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>> REPORTER: The fall season
is under way.
Highlights next on
"High School Sports Scene."
Hi, and welcome to
"High School Sports Scene."
I'm Capri Gaines.
Week four of the football season
saw a division match-up between
two of Baltimore County's
top-ranked teams
in the 3A/4A Division.
>> REPORTER: Two of the top
football teams in Baltimore
County met at
Clarence McWilliams Field
as the Franklin Indians hosted
the Catonsville Comets.
Franklin appeared to be in
control, taking a 21-7 lead
four minutes into the second
quarter, but Catonsville was
not about to panic.
While their running game got
into gear, it was a pass from
Jordan Sprankle to
Joseth Hylton that pulled the
Comets to within a touchdown
at 21-14.
Late in the first half,
Franklin driving, as
Jackson Thornton connects with
Marquis Ellis.
A great second effort by
Maurice McFadden picks up
yards.
But Thornton's pass over the
middle is intercepted by
DeAndre Lane to kill
the Indians' drive.
Franklin got the ball to start
the third quarter.
Thornton hit Steven Smothers
on the slant...
then a quick screen to
Marquis Ellis, and Ellis takes
it inside the ten.
A pass to Jordan Adams takes it
to the two.
And Maurice McFadden takes it in
for the touchdown.
Point after is good.
Franklin up 28-14.
Later in the third, with the
Comets driving,
Julian Singletary
up the middle.
Then DeAndre Lane takes it
25 yards to the house.
Point after is good.
Franklin up by seven.
The Comets go with a
script kick on the kickoff,
and Steven Smothers takes it
deep into Comet territory.
Jackson Thornton hits
Marquis Ellis in the corner of
the end zone for the touchdown.
Point after was good.
Franklin 35, Comets 21.
In the fourth quarter,
Catonsville drove behind
Julian Singletary, with
DeAndre Lane taking it in for
the score.
Point after was good.
Franklin up 35-28.
After getting the ball back,
with Jackson Thornton in the
shotgun, the snap goes through
his hands, and in the scramble,
the ball rolls out of the
end zone, resulting in a safety,
making it 35-30, Franklin.
Catonsville got the ball back,
and Sprankle hits DeAndre Lane
on the sideline.
But on fourth down, Sprankle
tries to hit Lane again, but the
pass is just out of reach.
The Comets' last chance came as
time wound down.
Joseth Hylton fields a punt deep
in Comet territory and takes it
out over midfield
before he is brought down at the
Franklin 45.
Final score --
Franklin takes a 35-30 win.
>> On the soccer field,
Eastern Tech's girls traveled to
Catonsville, and the match-up
between two local teams ranked
in the top 15.
>> REPORTER: Let's head to the
field with girls' soccer, as the
Eastern Tech Mavericks visited
the sixth-ranked
Catonsville Comets.
Defense was the name of the game
as both teams battled back and
forth during the match.
Eastern Tech, though, was up for
the challenge.
The Mavericks had an opportunity
to score when
Allison Greenstein kicked a
nice corner shot, but it's
blocked by goalie
Natalie Croom.
The ball bounces around, and
Allison had another try but is
blocked, and the Comets' defense
would not allow the Mavericks
to score.
The Mavericks were back at it
again when middie Brandie Bryant
got off a shot that went just
wide of the right post.
Right before the half ended,
Allison *** stumbles but is a
able to keep her balance and
makes a nice pass to striker
Jennifer Nonn, who takes a
shot, but it's right at the
goalie, Ryan Jones,
for the save.
With zeroes on the board at
half-time, the fans were looking
for a score in the second half.
The Comets came out first with a
lofting crossing pass by
Jennifer Nonn, but goalie
Ryan Jones was there again to
deny any opportunity
for a score.
The Mavericks got a break when
Keri Klimko steals the ball
away from Katie Viets
and kicks a nice crossing shot
to Brandie Bryant, who splits
two defenders and the goalie and
hits the ball up the post
for the first score of the game.
