The Michigan Daily-Saturday. May 19, 1979-Page 15


MICHIGAN VS. MSU IN HOME AND HOME SERIES


Howe
By BOB EMORY
Steve Howe, the man with the
golden arm, will be called on once
again to mow down enemy bat-
ters with machine-like precision
when he takes on the conference-
leading Michigan State Spartans
in a must-win game at Kobs Field
in East Lansing this afternoon.
His position is not an enviable
one. East Lansing has not been
an easy place to win baseball
games this year and the Spartans
just happen to be on a rampage.
They've won nine of their last ten
games, five of which came in
their own ballpark where State is
15-8 on the year.
BOTH TEAMS are wrapping
up their regular season schedules
in the annual home and home
series and for the second straight
year, this series will determine
the Big Ten Championship.
The situation is simple: For the

key to diamond
Wolverines to win their third title many strikeouts as innings pit-
in the last four years, they have ched.
to sweep the two games. If they HIS 11-3 record last season set
split, lose both, or get rained on, a Michigan record for most wins
the Spartans will capture their in a season and his 1.74 ERA was
first conference crown since 1971. easily the best on the staff. After
And in that crucial first game, shutting down the Iowa
coach Moby Benedict will go with Hawkeyes in a crucial game last
the man that has won more Sunday on seven hits and one run,
games for him than any pitcher Howe has a 7-1 mark this year
he's ever coached. That, of cour- with a 1.11 ERA. His one loss
se, is Howe, the virtually un- came against Eastern when the
beatable flame-throwing lefthan- usually tight Michigan defense
der from Clarkston. let two unearned runs cross the
If one uses history as the plate in the last inning.
timeless measuring device it is, But Howe has shown a tenden-
there is good reason to believe the cy to tire in the late innings a bit.
championship will be decided He did against Eastern and
when the teams return for the against Iowa and since these
finale at Fisher Stadium on Sun- games with State are nine-inning
day; for Howe is the winningest affairs instead of the usual seven
pitcher in Big Ten history with a for doubleheaders, Benedict
perfect 15-0 record against con- might be forced to go to the
ference opponents, a career ERA bullpen to relieve his ace. Steve
of less than 2.00, and about as Perry (3-5, 3.80) is expected to

victory
replace Howe should the situation
arise.
And if that's the case, then
Mark Clinton (5-4, 4.09) will start
Sunday's game. But if Howe can
go the distance, Benedict will
probably start Perry Sunday.
BRIAN WOLCOTT will start
for the redhot Spartans in today's
game and Jay Strother is ten-
tatively scheduled to go on Sun-
day. Wolcott, a junior from
Plymouth, won both games
against Northwestern last
weekend for the Spartans in relief
and is 5-4 with a 4.79 ERA on the
year. Strother, a hard thrower
himself, has been State's most
consistent starter all year with a
4-4 record and a 3.01 ERA.
So the pressure is first on Howe
and if he comes through, either
Mr. Perry or Mr. Clinton must
face the challenge. And that isn't
an enviable position either.







MONTREAL LEADS SERIES, 2-1:

Rangers fac4
ByTOM w SEPE S hitting by Langway and other
Saturday Night in the City The New Canadiens. He's responded in the press
York Rangers have their opportunity to with about as much gall as Bowman.
put it all on the line at 9:00 tonight The Canadiens' considerable pride
against the premier sports dynasty in and spirit, as well as their efficient
North America, Les Canadiens, in their checking game, is still intact, even if
on-going battle for the Stanley Cupn their composure has not been. Peren-
on-gonbatlea Cfor d e StanleyC. nial top scorer Guy Lafleur said it all
the last three continental champion- after notching two assists and a
ships in their sport. That's more than blistering goal in the third period of the
the New York Yankees have been able seventh game against Boston: I'm ex-
the NwYr ake aebe be pce to score in games like that, and I
to amass so far. Coaches Scotty pect to'
Bowman of Montreal and Fred Shero, Axait th w n
in his first year with the Rangers, have Against these crew-cut wonders of
captured the last six Cup victories bet- the hockey establishment the Rangers
ween t h teme of this series is have mustered a smart, fast team led
wen ihe.lhtemeo hby a bevy of high-scoring young defen-
that class will tell. semen who were able to stifle the
Montreal, led by the usual collection scoring power of 1979's winningest NHL
of hotshots and marginal players who team, the rival New York Islanders, in
could star for most other NHL teams, the semis. The young unknowns con-
leads the best-of-seven final series, 2-1, tinued their aggressive play in the first
going into tonight's showdown at game of the series, won by the Rangers
Madison Square Garden in New York. 4-1. Montreal roared back from a two-
The Rangers are playing in their home goal deficit in the second game
arena with a sizzling goalie, John however, and won 6-2 to bring the series
Davidson (not the substitute host on the back to New York tied at one game
Tonight Show), and the energy of a
bunch of talented upstarts with long
hair who want to keep their realistic BILLBOARD
shot at the title. If they lose, the
Canadiens won't be beaten three "d
straight. While the weekend golfers practice
"Obviously, the Rangers are a team their drives and chip shots on the public
having a whole lot of fun discovering courses, some 200 area linksters will
themselves," observes voluble Mon- unite in a fund-raising effort for the
trea goalie Ken Dryden. "Each step of benefit of a local hospital. The Sixth
the playoffs they discovered they were Annual Mott Children's Hospital Golf
getting better. That kind of discovery is Classic will be held today on the
always exciting.' TMichigan Golf Course and will continue
The Canadiens seem to be having a tomorrow at Padrick Farms, located on
little less fun in their annual run for the Geddes Rd.
Cup. The charity event, which raised
Speedster Bob Gainey discovered a $9,300 for the institution last year, is ex-
new mean streak in repeatedcorner pected to gross $12,000 to help support
brawls withBoston Bruin enforcer the hospital. A fee of $60 is required of
Wayne Cashman in the semi-finals; all participants.
he's exercised it liberally on New The field will be divided into eight
York's tough young defensemen in this flights after the first round today. Upon
series. Bowman discovered the art of conclusion of tomorrow's play, mer-
verbally abusing veteran Ranger cen- chandise prizes will be awarded to the
ter Phil Esposito and unveiled another top five finishers of each flight.
big defenseman, Rod Langway, to tor- Added attractions include a closest-
ment the record-shattering scorer. to-the-pin contest, betting holes, a hole-
Esposito, a non-fighter for his whole in-one competition, and a putting con-
career, has been subjected to aS.r
Bowman's taunts and some ferocious, --Daily sports

ebiggest test
each. They then won their current ad- checking at both ends of the rink will
vantage with a tight checking game certainly be crucial to tonight's contest.
that limited the Rangers to one fluke The NHL has heard little from An-
goalagainstfour forthe Habs. ders Hedberg, Ron Duguay, the
That advantage could prove decisive Brothers Maloney, & Co. until now. But
tonight unless Shero and his "co-coach" the Rangers have shown great talent,
Mike Nykoluk can pull their shaggy poise, and spirit, plus a hot goalie, in
ujpstarts together again. the pressure-packed playoffs.
"We'll try to pressure them in their "What we've done now is a success,"
own zone. If we can give them trouble says Dave Maloney, at 22 the youngest
bringing the puck out, maybe we can captain in the NHL. "I'd consider it a
benefit from their mistakes," predicted successful season if it ended tomorrow.
Mykoluk before the play offs. Three It won't end tonight, but the Rangers
Ranger goals in the opening win came will definitely have their best chance so
on intercepted outlet passes from Mon- far to discover exactly how good they
tre-l defensemen. That kind of tight really are.
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