Authority Chairman Craig Thompson.The Orioles’ announcement referred to a “deal” but did not say whether it was a lease, an MOU or something else. There was a broad assumption, based on the wording and the celebratory demeanor of Gov. Wes Moore and Angelos, that the agreement was final.The announcement said: “Earlier today, the Orioles, Governor Wes Moore and the State of Maryland, and the Maryland Stadium Authority agreed to a deal that will keep the Orioles in Baltimore and at Camden Yards for at least the next 30 years!!”The document says the lease will require the Orioles to play home games at Camden Yards. As many as six regular-season games are permitted to be played elsewhere under Major League Baseball rules.It is not known when a lease will be signed. The Orioles and the state say they will work diligently to sign a deal — and get it approved by the Board of Public Works — before Dec. 31. But they acknowledge that it could be necessary to sign another short-term extension of perhaps one or two years.The parties started talking about the lease in conceptual terms in 2018. Because the negotiations are private, it’s not known what the holdup is.It appears so. According to the MOU, the state would establish a safety and repair fund for ballpark projects. That would cost $3.3 million per year, or about $100 million over a 30-year lease. The memorandum says the fund would be created “subject to receiving the necessary legislative approvals.”The Orioles would cease paying rent to the state for Camden Yards but would assume responsibility for stadium operations and management. That’s a similar arrangement to what the NFL’s Ravens have.AdvertisementBaltimore Orioles InsiderWeeklyWant to be an Orioles Insider? The Sun has you covered. Don't miss any Orioles news, notes and info all baseball season and beyond.The baseball team’s stadium rent is tied to a formula reflecting the team’s attendance and other factors. Because of the coronavirus pandemic and a string of losing seasons before last year, the rent paid by the Orioles had been relatively low.Now that the club is performing better and attracting more fans, the rent will rise. The Orioles would benefit from stopping paying rent while they are drawing larger crowds.The document suggests there could be. It says the Orioles will work with the state to make significant efforts “to hire, contract with, or relocate” MSA employees whose jobs are lost in the switch.The MOU would allow the Orioles to work with private firms to develop land around Camden Yards, including the warehouse and Camden Station, that the state and team have long said are underutilized. New development — for example, stores or residences — could entice more people to the area on non-game days, boosting tax revenues.Under the plan, the Orioles would pay $94 million in rent over the 99-year term of the development agreement. But the state could lose out on several million dollars a year in rental income that it currently receives from leasing some of the warehouse properties.Leases present opportunities for teams to plan stadium upgrades. Most other big league teams have opened new ballparks since Camden Yards’ 1992 debut, when it was the forerunner of a new generation of baseball-only stadiums in downtown areas.AdvertisementThe club may explore design elements — such as open concourses and more social spaces — that could improve Camden Yards.

Each week of the NFL season, The Baltimore Sun will rank all 32 NFL teams. The rankings will take into account not just weekly performance, injuries and roster depth, but how well each team measures up as Super Bowl contenders.Here are the rankings heading into Week 5:AdvertisementLast week: Win vs. Cardinals, 35-16Up next: vs. CowboysAdvertisementThe Niners make winning look so easy. Behind a career-high four touchdowns from Christian McCaffrey and a nearly perfect day from Brock Purdy — who finished 20-for-21 for 283 yards to set a franchise record for completion percentage in a game — San Francisco won its 14th straight regular-season game. The 4-0 start has come against a relatively easy schedule, so Sunday night’s game against Dallas will be an important measuring stick.Last week: Win vs. Dolphins, 48-20Up next: vs. JaguarsFacing the hottest team in the league, the Bills showed they still rule the AFC East. The defense limited big plays and made Tua Tagovailoa uncomfortable in the pocket with a relentless pass rush. The offense proved it can be just as explosive as the Dolphins’, scoring touchdowns on its first three possessions and averaging 7.4 yards per play behind a masterful performance from Josh Allen, who had just as many touchdown passes (4) as incompletions. However, the big win didn’t come without a price, as star cornerback Tre’Davious White suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon.Last week: Win vs. Jets, 23-20Up next: at VikingsEven on a night when Patrick Mahomes appeared to switch bodies with counterpart Zach Wilson — throwing two ugly interceptions and a third that was called back by a controversial holding penalty on Sauce Gardner — he showed his star power by scrambling for two huge first downs on a 15-play drive that burned the final 7:24 