Colby Ware / Baltimore SunKurk Lee Jr. (1) of St. Frances leads the offense while Everette Hammond (2) of St. Vincent Pallotti defends on Dec. 9, 2015.
Algerina Perna / Baltimore SunSteven Smothers #7 from Franklin High School plays for the Baltimore team in the Maryland National Guard Crab Bowl between Team Baltimore and Team Washington which was held at McDaniel College.
DAVE MUNCH/STAFF PHOTO /Winters Mill's Kaila Brown talks with her sister Kolby Brown as she prepares to shoot a free throw against Westminster Tuesday, Dec. 15 in Westminster.
DYLAN SLAGLE/CARROLL COUNTY TIMESCentury's Kelsey Weishaar attempts a shot in front of Liberty's Maddee Farley during the first half of their game in Eldersburg Monday, Dec. 21, 2015.
Lloyd Fox / Baltimore SunTyree McNair makes a pass from the floor as he is defended by Lake Clifton's Ronald Lucas in the first half.
Karl Merton Ferron / Baltimore SunRoland Park Country School Reds guard Jaia Alexander gestures after drilling a three-pointer against the Seton Keough Gators. RPCS held on to edge Keough, 61-60.
Steve Ruark / Baltimore Sun Media GroupSeton Keough head coach Tom Gizzi yells directions from his bench in the first half of a girls' high school basketball game against Catonsville, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015, in Catonsville.
Steve Ruark / Baltimore Sun Media GroupCatonsville's Destiny Bennett, left, and head coach Mike Mohler, center, talk on the bench in the first half of a girls' high school basketball game against Seton Keough, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015, in Catonsville.
Algerina Perna / Baltimore SunMansur Abdul-Malik from Pallotti, right, wins the championship match for the 285-pound weight class against Riley Montgomery from Salesianum High School in Delaware at Mount Mat Madness, held at Mount Saint Joseph.
DAVE MUNCH/STAFF PHOTO /Westminster's Zoe Costley looks to shoot in front of Winters Mill's Kaila Brown Tuesday, Dec. 15 in Westminster.
Lloyd Fox / Baltimore SunLake Clifton Ryon Dingle stops Dunbar's Jalen Willis from scoring in the second half.
Algerina Perna / Baltimore SunCentennial wrestler Austin Kraisser, left, wins the championship for the 160-pound weight class against Garrett Tingen from Fauquier at Mount Mat Madness, held at Mount Saint Joseph.
Algerina Perna / Baltimore SunBaltimore player Nijuel Hill #22 from Calvert Hall HIgh School maintains possession of the ball after he's tackled in the second half of the Maryland National Guard Crab Bowl between Team Baltimore and Team Washington which was held at McDaniel College. Other Baltimore players facing the camera are Damion Gaither #37 from Patterson and Brandon Hlavach #43 from Eastern Tech.
Algerina Perna / Baltimore SunAlex Caltrider, bottom, from Loyola, came in second against Sean Mullican, top, from Middletown High School in the in the 220-pound weight class of the wrestling championships at Mount Mat Madness, held at Mount Saint Joseph.
Algerina Perna / Baltimore SunIn the second half, Washington player Jaron Woodyard #1, left (black uniform) from The Avalon School fends off Baltimore players for a few more yards in the Maryland National Guard Crab Bowl between Team Baltimore and Team Washington was held at McDaniel College.
DAVE MUNCH/STAFF PHOTO /Westminster's Arianna Cottom takes a shot in front of in front of Winters Mill's Addi Hill and Kaila Brown Tuesday, Dec. 15 in Westminster.
Karl Merton Ferron / Baltimore SunRoland Park Country School Reds guard Aniyah Carpenter (22) fouls Seton Keough Gators guard/forward Sydney Mitchell, who hits the basket after driving past guard Jaia Alexander (20). RPCS held on to edge Keough, 61-60.
Lloyd Fox / Baltimore SunDunbar teammates Jalen Willis, Demonte Moore and Tramaine Tazwell react after a foul was called on Dunbar late in the game against Lake Clifton.
Lloyd Fox / Baltimore SunDunbar Dashawn Phillips with a second half dunk over Lake Clifton's Rasheed Brown, but it wasn't enough to beat Lake Clifton as the Poets went down 48-47.
Algerina Perna / Baltimore SunWashington player Colton Henry #22, left, from De Matha Catholic High School, goes head- to-head with Baltimore player Brandon Hlavach #43 from Eastern Tech in the Maryland National Guard Crab Bowl between Team Baltimore and Team Washington which was held at McDaniel College.
Algerina Perna / Baltimore SunLogan Rill, right, from Mount Saint Joseph came in second in the 195-pound weight class against Tre-Shoun Rogers from Oscar Smith, left, at Mount Mat Madness, held at Mount Saint Joseph.
Colby Ware / Baltimore SunDaquan Bracey, left, and Kurk Lee Jr. of St. Frances lead the offense up the court against St. Vincent Pallotti on Dec. 9, 2015.
DAVE MUNCH/STAFF PHOTO /Winters Mill's Kaila Brown looks to pass against Westminster Tuesday, Dec. 15 in Westminster.
Algerina Perna / Baltimore SunNick Moreno, top, from Loyola Blakefield wins the championship match against William Sorey from Oscar Smith High School in the 170-pound weight class at Mount Mat Madness, held at Mount Saint Joseph.
