Friday, November 2, 1973 THE MICHIGAN DAILY .vage Nine' Friday, November 2, 1973 THE MICHIGAN DAILY Page Nine' Hoosiers C .Deedli EY' -Slefll Tom Kettinger . . hivin' on the farm Dan Borus T MUST BE IN THE COLLECTIVE INHERITANCE of most American males that at the age of five they stand with a bat in hand and scour at an imaginary pitcher. Then, after watching the pitcher make his imaginary pitch, they swing and watch the imaginary ball fly out of the imaginary stadium, a tape measure blow. It is a sobering blow to male imaginations that at any given time only 3,000 can play professional baseball and of those only 600 will toil for a major league club. Some who have the dream simply forget as they grow older. But one who hasn't is Tom Kettinger. Kettinger, a Michigan Wolverine outfielder for four years, was tabbed by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 29th round of the free agent draft last June. "I always wanted to be a ballplayer," the 22-year-old Oak Park, Illinois native said. "But I wasn't counting too much on baseball. I went down there (Bradenton, the Pirates' spring home) with the idea of giving it my best shot and seeing what happened. I had my business degree from here, so I wasn't too nervous." After a look-see, the Bucs sent him to their Class A farm team in Niagara Falls. Kettinger was well aware of the Pirate report on him: average speed, a little below average arm ("Left Fielder's arm, the ball players call it), good power. Dan- ny Murtaugh, current Pirate manager who was then consultant to the organization, was so impressed with Kettinger's ability that of 35 players who reported last June to Bradenton, Kettinger was one of only two ballplayers' whose batting style Murtaugh did not dare tamper with at all. Murtaugh saw potential Murtaugh's good good baseball sense was cindicated by Tom's Niagara Falls performance. Kettinger lead the NewYork-Penn League in doubles and triples and finished second in the league in home runs. His .280 batting mark was considered excellent. For his performance, Kettinger nailed down his team's Most Valuable Player Award. Actually Kettinger feels that he could have kept that average higher. The New York-Penn league starts in the middle of June after the draft and plays 70 games in 71 days. The toll has to tell. "It was mentally exhausting," Kettinger says. "I took some pitches down the middle that I had never looked at it my life." THE TOLL told in another way, too. Normally living under that kind of pressure and those conditions ("Everything you've heard about the minors-It's true," Kettinger says with a smile), pressures can build up. Fortunately, the Niagara manager, Woody Huyke, had a sense of humor and an understanding that everything doesn't always have to be a grind. Huyke, whose team dipped to seventh in an eight team league after winning the championship the year before, at times im- posed a reverse curfew. "Anyone who shows up before two o'clock is going to face a stiff, stiff fine," he told his charges. Kettinger picked up an amusing benefit along the way- an eleven year-old fan club with a brush on a budding star. The young; Ms. writes the former Wolverine constantly, telling him of his impending stardom andeasking for his road schedule so she can. follow him on the way to $100,000 dollar a year seasons. But all is not fun and games in that drive for stardom and the Big Leagues. In fact it can get downright dreary. There's always a constant reminder that the minors are the Minors. Minor's life is rough Meal allowance is five dollars a day ("You always lose money when you go on the road," Kettinger remarks. "Some guys spend ti that much in a bar in five minutes."). The team has no trainer, only a doctor who can't be seen unless you're dying, and trips by bus to round to 400 miles a stretch. And everyday those fast- balls coming faster than in your boyhood imagination or in the Big Ten. Yet, despite the dreariness, the rickety stadiums, the fans that ride you every game that you know them personally by the resounding of their leathery lungs, there are some parallels to the Major League brand of baseball, even if they are strictly minor league. The wood isn't the same grade as in the majors and the name is just stamped on, but when minor leaguers come to bat they brandish their namesake models. So Kettinger is the proud owner of a Genuine Tom Kettinger Model baseball bat. After using Mickey Mantle bats all his life, it was a bit of a shock. Another reminder, though certainly not lucrative, is the five dollar contract Kettinger inked with the Topps Baseball Cards people; giving them exclusive rights to use his picture and bat- ting record when and if he makes the big time. THE PIRATES almost didn't get their MVP for the Niagara Club. Scout Ken Beardslee, who signed Kettinger for the standard $500 a month first year contract sans bonus, caught his play last May at Michigan State after the Central Michigan base- ball coach had tipped Beardslee off as to