off the clock. It was ugly at times, but the type of grind-it-out performance great teams deliver on the road.Last week: Win vs. Commanders, 34-31 (OT)AdvertisementUp next: at RamsDespite not looking their best, the Eagles keep finding ways to win. Jalen Hurts’ 28-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Brown with 1:28 left in the fourth quarter gave Philadelphia the lead, the defense rebounded to force a three-and-out to open overtime and the offense did just enough to get Jake Elliott in position for the game-winning 54-yard field goal. The Hurts-to-Brown combination looks as good as ever, but the Eagles will need to clean up some mistakes to remain undefeated.Last week: Loss vs. Bills, 48-20Up next: vs. GiantsThe Dolphins had allowed just one sack in their first three games, but with left tackle Terron Armstead injuring his knee in the second quarter Sunday, Tagovailoa was sacked four times and knocked down 11 times. Armstead has already been ruled out for next week’s game, a crushing blow for an offensive line that has struggled without him. The absence of pass rusher Jaelan Phillips also hurt a defense that hit Allen just three times and allowed 310 passing yards. How Miami bounces back from this loss will be telling.Last week: Win vs. Patriots, 38-3AdvertisementUp next: at 49ersThe Cowboys’ defense remains the star of the show. A scoop-and-score from Leighton Vander Esch and a pick-six from DaRon Bland helped bury the Patriots on a day when the Dallas offense once again didn’t look very explosive. The Cowboys again failed to finish drives, going 1-for-4 in the red zone, and Tony Pollard, CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks did not make much of an impact outside of Lamb’s 20-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter. Dak Prescott has been extremely efficient thus far, but the offense simply needs to be better.Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, right, is congratulated by wide receiver Zay Flowers after scoring a touchdown Sunday against the Browns. (Kirk Irwin/AP)Last week: Win vs. Browns, 28-3Up next: at SteelersWith as many injuries as the Ravens have had to overcome, it helps to have one of the league’s best players. Lamar Jackson certainly looks like an MVP-caliber quarterback again, accounting for four touchdowns in a blowout win. His performance in the second quarter — in particular back-to-back throws to Nelson Agholor and Mark Andrews in the end zone that defenders had no chance of knocking down — might have been the best stretch of his career. Combine Jackson’s ascendence with a defense that has held up extremely well despite missing its Pro Bowl cornerback, $70 million safety and two best young pass rushers and the Ravens should be extremely pleased sitting in first place in the now very winnable AFC North.Last week: Win vs. Packers, 34-20AdvertisementUp next: vs. PanthersThese are not the same old Lions. Facing a division opponent on the road with a short week of preparation, Detroit could be forgiven for coming up short. Instead, it grinded out 211 rushing yards, including 121 from David Montgomery, and intercepted Jordan Love twice while sacking him five times. “Send us anywhere, line us up against anyone and we feel like we can go in there and beat them,” Lions quarterback Jared Goff said. It’s hard to argue with that right now.Last week: Win vs. Giants, 24-3Up next: ByeThe Seahawks had five sacks in the first three games. On Monday night, they recorded 11, nearly tying the modern-day record. Add in a 97-yard pick-six from rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon, and it was a dominant night for a defense that looked like the old “Legion of Boom” that won a Super Bowl title at MetLife Stadium at the end of the 2013 season.Last week: Win vs. Raiders, 24-17AdvertisementUp next: ByeWhile previous Chargers teams might have folded Sunday, this one can take pride in grinding out a win. Down three starters on defense and with quarterback Justin Herbert banged up and struggling, Los Angeles held on thanks to six sacks from Khalil Mack and a gutsy throw from Herbert to Josh Palmer on third-and-10 from the team’s own 11-yard line with two minutes left. The Chargers get a week to heal before returning for a brutal stretch against the Cowboys and Chiefs.Last week: Win vs. Saints, 26-9Up next: ByeIn perhaps his last chance to prove he’s a starting-caliber quarterback, Baker Mayfield has risen to the occasion. The 2018 No. 1 overall draft pick threw three touchdown passes Sunday, helping push the Bucs to first place in the NFC South. The Tampa Bay defense has been good, too, limiting the Saints to 3.2 yards per play.Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (17) celebrates the winning touchdown in overtime against the Colts on Sunday. (Zach Bolinger/AP)Last week: Win vs. Colts, 29-23 (OT)AdvertisementUp next: vs. EaglesPuka Nacua continues to be one of the best stories of the season, catching nine passes for 163 yards and the game-winning touchdown in overtime Sunday. The rookie receiver has more receptions (39) and yards (501) through his first four games than any player in NFL history, and it feels like the Rams have needed every bit of it. Their postseason hopes rest on the health of veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford, who limped through a hip injury in the second half.Last week: Loss vs. Ravens, 28-3Up next: ByeThe bye week comes at a good time for Cleveland, which had no chance Sunday with rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Deshaun Watson should be back after being a surprise inactive Sunday with an injury to his throwing shoulder, and defensive end Myles Garrett says his foot should be “just fine” after getting hurt in the third quarter. The Browns need both to be healthy to compete for a playoff spot.Last week: Loss vs. Eagles, 34-31 (OT)AdvertisementUp next: vs. BearsIt was about as encouraging as a loss can be. A week after a terrible start against the Bills, Sam Howell went 29-for-41 for 290 yards and led a game-tying drive in the final minutes capped by a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jahan Dotson on the final play of regulation. But you have to question coach Ron Rivera’s decision to kick the extra point and not go for the 2-point conversion, which would have given Washington one play to win the game.Last week: Win vs. Falcons, 23-7Up next: vs. BillsIn their first of two straight games in London, the Jaguars looked more like the postseason contender many expected to see. Three sacks from Josh Allen and a pick-six from Darious Williams backed up an offense that, while still not living up to high expectations, seems to be turning the corner behind Trevor Lawrence.Last week: Loss vs. Lions, 34-20AdvertisementUp next: at RaidersThe Packers couldn’t climb out of an early hole this time, falling behind 24-3 in the second quarter before mounting a late rally. Injuries have taken their toll, as cornerback Jaire Alexander and left guard Elgton Jenkins missed a second straight game and left tackle David Bakhtiari was placed on injured reserve. It’s not helping Jordan Love to have a running game that ranks 29th in the league with 3.3 yards per carry, either.Texans wide receiver Nico Collins, left, and quarterback C.J. Stroud celebrate after they connected for a touchdown against the Steelers on Sunday. (David J. Phillip/AP)Last week: Win vs. Steelers, 30-6Up next: at FalconsBehind a patchwork offensive line that lost another starter Sunday, rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud is not just surviving, but thriving. He has the second-most passing yards through four starts to begin a career (1,212) and the third-most passing attempts (151) by a rookie without an interception to start his career. With Nico Collins emerging as a true No. 1 wideout, the Texans have a strong nucleus forming on offense.Last week: Win vs. Bengals, 27-3AdvertisementUp next: at ColtsIt’s hard to get a read on the Titans. A week after recording just 94 total yards against the Browns, they piled up 400 against the Bengals and did it without left guard Peter Skoronski and wide receiver Treylon Burks. DeAndre Hopkins finally got going with a 38-yard catch, his longest as a Titan, and Derrick Henry looked like his old self with 122 rushing yards. If this team can avoid making mistakes, it could be a playoff contender in a weak AFC South.Last week: Loss vs. Jaguars, 23-7Up next: vs. TexansIt’s only been four games and coach Arthur Smith is already getting questions about sticking with his starting quarterback. And after Desmond Ridder threw two interceptions and lost a fumble Sunday, it’s only fair. The Falcons’ offense is built on its running game, but Ridder has not taken the step forward many expected in his second season. We might see veteran backup Taylor Heinicke take the field soon.Last week: Loss vs. Texans, 30-6AdvertisementUp next: vs. RavensThe good news: quarterback Kenny Pickett might not miss any time after suffering a knee injury in Sunday’s loss. The bad news: the offense has been awful with him on the field. Pittsburgh ranks 31st in offensive DVOA, and Pickett ranks 30th in QBR. Running back Najee Harris, with one catch for 32 yards, was the team’s leading receiver Sunday. That has to change.Last week: Loss vs. Buccaneers, 26-9Up next: at PatriotsEven with Derek Carr making a surprise return from a shoulder injury, the Saints managed just 3.2 yards per play while failing to score a touchdown Sunday. In star running back Alvin Kamara’s return from a three-game suspension, he had just 84 yards on 24 touches. Perhaps most alarmingly, the Saints have scored just four touchdowns in 12 trips to the red zone. The defense helped cover for much of the offense’s struggles during a strong start, but things are quickly falling apart.Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson celebrates a rushing touchdown against the Rams on Sunday. (Zach Bolinger/AP)Last week: Loss vs. Rams, 29-23 (OT)AdvertisementUp next: vs. TitansAfter falling behind 23-0, the Colts showed plenty of fight in coming back to force overtime. Rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson continues to impress, throwing for 200 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 56 yards and a score to become the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era to have a rushing touchdown in his first three games. He’ll rue those three straight incompletions after getting the ball back with a chance to win in the final 23 seconds, but the Colts are much more competitive with Richardson under center than anyone expected.Last week: Loss vs. 49ers, 35-16Up next: vs. BengalsThe Cardinals continued to look scrappy, entering Sunday’s fourth quarter trailing 21-16 before San Francisco pulled away. Joshua Dobbs kept his breakout season rolling with 265 yards and two touchdowns to rookie receiver Michael Wilson, who looks like a draft steal as a third-round pick. With Dobbs’ poise and James Conner’s tough running, Arizona is a tough out for even some of the league’s best teams.Last week: Loss vs. Titans, 27-3AdvertisementUp next: at CardinalsJoe Burrow still doesn’t look right, and the Bengals are running out of time to get this season turned around. Now wide receiver Tee Higgins is dealing with a broken rib, and although he might play through it, there’s no guarantee this offense will be able to flip a switch and get back to playing at an elite level. This might be a lost season.Last week: Loss vs. Cowboys, 38-3Up next: vs. SaintsBill Belichick is sticking with Mac Jones as his starting quarterback, but it’s fair to wonder for how much longer. Jones committed a rookie mistake by throwing late and across the field Sunday, and he was punished with a pick-six. The Patriots might as well see what they have in backup Bailey Zappe or rookie Malik Cunningham at this point.Last week: Loss vs. Chiefs, 23-20AdvertisementUp next: at BroncosIt’s a shame Zach Wilson’s dropped snap ended up costing the Jets because the third-year quarterback was having one of his best games as a pro to that point. Coach Robert Saleh said it himself: If the Jets can get that level of performance from Wilson week after week, they should be able to win a lot of games. Let’s see if he’s right.Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is sacked by Vikings safety Harrison Smith during Sunday's game. (Jacob Kupferman/AP)Last week: Win vs. Panthers, 21-13Up next: vs. ChiefsAfter Kirk Cousins threw a 99-yard pick-six on the opening drive, it seemed the Vikings were due for another hard-luck loss. But the ball bounced their way in the fourth quarter when D.J. Wonnum scooped up a fumble by Bryce Young and returned it 51 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. The Vikings only ran 44 plays, but thanks to star receiver Justin Jefferson’s two touchdown catches and three sacks from safety Harrison Smith, including the strip that led to Wonnum’s score, Minnesota finally had something to smile about.Last week: Win vs. Bears, 31-28AdvertisementUp next: vs. JetsAs the third quarter came to a close Sunday, the Broncos trailed 28-7 and had been outscored 98-27 over their past 100 minutes of football. Thanks to a stunning rally, they kept their faint playoff hopes alive. Whether this win ends up changing the course of their season remains to be seen, but at least they’re not the Bears.Last week: Loss vs. Chargers, 24-17Up next: vs. PackersDespite falling behind 24-7 at halftime, the Raiders somehow managed to rally and give the Chargers a scare. But they couldn’t get out of their own way, committing nine penalties and turning the ball over three times, including two fumbles by rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell that led directly to Chargers touchdowns and an interception by O’Connell on first-and-goal from the 3-yard line with 2:38 left. Frustration is mounting for a team that hasn’t been able to win close games.Last week: Loss vs. Seahawks, 24-3AdvertisementUp next: at DolphinsBaltimore Ravens InsiderWeeklyWant the inside scoop on the Ravens? Become a Ravens Insider and you'll have access to news, notes and analysis from The Sun.In case any Giants fans are wondering, quarterback Daniel Jones has $36 million in guaranteed money left on his contract after this season. If the Giants end up near the top of the draft, it’s not out of the question to think they should go after prized prospects Caleb Williams or Drake Maye.Last week: Loss vs. Vikings, 21-13Up next: at LionsIt’s easy to blame rookie quarterback Bryce Young for the offense’s struggles, especially after his fumble led to the go-ahead touchdown Sunday, but the running game and his receivers have not given him much help. Still, Young has looked overwhelmed at times, and it’s not going to make Panthers fans feel any better seeing Stroud and Richardson succeed as rookies. Carolina must see improvement from its No. 1 overall pick to feel good heading into 2024.Last week: Loss to Broncos, 31-28AdvertisementUp next: at CommandersIt’s been a Murphy’s Law type of season for the Bears: anything that can go wrong, will. Leading 28-7 in the dying seconds of the third quarter Sunday, they found a way to lose their 14th straight. Even a great performance from quarterback Justin Fields was marred by a fumble returned for the game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter. Wide receiver Chase Claypool, whom the Bears traded a second-round pick for last season, has essentially been kicked off the team. It feels like only a matter of time before there’s a new coach and a new starting quarterback in Chicago.