Steve Ruark / Baltimore Sun Media GroupCatonsville's Jasmine Dickey, center, passes past Seton Keough's Summer Fields, left, and Kaila Jennings, right, in the first half of a girls' high school basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015, in Catonsville.
Steve Ruark / Baltimore Sun Media GroupSeton Keough's Summer Fields, left, and Kayla Bacon, right, battle Catonsville's Tiarra Horne, center, for a ball in the first half of a girls' high school basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015, in Catonsville.
Algerina Perna / Baltimore SunThe Maryland National Guard Crab Bowl between Team Baltimore and Team Washington was held at McDaniel College.
Algerina Perna / Baltimore SunCornelius Schuster, top, from Mount Saint Joseph came in second in the 152-pound weight class wrestling championships against Garrett Beam, bottom, from Queen of Peace High School at Mount Mat Madness, held at Mount Saint Joseph.
Colby Ware / Baltimore SunAbdoul Karim Coulibaley of St. Vincent Pallotti, left, shoots over Tairik Johnson of St. Frances on Dec. 9, 2015.
Colby Ware / Baltimore SunErik Turner II (13) of St. Frances attempts a shot over Everette Hammond (2) and Abdoul Karim Coulibaly (12) of St. Vincent Pallotti during a game on Dec. 9, 2015.
DYLAN SLAGLE/CARROLL COUNTY TIMESCentury's Jasmine Leveille works past Century defenders Olivia Thompson, left, and Maddee Farley during the first half of their game in Eldersburg Monday, Dec. 21, 2015.
DYLAN SLAGLE/CARROLL COUNTY TIMESLiberty's Rachael Walters and Century's Kelsey Weishaar wait for the free throw during the first half of their game in Eldersburg Monday, Dec. 21, 2015.
Karl Merton Ferron / Baltimore SunBaltimore, MD -- Roland Park Country School Reds guard Ja'Niah Johnson (left) and Jaia Alexander (20) watch Seton Keough Gators guard Kaila Jennings lose the ball for a turnover beneath the basket. RPCS held on to edge Keough, 61-60.
Karl Merton Ferron / Baltimore SunChrystinRoland Park Country School Reds forward Christyn Robinson (left) scraps over a loose ball with Seton Keough Gators guard Kaila Jennings while Kayla Bacon (above) reaches in from above. RPCS held on to edge Keough, 61-60.
Colby Ware / Baltimore SunDaquan Bracey (32) of St. Frances drives for an open layup against St. Vincent Pallotti on Dec. 9, 2015.
Colby Ware / Baltimore SunDaquan Bracey (32) of St. Frances drives for a layup against Everette Hammond (2) of St. Vincent Pallotti on Dec. 9, 2015. Abdoul Karim Coulibaly (12) of St. Vincent Pallotti looks on.
Colby Ware / Baltimore SunPhillip Alexander (11) of St. Vincent Pallotti shoots a layup over Tairik Johnson (13) of St. Frances on Dec. 9, 2015.
Colby Ware / Baltimore SunDaquan Bracey (32) of St. Frances leads the offense against St. Vincent Pallotti on Dec. 9, 2015.
Colby Ware / Baltimore SunEverette Hammond (2) of St. Vincent Pallotti shoots over Tairik Johnson (12) of St. Frances on Dec. 9, 2015.
Lloyd Fox / Baltimore SunLake Clifton #11 Rasheed Brown reacts after scoring in the fourth quarter against Dunbar.
Karl Merton Ferron / Baltimore SunBoxing out beneath the basket, Roland Park Country School Reds players Jeydah Johnson (23), Christyn Robinson (41) and Ja'Niah Henson react as the rebound slips through the hands of Seton Keough Gators guard Summer Fields (1) following a missed shot by guard/forward Sydney Mitchell as the buzzer sounds. RPCS held on to edge Keough, 61-60.
Algerina Perna / Baltimore SunBaltimore player Antonio Dupree #2 from Gilman fights to keep the ball during the second half of the Maryland Crab Bowl between Team Baltimore and Team Washington which was held at McDaniel College.
Lloyd Fox / Baltimore SunLake Clifton boys basketball coach Herman Harried calls out to his team during a game at Dunbar.
Colby Ware / Baltimore Sun
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Kurk Lee Jr. (1) of St. Frances leads the offense while Everette Hammond (2) of St. Vincent Pallotti defends on Dec. 9, 2015.
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The bar has been raised. Expectations are higher. The Orioles are chasing a division title.
But Orioles fans, take a step back, back to this spring, when you weren’t asking for a postseason berth. You were just asking for hope.
So in the middle of a playoff race, take a second. Take a second to enjoy the Orioles’ next win.
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As the Orioles go for a series sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday afternoon, their next victory will be their 81st of the season, which would guarantee them at least a .500 record.
More importantly, it ends the Orioles’ streak of 14 losing seasons, something that most fans would have been happy with at the beginning of the season.
Orioles manager Buck Showalter said recently that his team realizes the fine line between the penthouse and the outhouse. So should Orioles fans.
So take a step back, enjoy the fact that the expectations have suddenly been raised in Birdland, but think back to just a few months ago, when you were asking yourself, “Is .500 too much to ask?”
And just that realization should help you enjoy this Orioles’ run even more.