Kettinger's worth. It was n6t one of Tom's better days.v Kettinger went "Oh for Six" in a doubleheader, but he did show good speed"running down to first on a ground ball and did manage to blast a long drive that the Spartan center fielder grab- bed on the warning track. Fortunately for Tom and the Pirates, Kettinger was given a good look over at Ohio State and Kettinger responded with a "Four for Six" day. Kettinger could have made the Bucs' system a year earlier. After leading the Wolverines in batting his frosh and sophomore seasons, Kettinger began his junior year in a bit of a slump. "Moby (Michigan baseball coach Moby Benedict) almost im- mediately lost confidence in me and I rode the bench most of the season," recalls Kittinger. "My age, 22, was probably one reason that teams shied away from me this year.' Kettinger's position uncertain Where does Kettinger stand now in that try for one of those 600 exclusive spots? His best chances do not at the moment seem to be with the Pirates. The Bucs are filled with good young out- fielders, Richie Zisk, Dave Parker, Gene Clines, Al Oliver, Dave Augustine and have more coming up in the system. But ballclubs change friom year to year and Kettinger could have a shot with another team in the next three years when he is eligible for an- other common draft. The majors are not Kettinger's most immediate problem- that's getting up another notch to Double AA ball. This will be determined by his performance in spring training. Farm Direc- xperienc By RICHARD FLAHERTY Indiana, experiencing a com-" plete rebuilding this season, has This 1 had its share of bad luck. The Hoosier's total record stands at 2-5-0 and although Michigan falls next on the schedule, Head HOCKEY-Waterloo at Coach Lee Corso seems surpris- WATER POLO-Michig ingly optimistic. "Maybe a lot of people think we have one foot in the coffin but it's going to take a lot more to put us down for FOOTBALL-Indiana at good," Corso said. HOCKEY-Waterloo at Indiana lost 12 starters from last year's squad leaving the oth- WATER POLO-Michig er 10 positions primarily manned 4:30 p.m. by underclassmen. "We're play- CROSS-COUNTRY-Big ing a lot of freshmen and sopho-R mores," asserted Corso, "and it's RUGBY-at Detroit just going to take patience, hard work and a lot of love before we two former starters, put things together." back Mark Bailey an Plagued by injuries, the thin er Henry Cunningham. defensive unit has allowed the op- been out of three gam position to rack up 163 points muscle pull and Cu against the Hoosiers' 86. Corner- missed four games due back Kirk Edwards adds to the bruised foot. latest list of injuries. A severe an- Corso, adjusting to kle sprain in last week's Wiscon- Ten's emphasis on rune sin game will keep the freshman to revitalize his defer out of play for the remainder of tegy. "We're going t the season. look at our personnel Returning to tomorrow's line- about some changes, up after a month of inaction are we don't have much e 7eekend in Sports FRIDAY Yost Ice Arena, 7:30 p.m. an Invitational, Matt Mann Pool, 7:30 p.m. SATURDAY Michigan Stadium, 1:30 p.m. Yost Ice Arena, 7:30 p.m. gan Invitational at Matt Mann Pool, 11 a.m., Ten Championships at Illinois rebui defensive d lineback- Baily had res with a unningham to a badly the Big ming, plans nsive stra- o have to and think although left. We need to find some answers." Sophomore standout Q u i n n Buckner again will lead the Hoos- ier defense in tomorrow's game. The 198-pound safety has recov- ered four fumbles, broken up three passes and ranks sixth on the team in tackles with a total of 32. Buckner also has three in- terceptions to his credit for 23 yards. Corso claims that Buckner has thwarted at least six appar- ent touchdowns by opposing teams this season. iding With Michigan's rushers, the Hoosiers will find plenty of time to practice their newly formed defense. Corso displayed quite a bit of enthusiasm over the potential shown by several of his fresh- men in last Saturday's game. Linebacker Steve Sanders, who started his first game, had a season high of 20 tackles against Wisconsin. Dan Marr, another freshman linebacker, had a hand in about 15 stops, while tackle Elmer Burton had eight. All three freshman are expected to start against the Wolverines along with freshman fullback Courtney Snyder. Halfback Ken Starling has led t h e Hoosier rushing attack with an average of 3.6 yards per carry and a net total of 466 yards. This season Starling is expect- ed to became Indiana's number two all-time leading carrier with only Pat Gedman with 1,562 yards ahead of him. Aiding in the ground game is halfback Dennis Cremeens with a 3.2 yard average per carry, and of course Snyder with a 4.4 yard average. When Indiana finds themselves in a punting situation, they will be relying on the highly toutedR foot of Jim Wenzel, who has an average of 39.1 yards. Corso, who brought the Univer- sity of Louisville from oblivion to a nationally-ranked team in a matter of three short