With four minutes left in the
game, Nicole Jouan puts
a nice pass up the field, where
striker Claudia Flister
hustles for the ball and tries
to get off a shot.
But Ryan Jones was there once
again for another nice save.
It was a hard-fought game for
both teams, but the Mavericks
were just a little too much for
the number-six Comets today,
as they went down in defeat
one-nothing.
>> The same day, Catonsville's
boys met Eastern Tech on the
Mavericks' soccer field.
>> REPORTER: Two teams vying for
the top spot in Division 1 of
the county's boys' soccer
standings met at Eastern Tech as
the Mavericks played host
to Catonsville.
The Mavericks' forwards applied
pressure early, but were not
able to capitalize.
Kurt Daisley put this shot high.
Later, a long throw by
Cody Gwinn puts the ball in
point-blank range, but
Logan Miller's shot is saved
by Comet goalie Kevin Sheppard.
And Trevor Hagy's crossing
pass slides past the goal mouth.
Meanwhile, the Comets were
having trouble putting together
a strong attack.
Finally, with less than two
minutes to go in the half,
Catonsville's Emmanuel Amihere
turns on a loose ball and drives
it into the top corner, to put
the Comets up 1-0.
As in the first half, Tech came
out at the start of the second
half applying pressure.
Trevor Hagy fights through the
Comet defense to get off a shot
that is stopped by Sheppard.
Moments later, Dominic Santoro
hammers a shot, but again
Sheppard is there for the save.
And Trevor Hagy's chip sails
just high.
Off a Tech throw-in, Amihere
gathers the ball and outraces
the Tech defense, taking it end
to end and finishing, to put the
Comets up 2-0.
Despite a spirited effort, the
Mavericks were not able to get
on the scoreboard, as the Comets
took a 2-nothing victory.
>> Now let's meet this month's
Outstanding Male Student
Athlete.
Here's Janie Brown
with the story.
>> BROWN: Shane Gaines is a
senior quarterback for
Owings Mills High School.
Despite his current love of
sports, he didn't immediately
warm up to the idea.
>> GAINES: I first got involved
playing sports when I was about
11, and my mom just was tired of
me just being around the house,
doing nothing, so she just took
me to the field one day, put me
into sports, and I really didn't
like it, but after the first
couple of days, I started
to like it.
>> BROWN: Having played
running back in rec football,
Shane was moved to quarterback
when trying out for the
high school team.
>> GAINES: We had a quarterback
on JV, but it was like -- I was
in -- I was throwing the ball
around, and the JV coaches
said, "Let's see if we can put
you on quarterback,"
because the offense we had
wasn't, like, throwing and
really athletic, so they just
changed the whole offense,
made me into a passer, and from
that day on, I just became a
quarterback in high school.
>> We saw with his natural
footwork, and then the JV head
coach at the time,
Coach Vales, you know, tried
him out with some QB drills and
liked what he saw, and he kind
of just developed from there.
>> YOUNG MAN: I felt like he
just, it was a place in his
heart where he just stepped up
to do everything he could,
even if it killed him,
like, that's just how much he
loved to win, that's how much he
loved to play.
He would do anything.
So just took -- I think he
took that leadership role
and took one for the team.
>> BROWN: Stepping up to be
quarterback was no easy feat,
but Shane's work ethic and
dedication allowed him to
succeed.
>> I think he stepped up in his
work ethic like -- he's worked
so hard, like, I don't think you
can even imagine.
He's done so much for this
school and...
>> LURZ: Usually he's one of our
first done in drills, sprints
and all, he pushes himself
usually the hardest.
He is a motivator.
He does yell at the guys to get
them motivated,
does lead through example,
tries to push his teammates.
>> BROWN: While making a name
for himself as a quarterback,
Shane actually prefers his other
role as a defensive back.
>> GAINES: Honestly, I like
playing defense more because I
can get aggressive and, you
know, it's -- you can really
talk more on defense and get
into people's heads more than
you can on offense, because you
can't be, like, overly
aggressive on offense.
