When Diane Schumacher arrived on the Howard Community College campus in 1999, she was not sure if she was really interested in becoming the athletic director here. After all, she was coming off a successive tenure as women's athletic director at Augustana College, in Rock Island, Ill.

Schuie finally accepted HCC's offer and the school's sports haven't been the same. She has taken HCC's athletics program to new heights and both she and the school have earned well-deserved recognition along the way.

On June 10, Schuie was recognized nationally in Dallas as the winner of the James J. Corbett Memorial Award as the 2007-2008 Southeast Region Astro Turf Athletic Director of the Year Award by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.

"I have been very fortunate. It has been great to be able to build things and see them grow. However, if you don't have the higher level support then it won't really matter. Fortunately, I have that support here," she said.

By the numbers

We inadvertently omitted final statistics for Reservoir's Molly Gigioli from our softball all-county chart in the June 12 issue. Gigioli, a rising junior, had an impressive year. She hit .388, and showed some power with two triples and a county-high three home runs.

Gigioli knocked in nine runs, scored 12, and had 15 stolen bases, according to sports reporter Karen Brelsford.

Reservoir, coached by Julie Frisvold, had its best season since the school opened, and Gigioli, a pitcher, is one of the reasons for that success. She won eight games and had a 2.21 ERA with 128 strikeouts.

Annual softball game still on my radar

Shortly after covering last year's softball game between Elliot's Oak Road and Hesperus Drive, I moved from Longfellow, my home of 38 years, to Long Reach. I was jokingly told that in order for me to return to my old area, I would need a passport and shots.

Well, I have neither, but in spite of a recent health setback that landed me in the emergency room at Howard County General, I intend to be back to cover the longest community sports event in Howard County. I wouldn't miss the Fourth of July neighborhood softball game for the world.

The Longfellow Friends of the Traditional Fourth want you to know that the staging area for this year's parade, which is part of the annual festivities, has changed due to construction at Longfellow Elementary School. This year staging will take place on the street and may cause some congestion. Please be patient.

Former River Hill star sponsors basketball camp

Greeba Barlow, a two-time Howard County girls basketball Player of the Year when she was at River Hill, is back in town to teach youngsters how to play the game. The Grind BarlowBasketball Camp will be held July 21-25 at River Hill High School. The camp is for boys and girls ages 8-15 and will run from noon-4 p.m. It costs $160. E-mail greeba31@yahoo.com or call 347-706-8782.

Barlow knows the game and her playing credentials include an NCAA Sweet 16 tournament appearance with St. John's University. She was a member of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks last year.

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