Page Twelve

THE MICHIGAN DAILY

Sunday, April 6, 1975

Page Twelve THE MICHIGAN DAILY Sunday, April 6, 1975


by FRED UPTON -
Baseball time ...
... must be spring
"ATTENTION, attention please. Have your pencils and score-
cards ready and we'll give you the correct lineup for today's
ballgame ... Play ball!"
Words such as these will soon be echoing from loud speaker
systems at ball parks around the country. And to baseball en-
thusiasts from Boston and New York to Oakland and San
Francisco it will mean that spring has officially arrived.
Though snow may still be on the ground in Montreal,
Boston and New York, and freezing temperatures may exist
at Tiger Stadium and at Wrigley Field, spring is here.
The topics of conversation can now change from the sad
state of affairs of the economy and Viet Nam to more important
questions such as whether the acquisition of "Catfish" Hunter
will lead the Yankees to the top or whether teams such as the
Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers will dominate the cellar for
most of the season.
But no matter what the "experts" predict as to the success,
or failure of 'a team, there will always be those eternal optimists
that will never say die, always hoping for that miracle finish
or player who becomes a super-star overnight. Afterall, the season
isn't over until the last out of the last ball game, or at least until
a team is mathematically eliminated.
So what's in store for the season this year? Will it be the{
same trials and tribulations for the cellar dwellers of last year?
Will they be able to overtake teams whose bench strength may be
greater than their starters? Or will they continue to "rebuild"
for the future as the Cubs have done for the past 29 years.
And what will be the outcome for such teams as the
power-laden Cincinnati Reds or Frank Robinson's Indians?
Will the favorites meet the expectations of their fans?
So what if the odds may be 150 to one that the San Diego
Padres surpass the National League's best-the Los Angeles
Dodgers. It's the start of the season and anything can happen.
Not many picked the New York Mets to finish as World Cham-
pions in 1969.
One can't help but notice the feeling of excitement as he
goes through the turnstiles of a ball park. One can forget his
troubles when he cheers for the home run, boos the strike call
of the ump, and orders another beer from the vender. What's a
ball game without a hot dog and mustard?
Everyone goes to the ball game to have a good time.
There is a common bond among the 20,000 or so fans.
Who can forget the first foul ball souvenir or even the one
that got away? And remember Dad trying to explain how toI
score the game?
Yes, the season is finally ready to start. The cheers and boos
are ready to be heard. For some, it may be another long season,
but there's always next year.

T'"Okli-0/ftee

tum lers

wil

onors

Special To The Daily
TERRE HAUTE-Three Mich-
igan gymnasts qualified for All-
American honors last night dur-
ing the individual competition of
the NCAA gymnastics meet.
Rings specialist Joe Neuen-
swander tied for second place
with an overall point total of
18.8 out of a possible 20 points.
RICHARD B I G R A S earned
All-American honors in vaulting
by amassing 18.175 points which
gave him a tie for fourth place.
Bigras narrowly missed becom-
ing a double All-American by
grabbing 18.025 points in the
parallel bars, a total good
enough for ninth place.
High bar specialist Bob Creek
notched a tie for fifth place as
he earned 18.325 points. Creek,
a freshman from Evanston, Illi-
nois, won the Big Ten high bar
crown last weekend in Mich-
igan's Crisler Arena.
"We're all extremely proud of
our qualifiers," a satisfied coach
Newt Loken said last night.
"This was the toughest compe-

Daily
Sorts
NIGHT EDITOR:
MICHAEL WILSON
tition we've seen in many, many
years."
All-American h o n o r s are
awarded to individuals finishing
in the top six places.
In the team competition, the
Wolverines faired well, winding
up in sixth place. California took
top honors by amassing 437.325
points. LSU, ranked number one
for much of the season, finisned
a distant second with a 430.8
point total.

horse with 18.1 points. The jun-
ior placed second in the Big
Ten to Iowa's Bob Siemianow-
ski last weekend.
Yesterday's action cl )Se. out
a very successful season for the
Maize and Blue tumblers.
After suffering injuries to key
performers at the start of the
season, the Wolverines dipped
into the ranks to find perform-
ers to replace key individuais,
Senior Jean Gagnon was ex-
pected to be a very important
cog in the gymnastic mac:hne,
but suffered severe shou'der
tendonitis. Freshman H a r l e y
Danner rose to take his place
and copped the all-around crown
in the Big Ten.
Co-captain Carey Culbertson,
co-winner of the Big Ten high
bar crown in 1974, also fell into
the injured ranks. But another
freshman, Bob Creek, filled in