But on defense, you can get real
aggressive and get in
somebody's face.
>> BROWN: Shane's work ethic
applies not only to his work on
the field, but to his schoolwork
as well.
>> LURZ: Shane as a student is
a hard worker.
As he came in, he didn't have
great grades -- he's one of
those kids that works to improve
his grades throughout his
high school career.
He's currently like a B student.
It's one of the things he kind
of identified with, and
actually, Coach Vales as a coach
helped him kind of learn
how to study.
So it's been something that he's
worked on since he's been here.
>> GAINES: I know, like,
homework comes first after
practice, and if I don't have my
homework done, I do that before
I go to practice and just make
sure that's done before
football, because football is
going to be there.
Things like that.
>> BROWN: Shane has made a
lasting impact on the Eagles'
football program.
>> LURZ: When I took over, the
program was 0-50.
His first year, he was down on
JV, but they went 6-2, and I
think that was a big step,
because even previous, with the
JV squads, they'd only won a
game the year before, and in the
years before that, they were
winless.
So I think that helped build
confidence in the whole group.
>> On the football aspect and on
the academic aspect, just look
at me as someone who, you know,
started down and picked
theirself back up, and now I'm
on a good track.
So just look at me for the good
things I've done and put the
past bad things we've done and
I've done personally behind me,
just look at me as a dedicated
and ambitious person.
>> BROWN: For "High School
Sports Scene," this is
Janie Brown.
>> Congratulations to Shane.
To honor his selection as this
month's Outstanding Male Student
Athlete, he will receive an
award from Allogram,
Incorporated, of Timonium.
Coming up next is Randy Dase wit
"Coach's Corner."
We'll be back in two weeks with
another edition of "High School
Sports Scene."
Until then, I'm Capri Gaines.
Thanks for watching.
>> Hi, I'm Randy Dase, and
welcome to "Coach's Corner."
My guests today are
Michael Sye, the
Acting Coordinator of Athletics
in the Baltimore County Public
School System, and our old
Acting Coordinator of Athletics
in the Baltimore County Public
School System, Mr. Ron Belinko.
And, Ron and Michael, welcome
to "High School Sports Scene."
I apologize for saying, "old,"
Ron, but how long have you been
around in the Baltimore County
Public School System, Ron?
>> 46 years, Randy, so you can
say that.
>> DASE: That's outstanding.
And, Michael, it's great -- you
are a Baltimore County graduate.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Woodlawn High School.
And when you were there, you
were an athlete,
student athlete.
Tell us the sports you
participated in.
>> Well, I'm a product of
Baltimore County Public Schools,
graduated from Woodlawn High
School, played football there
and track standout, and enjoyed
my career there, went on to
the University of Delaware.
>> And then came back and has
been involved in the school
system since, and I guess as of
January, you became the Acting
Coordinator of Athletics.
How's it been going so far,
Michael?
>> It's been a whirlwind.
>> [Laughter]
>> It's been extremely busy.
It's been exciting.
Very, very blessed to have Ron
here with me, helping me,
walking me through.
But I work with a bunch of
great guys, 24 great
Athletic Directors.
They all have been very
supportive and been right there
with me, helping me to get
through this process, as we move
on through this transition.
>> Now, Ron, you've been an
Acting Consultant for the last
year in the Athletic Department.
And when Michael came along,
real excited about seeing him
come, home-bred student athlete
from Baltimore County?
>> Right, there isn't any
question, Randy, we had, when
Mike was named, finally moved in
the office, you have a product
of the county, as you just heard
Mike say, from Woodlawn High
School, it doesn't take that
long when you're a product of it
to know the system, know the
folks in here, and someone
coming from the outside would,
that transition would be
tremendously hard.
And Mike has made that
transition because of his
ability, the reputation he
earned as an Athletic Director
at Woodlawn.
>> Now, Ron, as of June 14th,
15th, it's all over for you?
Retirement?
>> Retirement, officially
retired.
June 15th will be my last day,
as far as with Baltimore County
Public Schools.
