Brigade fall to Soul, 70-21, but still clinch playoff berth

The Brigade (4-9) allowed a season high in points in a 70-21 loss to the visiting Philadelphia Soul (12-1) on Saturday, but still clinched an Arena Football League playoff berth because of the Cleveland Gladiators’ 62-28 win over the host Washington Valor (2-11) on Saturday night. The league had told the Brigade earlier this week that they had qualified for the postseason, but the team needed a victory in one of its two remaining games or a loss by the Valor in one of their two games to secure the final berth. Dan Raudabaugh completed 10 of 14 passes for 137 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Soul, who have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Tampa Bay Storm and the Gladiators have also clinched playoff spots. The Brigade will host their regular-season finale against the Valor on Friday at 7 p.m. HORSE RACING: Back on dirt after facing older grass horses in her last start, Daylight Farms and Rebecca Galbraith’s Tickled Pink returned to the winner’s circle for the first time since her February debut, winning by 11⁄2 lengths in 1 minute, 24.61 seconds over a muddy, sealed main track in Saturday’s featured ninth race at Laurel Park. Meanwhile, journeyman Sheldon Russell moved into second in the jockey standings with a four-win afternoon to give him 22 at the summer meet, six behind Victor Carrasco and one ahead of Jevian Toledo and Horacio Karamanos . ... The Maryland Jockey Club and Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association each made $1,000 donations to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. A total of $3,237.02 was raised. CROSS COUNTRY, TRACK AND FIELD: Towson announced the hiring of Henry Phelan as an assistant coach. Phelan previously served as assistant for the cross country and track teams at Harvard. —