Page 46 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch July 19, 2013 Sports In The News BerlinSeeks Three-Peat In States By SHAWN J. SOPER SPORTS EDITOR Worcester’s DiNardo Commits To UVa BERLIN – Fresh off their third straight District 8 championship, the Berlin Little League’s under-12 Major League team is headed to the Maryland state championship tournament in Arbutus this weekend in search of its third straight state title and a possible berth in the Little League World Series in August. The Berlin Major League team, essentially the same core of players that has been together for three years and has now won three straight District 8 titles at different levels, is heading to Arbutus in Baltimore County on Saturday to begin the defense of its state championship. The Major League team has won two straight state titles and last year advanced to the regional tournament before bowing out. This year, the team is in the age bracket that competes in the nationally televised Little League World Series and with its three straight district titles and two state championships under its belt, reaching Little League’s signature event appears to be a realistic goal. However, there is much work to be done before that potential milestone. Berlin will face Bethesda in the opening round of the state tourney in Arbutus on Saturday. Should Berlin prevail in the tournament and collect its third straight state championship, the major league team would have to navigate regional tournaments to reach the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., in August. The local community is already rallying around the Berlin All-Stars with fundraisers for travel and other expenses held at different locations around the resort community this week. Marlin Club Kids Classic Underway By SHAWN J. SOPER SPORTS EDITOR Worcester Prep lacrosse standout Lilly DiNardo has accepted a scholarship to attend and play lacrosse at the University of Virginia in 2014. Pictured above is DiNardo during a spring game against Sussex Tech. Photo by Bernie Walls By SHAWN J. SOPER SPORTS EDITOR BERLIN – Worcester Prep standout student-athlete and rising senior Lilly DiNardo has committed to attend and play lacrosse at the University of Virginia starting in the fall of 2014. DiNardo, a three-sport standout who also plays soccer and basketball at Worcester Prep, has committed to an athletic scholarship at the prestigious University of Virginia and its tradition-rich lacrosse program. DiNardo, a prolific scorer at midfield for the Mallards, scored her 100th career goal this spring during a game against St. Mary’s Ryken and finished her junior year with 126 career goals. She will return for her senior year at Worcester this fall and will likely add to her impressive resume before heading off to UVa in 2014. DiNardo has accumulated many accolades through her career at Worcester Prep already. She was named U.S. Lacrosse High School All American in 2013. DiNardo was also the Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference (ESIAC) Player of the Year in 2013 and was Worcester Prep’s Most Valuable Player this year. She was also named the MVP of the Karl Wolf Memorial Lacrosse Tournament after scoring five goals in the championship game against host Howard High. In addition to her athletic accomplishments at Worcester, DiNardo is an all-around student who participates in all phases of the school program. She is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Ignatius DiNardo of Salisbury. OCEAN CITY – Young anglers will get their moment in the spotlight this weekend when the Ocean City Marlin Club hosts its 9th Annual Kids Classic Tournament. Throughout the summer, the big boys and girls get to show off their fishing skills practically every weekend with one tournament or another, but the focus during this weekend’s 8th Annual Kid’s Classic will clearly be on the younger anglers. The event is open to all anglers age 19 or younger and is taking place in the waters in and around the resort area from the back bays to the ocean. The annual tournament is held for the benefit of the Wish-A-Fish Foundation, a national program that provides opportunities for kids with special needs, whether they are suffering from a life-threatening illness or suffer from longterm disability, to enjoy a day on the water catching fish. The event gets underway today with registration and a captains meeting before the action inshore and offshore gets underway tomorrow and Sunday. Participating boats and anglers will fish one of the two days. Sunset Marina will host the weigh-ins each fishing day but most of the tournament activity will be centered at the host Ocean City Marlin Club. For example, a cookout will be held on Saturday night at the club, while Sun-day’s activities include a carnival and awards ceremony. For more information, contact the Ocean City Marlin Club at 410-2131613. Sammy Golf Tournament Next Week By SHAWN J. SOPER SPORTS EDITOR Berlin 7-8 Team Wins Tourney Title By SHAWN J. SOPER SPORTS EDITOR BERLIN – The Berlin Little League 7-8 All Stars won the tournament they hosted last weekend, continuing a big summer run for the local program. The Berlin 7-8 team swept through the early rounds including an 8-0 win over East Wicomico, a 64 win over Delmar and a 3-1 win over Laurel. Berlin then fell, 4-0, to Delmar, but by virtue of sweeping their first three games, the 7-8 team earned a rematch with Delmar in the title game. In the championship game, Berlin edged Delmar, 4-3, to claim the title in its own tournament. Berlin’s win in the 7-8 championship game continued an impressive run for the local program during the summer All-Star season. The rookie league team is still competing in tournaments including a tournament in Laurel this weekend. The 12-13 intermediate team advanced to the Maryland state championship tournament before bowing out, while both the 9-10 baseball and 9-10 softball teams reached the championship games in their respective District 8 tournaments before falling. OCEAN CITY – The 9th Annual Sammy Wilkinson Memorial Golf Tournament, an annual fundraiser held in honor of a young Ocean City boy who tragically died after falling through the ice at Northside Park in 2003, gets underway next week at the Ocean City Golf Club in South Point. The Sammy Wilkinson Memorial Foundation was created as part of the National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS), a worldwide initiative to lend a hand to countries around the world that are unable to provide quality sports programs for children. All of the funds raised through the foundation are earmarked for Game On! youth sports initiative and the Global Gear Drive program. The Global Gear Drive program provides new and gently used sports equipment to children in need throughout the U.S. and worldwide, providing opportunities for youth to participate in quality sports experiences. Also, for the third year in a row, a portion of the proceeds from next week’s tournament will benefit the Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services program. The Sammy Wilkinson Memorial Golf Tournament today is just one of many fundraising events throughout the year and one of the most popular. It is paired with the annual “Jam for Sam” benefit held later in the evening at Seacrets, with all the proceeds going to the foundation. Following the action on the course, participating golfers will head to Seacrets for the annual Jam for Sam benefit, featuring live local musicians, food, discounted drink prices, door prizes and silent auction items. Sam's father, Bob Wilkinson, and his uncle, Darren Engh, make up the popular acoustic duo Opposite Directions.