ii

; . I

,II ,[

SCORES

i_


NBA
Milwaukee 119,NDetroit 106
Baltimore 123, Atlanta 115
Boston 111, Philadelphia 97
Seattle 109, Golden State 108
Libels 76, Edit Staff 59
NHL
Pittsburgh 7, Detroit 1
Philadelphia 4, N.Y. Islanders 1
St. Louis 4, Chicago 3
Buffalo 4, Toronto 2
Montreal 10, Washington 2
Los Angeles 5, California 3
Exhibition Baseball
Detroit 4, New York (N) 3
Baltimore 1, Atlanta 0
Milwaukee 3, Chicago (N) 2
Cleveland 11, Oakland 6
Montreal 6, Boston 2
St. Louis 18, Pittsburgh 4
Minnesota 5, Cincinnati 3
New York (A) 6, Philadelphia 2
Chicago (A) 7, San Diego 4
Houston 6, Texas 0
College Basketball
All-Star Game
West 110, East 89
ABA
Playoffs
Indiana 122, San Antonio 119
W HA
Cleveland 5, New England 2
Houston 8, Minnesota 2
Quebec 9, Winnipeg 5

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS ended more than adequat
up third with 428.2 points and a Big Ten champ
Indiana State took fourth with All-American honors
425.85. Nebraska notched fifth bar.
with 424.40 points to Michigan's
423.85. IT WAS a seaso
"Overall the guys did very coach Newt Loken1
well," Loken commented. "I winningest coach in
was very satisfied with our com- history by tallying
pulsories as we were the top career marker on I
four teams in the nation. The Wolverines fi
"But in the optionals, there a 5-2 overall dualn
were a couple events that just and a spotless 5-0 B
set us back a bit and we meet record. Two
couldn't catch up," Loken con- to the NCAA runner
tinued. iCAA fourth placeI
Last year's NCAA champion, diana State.
Iowa State, finished seventh Michigan ended1
with a point total of 423.50. ence appropriately
Going into yesterday's indi- away with the Big
vidual competition, Michigan crown, qualifying
had six performers who quali- members for nation
fied for the finals, competition.
Pierre Leclerc fell short of "It was a good sea
earning an All-American honor, said with a satisfie
finishing seventh in vaulting. we're looking forw
The dynamic French-Canadian year's nationals."
garnered 18.025 points in the
final competition.

ely, earning
ionship and
in the high
n in which
bec-ume the
n gymnas+ic
g hisr200th
Februaary 22.
inished with
meet record
Big Ten dual
losses came
-up LSU and
fimsner, In-
the confer-
by running
Ten team
all 12 team
31 individual
son," Lken
d qir. But
ard to next

Daily Photo by SUE SHEINER
MICHIGAN HIGH BAR specialist Bob Creek performs during last weekend's Big Ten cham-
pionships at Crisler Arena. Creek, a freshman from Evanston, Illinois, swung his way to All-
American honors yesterday at Terre Haute by totaling 18.325 p o i n t s, earning a tie for fifth
place. Richard Bigras and Joe Neuenswander of Michigan also copped All-American honors
in the NCAA meet.

CO-CAPTAIN Bruce Keeshin
also fell short in the high bar
event by earning 18.35 points,
putting him in seventh place in
that event.
Jerome Poynton wound up in

Rogers airs

hill

eighth placet
Crain(

Sfor b
in Oly,
Michigan's su
Don Craine is
drive towards
USA's 1976 0 1
squad. Crainec
AAU nationald
ships this wee.
with some very
formances.
ON WEDNES
ished second in
competition beh
Tim Moore. M
553.68 points t
total of 533.64.
Boggs, who c
1972 Olympics
the three met
on Friday with
nosing out Moo
Henry, also of t
CRAINE FIN
the ten meter
pionships yester
AP Photo total of 474.45.
Amateur his second AAL
Amaeur522.95 perform,
ving com- also the high
n the ten among the me
n overall lowed by Boggs