Caleb Ellison went to Camden Yards in August, wearing an Orioles Hawaiian shirt, a black-and-orange baseball cap and, notably, nothing covering his face.He was happy to be seen.AdvertisementIt had been five years since Ellison wore a paper bag over his head to a few games during the 2018 season as he and the Orioles endured a franchise-worst 115 losses. A common trope in sports, Ellison wore the cut-out brown bag — captured by a Baltimore Sun photographer during one September loss — to symbolize his embarrassment. The Orioles were awful. And they were going to be awful. For Ellison, then a 16-year-old student at Old Mill High School in Millersville, that time felt “hopeless.”“[I’d] show up to the Yard completely normal and then as soon as the score became 9-3 or whatever, I’d put it on, you know, hide the shame,” he said.Advertisement[ Orioles reset: Baltimore’s depth fueled its best regular season in decades. Now comes the real test. ]There’s been no need to hide this year. The Orioles, expected to finish below .500 and out of the playoffs by sportsbooks and statistical projections, have been the best story in baseball. Young, homegrown stars like Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson and Grayson Rodriguez — who climbed the minor league ladder while the MLB team struggled in recent years — have joined with little-pursued veteran players to form an undaunted, consistent group.The Orioles have not been swept since May 2022, a streak of 91 straight sweep-less series that marks the longest streak in MLB since World War II. They won 101 games for the first time since 1979. And they’ve done it all after fans suffered through years of despair.“It’s been awesome,” Ellison said.Of all the joyous moments that the 2023 season has supplied, none topped Thursday as the Orioles clinched an American League East title for the first time since 2014 with a 2-0 win over the Boston Red Sox. In doing so, they earned a bye in the first round of the MLB playoffs and will begin the AL Division series at home on Saturday.On that day, the team’s first postseason game since 2016, there will be no brown-bag helmets at Oriole Park. Instead, fans will be eager to root for a franchise that has firmly put its five-year rebuild in the rearview and has only the fruits of that labor ahead of it.Caleb Ellison wore a paper bag over his head in 2018 as he watched the Orioles lose one of their 115 games that season. Five years later, he gave a thumbs up as he watched Baltimore, which has weathered a rebuild and is headed to the playoff for the first time in seven years. (Kenneth K. Lam, left, & Sarah Ellison/Kenneth K. Lam, Baltimore Sun & courtesy of Sarah Ellison)During the rebuild — the years when the Orioles fielded mediocre rosters at best and redirected resources toward developing the future — the baseball year felt long. There was a 19-game losing streak. Meager attendance. Games lacking any significance, except maybe for the opponents, by August.But this season has instead felt fresh, a giddy whirlwind of walk-off wins, unlikely heroes and one-time prospects blooming into bona fide stars.It has returned the baseball buzz to Baltimore, which has seen better attendance at Oriole Park than any year since 2017.AdvertisementWhen Orioles pitcher Kyle Gibson picked up a coffee at Morning Mugs in Federal Hill before a game last week, he found written on his cup: “Let’s Go O’s.”“I think this city is getting pretty excited,” Gibson said of the postseason.“Orioles Magic,” that catchy 1980 ballad about dramatic wins during the days of manager Earl Weaver and the three-run homer, has never left Baltimore. But the song rings truer when the Orioles are winning.“Certainly, the magic of the Orioles is back,” according to the man who composed the song himself, Walt Woodward. “In a lot of ways, what’s going on now reminds me of what was happening back at the end of the ‘70s. It’s sort of like the little engine that could.”[ The Orioles are heading to the playoffs. Here’s everything you need to know. ]Woodward, who was born in Austria to a U.S. military spy and grew up in North Carolina and Florida, wrote country music songs in Nashville and, later, advertising jingles in Ohio. In the 1970s and 1980s, though, he carved out a particular niche: MLB teams, including the Orioles, hired him to create songs about their club. He wrote “Orioles Magic” in about an hour.In the decades since, Woodward pivoted careers, received a doctorate in history, became a professor and served as the Connecticut state historian. For the bulk of that time, “Orioles Magic” has stayed a part of Baltimore’s baseball fabric and, probably more than anything else Woodward wrote, including country songs like “Marty Gray” sung by Billie Jo Spears, has endured.Advertisement“That it has this staying power makes me really happy,” he told The Baltimore Sun.At the time, he was instructed to compose a song capturing “when the team does the extraordinary, when they do the thing you can’t do,” and this year’s Orioles have embodied that spirit.Woodward had never made it to a game at Camden Yards, but he’d like to. Like so many others have this season, he’d like to experience the magic himself.Brandon Crawford, left, hanging with his former classmate, Kevin Steadman, during Thursday's Orioles game against the Red Sox, is among many Orioles fans who endured many losing seasons and is now celebrating the team's success. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)For the fans who tolerated the rebuilding seasons — which included the most losses in Major League Baseball from 2017 to 2021 — this season has been the early-arriving light at the end of the tunnel.Michele Sexton of Cecil County attended games during the lean years, when fielding a competitive team felt eons away. The worst part was watching an opposing player pitch a gem or make a great defensive play and realizing, “Well, that used to be an Oriole. He used to play for us.”It’s always a good day at the ballpark, she likes to say, even then. But it’s more thrilling when the Orioles are winning.Advertisement“Or when you have a hope of winning,” she said. “It’s OK if they don’t win, but when you go to the stadium knowing you’re gonna feel like you got kicked when you leave, you don’t really wanna go.”[ With playoff bye, Orioles will soon receive 5 straight days off — as many as the last 8 weeks combined: ‘It’s huge’ ]As attendance and interest increased this season, fans loyal throughout have poked fun at those now on board.“We always joke about how everyone’s coming in, quote-unquote bandwagon fans, and it’s like ... Where were you when Pat Valaika was our starting shortstop?” Ellison said.In his 1990 baseball book “Men At Work,” George F. Will said “there are few, if any, better baseball towns than Baltimore.” And while focus on the game seemed to wane as the Orioles recently mounted 100-loss seasons, Baltimore’s adoration has been awakened this year.When reliever Danny Coulombe was traded to the Orioles in March, one of his closest friends, Baltimore native and former pro pitcher Mike Thomas, told him that Baltimore was a “baseball city, not a football city.”“If you guys start winning,” Coulombe recalled Thomas telling him, “it’ll come.”AdvertisementOrioles outfielder Aaron Hicks, center, and other players salute fans after their regular-season finale against the Red Sox on Sunday at Camden Yards. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)Clarence “Fancy Clancy” Haskett, a beer vendor veteran of 49 Orioles seasons and Camden Yards celebrity, has noticed that arrival. Fans are more eager to wear team gear this season and are more captivated by the game, he said. When the Orioles are down — unlike in past years, when that all but guaranteed a loss — fans anticipate a comeback.“Orioles Magic is back,” he said.Baltimore Orioles InsiderWeeklyWant to be an Orioles Insider? The Sun has you covered. Don't miss any Orioles news, notes and info all baseball season and beyond.Questions about the team’s future do linger. Its young stars are without long-term contracts and the club has not yet formally signed a lease to remain at state-owned Camden Yards beyond this season, despite an in-game announcement last week that seemed to suggest otherwise. (Instead, the team has agreed to a “memorandum of understanding,” which is nonbinding, with the state.)But the only question remaining for the 2023 baseball season is how far these Orioles can go.Brandon Crawford, an Orioles fan from Carroll County, wore a paper bag over his head to several games in 2010 and 2011, when the Orioles were in the midst of 14 straight below .500 seasons. A teenager at the time, Crawford said he “didn’t know anything other than losing.”Frustrated that the team was not only losing, but not building toward sustainable success, he sported the brown bag to highlight the exasperation of being an Orioles fan. That bag was destroyed during a downpour at the end of the 2011 season, which was good timing — the Orioles went on to notch three playoff appearances in the next five seasons. But in Crawford’s estimation, the health of the club is even better today.Advertisement“The time has come. I’m hoping I get to see the Orioles finally win a World Series,” he said. “I was born in 1995 and all I’ve known up until a few years [ago] is 90, 100-loss seasons. I’m ready to witness raising a World Series trophy.”Crawford attended Thursday night’s AL East clincher as Baltimore — with its carefree talent, its uplifting season, its devoted fan base — donned the division crown.Instead of a brown bag obscuring his face, he proudly smiled.