And everyone asks me, "What are
you going to do?"
First, go down to the beach,
and then decide at the end
of the summer.
Might do, work with the NIAAA
a little bit and with the State
Athletic Directors' Association.
But that's it.
>> So, Michael, as we were
joking before the taping, the
training wheels will be coming
off, and you'll be riding by
yourself.
>> Mm-hmm.
>> Anything first on your
agenda list?
>> Well, I don't know if
anything's first on the agenda.
The training wheels, I think,
have been off for about the past
month -- Ron has been turning
everything over to me and is
like, "Here you go."
So I'm kind of taking it one
step at a time, learning as I'm
going, and just getting used to
the process, getting used to
the different things that
Baltimore County expects, and
just trying to live up to the
standard that Ron has set.
>> And you've been a coach at
Woodlawn, and you've also been
the Athletic Director at
Woodlawn.
Looking back, and I know you're
in a completely different role
now, but as a coach, teacher,
participant, what's great about
Baltimore County's athletic
program, that you always thought
that you were greatly proud of?
>> Well, I think the thing that
I'm most proud of is just that
the amount of love and support
that you get from the teachers,
the administrators, the staff,
and I think what Baltimore
County really does that maybe
you can't say for every single
school system, that they
raise -- they raise young men
and young women to be
student athletes.
And that's the thing that I took
most -- I was most proud of,
coming through, because they
made sure that I had an
opportunity.
They presented
opportunities for me.
They made sure the academics was
there, they made sure the
athletics was there.
They took an interest in me as a
whole person, and I think
that's what Baltimore County
does so well.
>> It's ironic, Ron, but the
number of coaches I have on
throughout the year, and I say,
"Oh, another graduate of a
Baltimore County high school."
I know myself, I'm a graduate of
Towson High School.
I came back because of the role
models that I had in the
classroom and as coaches, and as
you said, Mike, they -- it's a
great system, and when you have
people come back and want to do
the same thing, you know
something's going right.
You know, Ron, I first ran into
you in 1977 at
Overlea High School.
I was a student teacher, and as
a great example, Ron was a
phys. ed. teacher at Overlea
High School, and you were going
to start coaching a pretty new
sport over there, right,
for Overlea?
>> It was the lacrosse program.
>> And I'll never forget, you
offered me that opportunity to
work with you, and it didn't
work out that way, but the
opportunity was great, and, Ron,
you've been from the trenches to
the top dog.
Looking back, talk to us a
little about your career.
>> When you talk about the
career, you mentioned at Overlea
High School, starting a new
sport there at the time
in lacrosse, along with
Glenn Boston, who was over
there at Towson with you, he was
the mover behind it.
And when you take a look at --
when I first started in
Baltimore County, Randy, we
didn't have football.
You saw football grow, you saw
the sport of lacrosse grow,
the wrestling program, and you
just saw the county grow
tremendously since I've been
around.
We made a culture change in the
early '90s in athletics by
putting up some lighted fields,
playing at night, playing
football particularly Friday
night or Saturday afternoons
without lights.
So when you take a look at that
potential and the students'
offerings have grown -- we added
girls' sports, we added girls'
golf over the years, girls'
track and field, girls' soccer,
so being part of that and coming
up through the trenches, and
that's similar to what Mike has
done -- he came up, has come up
through the trenches, and, you
know, every phase of it.
Someone can't come up to you and
say, "Well, you
haven't done this."
"Yes, I have."
Trouble is, when you're around
as long as I have, it's, "What
can you do for me lately?"
And all these things been in
place, but people like yourself
do remember some of those
things.
>> And another thing I don't
think a lot of people realize,
Ron, but besides being the
Coordinator of Athletics in
Baltimore County, you've served
on so many different committees.
And I know a special sport to
you that you had great love for
lacrosse, wrestling, football,
and people don't realize all
that additional time that you're
putting in.
>> Well, in order to make an
impact on a state level, it's
part of our responsibilities to
be active on the state level
and serve on MPSSAA committees.