on the pommel By RICK BONINO school-we went to the state IMPRESSED with both Mich-
The best keep getting better, tournament three years in a igan's academics and coaching,
10 quoth the old cliche-that's how row." staff, Rogers came to Ann Ar-
~ IJIIS they stay the best. Rogers won all-state honors bor on a basketball scholarship.
Michigan hurler Chuck Rogers in baseball and found himself He did well enough in the tall:
proved he was one of the Big deluged with college offers as a man's sport, getting a taste of
Ten's best with a fine sopho- senior, including queries from varsity action as a freshman
more showing last year. Rogers' all the Big Ten schools. Lucaly and serving as the all-important
performance earned him a first- for coach Moby Benedict, Rog- sixth man last year.
team All-Big Ten berth, but the ers chose Michigan. But Rogers did even better in
TM liCS 6-6 hurler wasn't totally satis- "I wanted to go somewhere baseball. He posted a 5-2 record
fied. where I could play both base- his first year, good eno lgh flr
upreme d i v er,, "I still felt something was ball and basketball," Rogers a third-team All-Big Ten selec-~
continuing his missing," Rogers said. "I need- said. "The really good baseball tion. He picked up where he leftI
a berth on the ed to improve on all aspects of schools, like Arizona State, were off!last year, recordngwt a er-
y m p i c diving my pitching." too far away." feet 5-0 mark withading 1.59 ERA and fanning~
competed in the adg19ER adfnmg
competed.inrth 31 batters in 40 innings xwhile
diving champion- SO ROGERS spurned his sec- b walking only seven.
k and came up ond love, basketball, to concen- NBA STANDINGS Although there were no schel-
impressive per- trate on his pitching. After EASTERN CONFERENCE ule conflicts withr te two;-
months of hard physical and Atlantic Division sports, Rogers decided this fall
DAY, Craine fin- mental preparation, Rogers was w LPt.s s to concentrate his effor tsolhily
the one meter set to begin the quest for im- x-Boston 60 22 .732 - o aseba e had rs god y
hind Ohio State's provement in his scheduled de- Buffalo 49 32 .s0 10%
oore racked up but yesterday afternoon. New York 39 42 .481 20% shot as anyone at the forward;
o edge Craine's However, the temperamental Philadelphia 34 48 .415 26 spot vacated by Campy Russell,;
H eedmenCentral Division but felt his career noies could
Michigan weather delayed Rog- x-Washington 59 22 .728 - be furthered by giving his al
competed in the ers' hopes even further. But Houston 41 41 .500 1812reyiglvn
in Munich, won the waiting may prove a valu- Cleveland 40 41 .494 19 to the national pastime.
er championship able experience-after all, when Atlanta 31 51 .378 28 He participated in fall base-
er bl exerenc-ateral, wenNew Orleans 23 58 .284 36 ball drills, and went to Florida;
a score of 596.82, your goal is to pitch in the his drilis, dtene to pr-
Ire and Dr. Jim majors you usually have to WESTERN CONFERENCE this sprng determined to per-
he USAF. y y Midwest Division feet his already outstanding
USE it nspend a few years in the minor x-Chicago 46 35 .568 -' skills. Despnite some report., to
ISHED fifth in leagues, even in these days of K.C.-omaha 43 38 .531 - the contrary, Rogers doesn't
platform cham- expansion and dilution. Detroit 40 42 .488 61/2. the c-ntaryR-ges de-n_
'day with a point While Rogers has excelled in Milwaukee 38 43 .469 8
Moore copped both baseball and basketball all x-Golden Pacific Division.3
U crown with a his life, he always dreamed of Seattlen ae 413 .513
ance. He was becoming a big-league pitcher. Portland 37 44 .457 11
point winner "I always felt I had more of Phoenix 32 49 .395 16
n with 68, fol- a future in baseball," said the Los Angeles 30 51 .370 18
x-clinched division title
65 and Cra:ne's Findlay, Ohio native. "I always Seattle-Golden State game not in-
played on good teams in high cluded

hep
think his spring showing was
all that terrible.
"I ONLY had one bad outing,
and that was in relief,' Rogers
said. "I pitched nine innings
and only gave up two earned
r-ns two days before and pitch-
ed a strong five inn-ngs three
days before that."
The Florida trip gave Rogers
a chance to wnrk on a new pitch,
a forkball. Though primarily a
fastball hitcher, Rogers felt add-
ing a third pitch to his reper-
toire co-ld prove useful.
Unfortunately Rogers yan hurl
neither fastball nor farkball in
anger until the weather allows.
Inclement conditions wiped out
the team's first two double-
headers, scheduled for last
Thursday and yesterday.
BUT ROGERS has high hopes
for the time when the sun final-
ly does shine.
"This is the best team we've
had since I've been here,"
Rogers said. "It's the first year
we've had both hitting and
pitching, and we can win the
conference if we put it all to-
gether. For some reason, we've
worked harder this year and we
believe we can win it all."

OHIO STATE diver Tim Moore receives an a ward from Dr. Robert Lydze, the
Atheletic Union's chairman for men's diving, after taking first in the ten meter div
petition in the AAU diving meet at Cleveland. Michigan's Don Craine took fifth in
meter and finished a close second to Moore in the one meter on his way to a
third place finish.