From a young age, Nick Campanaro was always interested in weight training. However, once he experienced the negative results improper training could have, he set out to ensure the next generation of athletes do things the right way.Nick has built a growing brand called Campanaro Strength & Conditioning with a current facility in Marriottsville and a second one scheduled to open in Clarksville later this month. Advertisement“I was already super into training and wanted to do the same thing for other guys, because so many people and so many young athletes especially, they go through the exact same thing,” he said. “There’s a lot of talent in my opinion that kind of falls by the wayside because of improper training. Whether it’s under or overtraining, they’re just not ready to meet the demands of their sport and because of that it could affect their recruiting. It could affect their overall product on the field of play or the court.”Campanaro, a 2006 River Hill High graduate, was always extremely active along with his younger brother, Michael. Nick was a standout running back for the Hawks and played collegiately at Towson.AdvertisementThroughout his late high school and early college career, Nick dealt with consistent hamstring injuries that limited his availability on the field. As he delved deeper into the rehab process, he realized a lot of his issues stemmed from improper training. A gym rat, Nick always looked to put in extra work, but didn’t realize that some of his extra training ended up contributing to his injury struggles.Nick became increasingly interested in the science and nuance of athletic training. He became inspired to prevent other young athletes from dealing with the challenges he did.“It’s one of those things where I want to make sure I can try to help as many people not go through what I went through,” Campanaro said. “I didn’t really expect it to grow into what it’s grown into. I’m obviously very fortunate and really excited about it, but in the beginning, it was really just about trying to help people get out of that type of situation and make sure they don’t face it.”At his current facility, Nick is one of four strength coaches alongside Cody Toler, Holly VanWie and Kaylee Weaver. He also has partnered with Herlong Physical Therapy to provide services at the gym.Campanaro estimates he works with 350-400 clients in a variety of age groups from young children to adults. He works with high school athletes throughout Howard County, training some on an individual level, but also working with coaches to train entire teams. In many cases, Nick continues to train them at the collegiate level in the offseason or when they’re home on break.“As parents, we’re just watching step by step and watching him do it the right way,” Attilio Campanaro, Nick’s father, said. “I think that’s the biggest thing. He does everything the right way and I think that is the reason why he’s grown the way that he has.”The journey to what’s now CSC began in 2009 in the basement of the Campanaro family’s River Hill town house. Nick found someone in Pennsylvania selling used weights on Craigslist. Attilio joined him for the 90-minute trek out there.

Here are the area standings and top goal scorers in girls and boys soccer and field hockey as of Monday.Goal leadersAdvertisement1. Sarah Murrell (P), 13T2. Gianna Dawson (BA), 6AdvertisementT2. Alayna Williams (F), 6T4. Cali Friedel (JC), 3T4. Ally Mace (BA), 3T4. Pieper McCue (JC), 3T4. Naimah Saccoh (JC), 3T4. Mina Stevens (JC), 3T4. Nevaeh Vick (E), 3T10. 16 players tied with 2AdvertisementAssist leaders1. Sarah Farally (F), 6T2. Kiera Loewe (BA), 3T2. Sarah Murrell (P), 3T2. Brooklynn Myers (P), 3T2. Delainey Proctor (CMW), 3AdvertisementT2. Alayna Williams (F), 3T7. Lily Annunziato (E), 2T7. Allison Brown (BA), 2T7. Gianna Dawson (BA), 2T7. Addison Harmel (PM), 2T7. Aubrey Heise (NH), 2AdvertisementT7. Ally Mace (BA), 2T7. Brooklynn Myers (P), 2T7. Hayden Price (PM), 2Goal leadersT1. Kai Gibson (PM), 7T1. David Sabillon (E), 7AdvertisementT1. Matt Luk (CMW), 7T4. Sam Dragunas (CMW), 5T4. Quinn Van Pee (JC), 5T6. Matt Dietz (PM), 4T6. Diego Peralta (PM), 4T6. Vinnie Wysong (PM), 4AdvertisementT9. 7 players tied with 3Assist leaders1. Diego Peralta (PM), 82. Leo Pappas (PM), 53. Vinnie Wysong (PM), 4T4. Sebastian Ayala (E), 3AdvertisementT4. Ryan Blair (F), 3T4. Tyler Kenney (A), 3T4. Josh Petty (JC), 3T8. 9 players tied with 2Goal leadersT1. Gwen Bates (PM), 6AdvertisementT1. Paige Feick (BA), 6T3. Ava Lopano (PM), 5T3. Annie Minoligio (JC), 5T3. Jordan Strang (HT), 5T6. Sadie Atkinson (HT), 4T6. Payton Chase (PM), 4AdvertisementT6. Victoria Klipner (HT), 4T9. 7 players tied with 3Editor’s note: Stats are compiled from all game reports submitted to the Carroll County Times. With any errors or omissions, email tdashiell@baltsun.com or amaluso@baltsun.com.