years, has hopes for Indiana eventually be- coming a future contender for the Big Ten title. The young, energetic coach, whose two wins were surprises over Kentucky and twentieth - ranked West Vir- ginia, will more than likely en- tertain the crowd at Michigan Stadium by dipping into his bagj of trick plays which he is known to use during key situations. BUY OR SELL INDIANA TICKETS! UAC FOOTBALL TICKET EXCHANGE FRIDAY, NOV. 2 1-5 UNION TICKET DESK SOVIET JEWRY, and ISRAELI SOLIDARITY PICKET LINES The following Russian performers are official repre- sentatives of the Soviet Union under the Cultural Exchange Program. They are here to demonstrate to us the culture of their society. We picket to bring to light the other facets of the Soviet Regime-the cruel denial of freedom to their Jewish citizens. Our Soviet Jewish brethren demand the right to emi- grate to Israel. We must support that demand here in Ann Arbor!! JOIN THIS PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION SATURDAY, NOV. 3-8:30-Leningrad Philharmonic SUNDAY, NOV. 4-2:30-Hill Auditorium PICKET LINE STARTS-7:30 SAT., 1:30 SUN, PICKET WITH YOUR CHILDREN "- STUDENT. BLOOD, BANK Order YoUr Subscription Today 764-0558 Mon., Nov. Tues., Nov. Wed., Nov. 5 6 7 Thurs., Nov. 8 11 A.M.-5 P.M. SECOND FLOOR MICHIGAN UNION INFO CALL 76-GUIDE Daily Photo by SARA KRULWICH HOOSIER HALFBACK KEN STARLING (22) finds the going tough against Barry Dotzauer (25) in 1971 action. Starling and Co. can expect the same kind of treatment in tomorrow's clash. i I I ___.1 1 ISLANDERS TIE LEA Flyers zip Chic FS % i. By The Associated Press PHILADELPHIA-Goalie Bernie Parent scored his fourth shutout of the season last night as the Philadelphia Flyers blanked the Chicago Black Hawks 1-0 in a Na- tional Hockey League game. The victory left the West Di- vision-leading Flyers three points ahead of the Atlanta Flames and built their margin over the Black Hawks to six points. Leftwinger Bill Barber pro- vided the margin of victory with a power playdgoal at 17:44 of the first period. Barber's rising1 50-footer vent over the shoulder of Black Hawk goalie Tony Es- posito with Stan Mikita serving a hooking penalty. . Parent, who lowered his NHL- leading goals against allowance to 1.30 per game, stopped 25 ChicagoE shots and made two key saves with Chicago on the power play in the final five minutes. Leafs tie UNIONDALE, N.Y.-Gary Mona-' (Iai ly sports NIGHT EDITOR: CHUCK BLOOM han scored a goal at the 14:05 mark of the third period and the Toronto Maple Leafs tied the New York Islanders 2-2 in a National HockeysLeague game last night. Monahan took the pick fromj Rick Kehoe in front of the net and fired in the tying marker from five feet out. Earlier in the period, Ingie Hammarstrom scored the Maple Leafs' first goal of the game on an eight-foot shot. The Islanders took a 1-0 lead midway through the first period on Ernie Hicke's goal after a scramble in front of the net. In go, 1-0 MEGA the second period Ed Westfall blasted one into the net on a 12- foot shot up the middle. Seals burn ATLANTA-Veteran Leon Roche- fort scored the 99th goal of his National Hockey League career FAST, FREE DELIVERY last night and rookie Tom LysiakS- got his first as the Atlanta Flames SUBS-CHICKEN-SHRIMP-SALADS-BURGERS-FRIES-COKE defeated the California Golden ''""'""" mm "m """"'"''..... """'"m..m..."""".. Seals 7-2. John Stewart got the first At- A medium or large A medium or large lanta goal with 4:50 gone, drill- 1 item or more 1 tem or more ing in a 45-foot shot off Meloche'sEOMEGA PIZZA stick after taking a pass from OMEGA PIZZA ff M G IZ Lysiak. COUPON HONORED ANYTIME COUPON HONORED ANYTIME Rochefort got the second goal at 10:19 elapsed, and Rey Comeau Name __Name scored the third at 15:42. Comeau's Address a Address goal was unassisted, but he and r Jacque Richard were credited with FOR DELIVERY ONLY FOR DELIVERY ONLY assists on Rochefort's. Gri dde pickings "WE ARE NOT looking ahead to our classic confrontation with the Ohio State Lanterns on Nov. 23 for the mythical national cham- pionship," stated Daily Libel head coach Skip Mentor, rumored to be leaving for greener pastures at Moo U. "We are looking toward our next game and that game is against the tough Edit Staff Flunkies this Sunday. They've vastly improved since our earlier 34-0 win. They have their entire offensive, defensive lines returning along with their backfield. In fact, everybody returns seeing that only five guys showed up the last time. "There's just no question that the Flunkies are a good ball club and that they, along with everyone Friday midnight." 1. Indiana at MICHIGAN (pick score) 2. Ohio State at Illinois 3. Wisconsin at Michigan State 4. Purdue at Iowa S. Minnesota at Northvestern 6. Colorado at Nebraska 7. Oklahoma State at Kansas 8. Texas at Southern Methodist 9. Tulane at Kentucky, 10. Penn State at Mwary aMd else, will get their picks in by EAST WIND calls on: Asians & Asians-Americans Get-Together' (REFRESHMENTS & I VF FNTERTAINMENT)