55.


Hold

onto

your

Strohs,

it's

Tiger-time

"THANKS, LARRY, and good afternoon everyone."
Brace yourselves, Tiger fans. You'll soon be into another
season of Tiger baseball. George Kell followers will be hearing
that familiar drawl emanating from the tube with Larry Oster-
man's golden tones on every Tiger T.V. broadcast.
All I hear are predictions of gloom and doom for the Tigersj
this year. Usually spring training evokes optimism from all
corners of the baseball world. Spring training winners smile
saying it's a sign of things to come. Losers smile too, saying
this is only spring, just wait till the season starts.
But from Lakeland come only tales of woe.
The Tigers haven't exactly been prolific winners this.
spring. When they have , triumphed, scores like 13-12 have
only succeeded in substantiating rumors that the Bengals
may be lacking in the pitching department.
I'll have to admit there may be some grounds for this
contention.
Mickey Lolich, the 'ace' of the staff hasn't performed well
at all this spring. Word has it that Joe Coleman, not Lolich will
pitch the opener Thursday against Baltimore. The southpaw
apparently pitched the last six weeks of last season with torn
cartilage in his knee, finishing the year with a disappointing
16-21 record. It could be that some effects of that injury have
carried over. I'm not ready to give up on portly Mick. He'll
come around, sometime. I hope before August.
As for the remainder of the Tiger starters, whomever they
may be, the outlook is grim, at best. Coleman finished last
sensorn a winner at lnet. 14-12_ and has nitced r1well enouah to

Lucky for the Tigers they didn't give up on John Hiller after
his heart attack in 1971. Last year Hiller was the backbone of
an otherwise feeble staff coming up with 17 wins, 13 saves and
a 2.64 ERA. If things go as expected for the. Tiger starters,
Hiller may be out of the bullpen more than he's in this year.

Hiller may get some help
acquired from Montreal in the
a good rookie season with the
year.

from young righty Tom Walker,
Woody Fryman deal. Walker had
Expos but slipped somewhat last

Despite all the premonitions of disaster it will be an ad-
venture following the Tigers this season just trying to get to
know all the new names. For the first time in my lifetime Al
Kaline won't be in the lineup. Others who have seemingly always
been with the Tigers are now gone-Norm Cash, Jim Northrup
and Dick McAuliffe.
There is not much left of the championship team of 1968
but the Bengals are younger than they have been in a long
time. Too young some will say. But with youth there is
uncanny optomism and hope for the future.
Ron LeFlore, ol' number B115614, is the most mentioned
youngster, partly for his success in shaking off the ignominy of
a prison record, but mostly for his knack of stealing bases,
something the Tigers haven't had in years. After joining the
Tigers last year at midseason, the 22-year-old center fielder
batted .260 and stole 23 bases, the most since Jaks Wood stole 24
back in 1962.
Houk plans to flank LeFlore with two rookies, Danny Meyer

With Horton and the newly acquired Nate Colbert from
San Diego, the Tigers could find themselves with one of the
most potent 1-2 right handed combinations in the league. In
cozy Tiger Stadium Colbert is bound to slug more than the
14 homers he banged last year. Colbert will be the Tiger first
baseman and may DIi some.
Gary Sutherland (.254) or John Knox (.307 in 55 games) will
hold down second base.
The Tigers have so much confidence in 21-year-old Tom
Veryzer that they traded away Eddie Brinkman. The shortstop
hit .236 in the 22 games he played in last year.
At least there will be one familiar face in the Tiger infield this
season. Aurelio Rodriguez, one of the best defensive third basemen
in the league, is back and hopefully will start hitting better. Ever
since he came to the Tigers from the Senators Rodriguez has
not quite lived up to the hitting capabilities he was reputed to
possess. Last year the 27-year-old batted .222 with 49 RBIs.
If you like to watch base stealing, you'll love watching the
Tigers this year-not by the Tigers but against them. None other
than ex-Wolverine Bill Freehan seems destined to return behind
the plate despite the acquisition of strong-armed but light-
hitting Terry Humphrey from the Expos. Opponents will be
stealing bases by the bushel this season unless Humphrey finds
his stroke or Freehan's arm miraculously improves.
While opponents may sneer at Freehan's inability to throw
out runners, they treat Freehan's batting ability with respect.
Bill hit .297 last year with 18 homers and 60 RBIs.
The Tigers rnould win the nennant this vear Stranger things