Potential disaster turned into a character-building win for C. Milton Wright boys soccer against its biggest rival, Bel Air, on Monday.Not only did the host Mustangs lose their one-goal advantage with 27 minutes to play, they also lost starting goalkeeper and captain Jake Adams after he was sent off with a red card.AdvertisementDown a player with backup goalie Dylan Sander filling in capably, C. Milton Wright scored three unanswered goals to claim a gutsy 4-1 win in Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference play.The Mustangs, who got a sensational one-goal, three-assist performance from senior forward Matt Luk, won their sixth straight to improve to 7-2 on the season. Bel Air falls to 6-4.AdvertisementThe game-winning goal, coming with 15 minutes to remaining, best depicted the Mustangs’ poised play in the trying time. With the ball on the left side just past midfield, Luk found Aiden Whitmore making a diagonal run to the far post. Luk put a pass on his foot and Whitmore promptly finished from 6 yards as the Mustangs reclaimed the lead.While the Bobcats unsuccessfully tested Sander a couple times with balls sent to the middle, the Mustangs tacked on two more goals off Luk corner kicks as he scored one and Sam Dragunas put the last one in from in front to cap the big win.“We’ve gotten better every game as the season has gone on and now to have that kind of adversity and come back from that and put three more goals up, it was something to watch. I couldn’t be more proud with a great team effort,” Mustangs coach Eric Riedlbauer said.Luk, whose precise corner kick set up the Mustangs’ first half goal by Axel Lorentzen, teamed with Whitmore to show the consistent strides the team has made with the pivotal second goal.“I had the ball in the middle and had time to turn and I saw Whit making that diagonal run and just played him,” he said. “There was multiple times in the first half where he made the run and I didn’t play him. We just suggested it at halftime and this time I saw him and played a ball over the top and he got a good touch and finish.”The Bobcats started the game strong and had chances in the penalty area that went for naught with fine play from Adams and the Mustangs defense.C. Milton Wright's Aiden Whitmore, left, battles Bel Air's Noah Jett, left, for the ball in first half Monday. Whitmore eventually scored the go-ahead goal in the Mustangs' win. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)After falling behind, they came out strong for the second half to get the tying goal when Galen Klisiewecz’s corner kick skimmed off Ben Sellers before Noah Jett pounced on it on the goal line.The Aegis: Top storiesWeekdaysDaily highlights from Harford County's number one source for local news.After the game, Bel Air coach Dom Rose challenged his team to regroup.Advertisement“If your goal is to win a state championship then you just got to keep working. One game doesn’t define your season — it just means are we going to grow from it or we going to let it define us,” Rose said.Both teams return to league play with 6:45 p.m. games on Wednesday. C. Milton Wright travels to Patterson Mill, while Bel Air hosts Harford Tech.Goals: BA -- Jett; CMW -- Lorentzen, Whitmore, Luk, DragunasAssists: BA -- Sellers; CMW -- Luk 3Saves: BA -- Cooper 5; CMW Adams 3, Sander 1Half: CMW, 1-0C. Milton Wright's Axel Lorentzen, from left, scores a goal in front of Bel Air's Galen Klisiewecz and goalie Cooper Rey. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)

Each week, The Baltimore Sun will recognize one high school player from a boys sport and one from a girls sport for their athletic achievements.The standout senior added another fond memory Saturday at the challenging course at Hereford High, claiming the elite race of the prestigious Bull Run Invitational. Hopper came across in 16 minutes, 4 seconds — three seconds ahead of second-place finisher Kieran Mischke of Towson. Last November, Hopper claimed the Class 3A state championship at Hereford.AdvertisementThe junior midfielder was instrumental in helping the undefeated Mawrtians (4-0) into The Sun’s Top 15 poll this week — coming in at No. 5 — after two big wins. Against previously undefeated Mercy last Tuesday, she scored two goals in a 5-1 win. The assignment proved more difficult Thursday at then-No. 5 Severna Park, a 4-3 double overtime win in which she produced two goals and one assist.To nominate candidates, please email Glenn Graham at ggraham@baltsun.com by 11 a.m. Sunday with details about the student-athlete’s performance from the past week.