Washington, D.C. -Howard University announced today the discontinuance of wrestling and baseball as varsity sports, effective immediately.    Sondra Norrell-Thomas, Howard's athletic director, called the decision "very difficult, but necessary." "At this time, we lack the facilities to support baseball and wrestling," Thomas said.    Howard will provide scholarships to all affected students for the remainder of their NCAA eligibility. All students wishing to transfer to another school will receive a release to enable them to immediately compete in baseball and wrestling.    Following today's action, Howard University's varsity program will consist of (19) varsity sports: eight (8) men's sports and eleven (11) women's sports. The NCAA Division I required minimum is 14.    Howard University, one of only 48 U.S. private, Doctoral/Research-Extensive universities, omprises 12 schools and colleges. Founded in 1867, the University's 10,500 students today enjoy academic pursuits in more than 120 areas of study leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University continues to attract the nation's top students and  produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D.s than any other university in the world.    Since 1998, the University has produced a Rhodes Scholar, a Truman Scholar, six Fulbright Scholars and four Pickering Fellows. In addition to President H. Patrick Swygert, Howard's notable alumni include: the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall; the first African-American governor L. Douglas Wilder; Nobel Laureate and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Toni Morrison; Savage Holdings LLC CEO and Howard Board of Trustees Chairman Frank Savage; Emmy Award-winning actress Phylicia Rashad; classical singer and diva Jessye Norman; actress, producer and director Debbie Allen; the first African-American president of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. LaSalle Leffall, Jr.; attorney, civil rights leader and Wall St. executive Vernon Jordan; former mayor and United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young;  and the first female mayor of Atlanta, Shirley Franklin.