Leading Off

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COLOR PHOTO: PHOTOGRAPH BY CHUCK SOLOMON Out BackCatcher Henry Blanco catches Padres second baseman Quilvio Veras trying to score from third on a fly ball in the second game of a doubleheader sweep by the Rockies at Colorado last Saturday.

COLOR PHOTO: PHOTOGRAPH BY KRISTIN NASH Thumb Better Than Others Chris Miller of Pittsburgh didn't lose all his marbles, but he did finish 24th in the 8-14 age group at the 76th annual National Marbles Tournament at Ringer Stadium in Wildwood, N.J.

COLOR PHOTO: PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN W. MCDONOUGH Hamm Strung After eluding her Brazilian defender, Mia Hamm delivered a cross during the second half of the U.S. team's 2-0 World Cup semifinal win on Sunday in Palo Alto, Calif. (page 36).