And if you're not active, the
county -- or the LEA -- gets
shortchanged.
So you must be very active in
order to look out for Baltimore
County and make your presence
known.
>> Well, let me ask you -- the
first day that Mike came into
your office and you sat down,
you talked about things, what
was your first words of advice
to Michael?
>> First words of advice?
[Laughs] Gave him a lot of words
of advice, Mike might remember
that, but one thing is that
advised Mike to do is be
visible, be highly visible, be
out there, let folks see you.
It's going to be a tough job,
because there are a lot of
things that have to take place
in the office, principals expect
you in the morning, but you
cannot operate by e-mail and
texting.
You have to make that personal
contact, be out there to see
what's going on.
You know, when you coach, Randy,
if I were on the sidelines,
watching what happens, if there
was a bad call of officials, you
would come running over right
away, say, "Ron, where do these
officials come from?"
But you have to be out there to
know that you listen and care
and support things when they
go bad or when they're going
well.
>> Now, Ron, that was a setup
question, because I knew the
answer.
And, Michael, the reason I asked
him that is because if he didn't
tell you that, I was going to
tell him that today.
But to be seen.
Because I have always seen Ron
in the gym, on the field,
on the track, and that
visibility, I think, has been
very important as a coach, and
also from the parents and also
from the teachers.
Michael, you think you're going
to be out on those fields?
>> Well, I've been out on the
fields already.
Like Ron said, that was the
first thing he told me, is to be
visible.
The second thing he told me was
to be visible.
And the third thing he told me
was to be visible.
>> [Laughter]
>> So, for me --
>> He's a realtor, like,
location, right?
>> Yeah, so, for me, it was
easy, you know, just to go out
and be myself, get to know all
the coaches, you know, at
Woodlawn High School, I worked
with a staff of about 40, 50.
Now we're working with an entire
county and 24 ADs and hundreds
of coaches.
So I want to get to know each
and every one of them, get to
know what they bring to the
table, as far as Baltimore
County Athletics is concerned.
And that way, I'll have a
good -- I'll have my finger on
the pulse of Baltimore County
Athletics, and like Ron has done
for so many years, he knows
everybody.
I mean, it's amazing how many
times we go out, and somebody'll
say, "Hey, Ron!"
And he calls them back
by their name.
So if I can ever get to that
point where I know all of my
staff, all 24 schools, the
middle schools included, then I
think that I'm
on the right track.
>> We come up this fall --
summer will be like this, right?
And something's new this year,
Michael.
It's called August 11th is the
first day of fall tryouts, and
that's the earliest day we've
ever had.
Have you had any e-mails or
complaints yet about that one?
Or does everybody just sort of
say, "That's the way it is --
let's move on"?
>> Well, no complaints yet.
We have some things coming down
the pipeline that might get some
complaints going, but no
complaints yet.
I think everybody is just
excited to get the new year
started.
I'm excited, being new
leadership coming in.
It's going to be -- it's going
to be a short summer.
It's already short for me, as
the training wheels are taken
off, so we're really excited.
No complaints as of yet, but,
you know, we can't make
everybody happy, so...
>> Well, gentlemen, we're just
about out of time, but, Michael,
I will give you one
suggestion -- you might want to
get a name tag, so your family
knows who you are when you come
home, right?
>> Okay.
>> [Laughter]
>> Lot of late nights already.
>> DASE: Right. But listen,
Michael, good luck.
>> Thank you so much.
>> I think we've got a great man
for the job.
I'm looking forward to working
with you, as all the other
coaches and parents and athletes
in Baltimore County.
Ron, what else can we say?
You dedicated basically your
life to the school system in
Baltimore County and did one
super job, and we'll miss you,
but I think we'll probably still
see you in the field or a gym
somewhere, because I know you,
you've still got that in your
blood.
But enjoy your retirement, and
wish you good health, also.
>> Thank you, Randy.
>> For "High School Sports
Scene," I'm Randy Dase.
Thanks for watching.
See you next time.