Page 16-Tuesday, June 12, 1979-The Michigan Daily STEFFEN BATTLES RECRUITING WOES: Tumbling By ALAN FANGER Shari Steffen doesn't know who's going to be on her Michigan women's gymnastics team next season, and she hasn't the foggiest notion of who her assistant coach will be. Worse yet, she hasn't secured a single recruit for the upcoming year. That's a rather unenvious position for an athletic coach to be in. But Steffen, who was named Friday to succeed Scott Ponto, says a summer's worth of effort can satisfy her goal-a respectable tumbling program. "As long as I can get an assistant, we're not going to have any big problems," said the former Illinois State coach. But if Steffen considers that the only major hurdle to gymnastic success, she will have to tackle a multiude of smaller ones in the coming months. There is, initially, a problem in convincing last year's team members to compete this year. Mia Axon, a solid all-arounder her first three years, has decided to bow out of competition in her senior year. Mean- while, several other Wolverines, including top per- former Sara Flom, are undecided about tumbling for Michigan this winter. "I haven't talked to any of them personally," said Steffen. "I did send them a summer conditioning program, however ... a rather stiff one. I do plan on contacting them before the summer's out." coach has uphill climb And Steffen hasn't given up the ship on Axon, who wants to devote more time to her Music School studies. "We're going to try and convince her to stay around. She's important to the program," she said. The naming of Steffen as new coach concluded a two-month search which not only cost present team members in indecision, but left Michigan stranded on the recruiting highway. Since Women's Athletic Director Phyllis Ocker kept correspondence with interested gymnasts during the search, Steffen is working with three prospects who will soon decide whether to compete for the Wolverines. One of those tumblers, Dawn Kempthorn, is "a sure bet" to arrive in Ann Arbor this fall, according to Steffen. Kempthorn is a transfer from Clarion State (Pa.), which finished third in the national championships in March. Steffen is also setting her sights on Diane McClain, a Farmington Hills native. McClain has expressed an interest in attending Michigan, although she has yet to make a final decision on where she will attend school. But the cream of this season's potential recruits is Ann Arbor Pioneer High School sensation Angela Deaver, whose brother Dorian competes for the men's team. Deaver's most notable accomplishment was her selection to the prep All-American gym- nastic team last year. "She's 99 per cent sure about coming here," said Steffen of the hometown favorite. "I've been trying to get in touch with her, but I understand she's quite busy these days." "It's not going to be a great recruiting year," she continued. "Recruits could sign letters of intent Mar- ch 1st, so most of the good kids have already been signed." In an effort to improve practice facilities, long a topic of controversy, the Athletic Department pur- chased some new equipment for the gymnasts to work with. But Steffen sees more room for im- provement in that area. "We're going to have to make the best of it," she said. "Hopefully, we'll get some heaters in there (the Sports Coliseum). Apparently the girls were a bit cold during practices last year." So Steffen is besieged at the outset by personnel and equipment problems; which, she candidly ad- mits, will set the young team's progress a bit back- wards. "We're in a tough region, no question about that. And we're not going to have a lot of depth this year. You always want to improve, and I think we can im- prove on sixth place (in the Midwest regional). That's going to be our goal." LEFL ORE, WHITAKER PACE TIGER WIN Morris puts away Oakland, 3-1 By TOM STEPHENS first. After Ron LeFlore reached first times he came to bat, and Whitaker unable to get hits in several clutch specialtothe Daily on an error, and was out trying to steal each scored in the fourth, with RBIs situations, stranded a total of 11 run- DETROIT-The Detroit Tigers used second on a perfect throw by catcher going to Kemp and Rusty Staub. ners. ten singles last night to get their Jim Essian, Lou Whitaker singled and YOUNG TIGER righthander Jack An unexpected ninth inning error by current home stand off on the right foot, advanced smartly to second on Steve Morris went the distance against the defenseman replacement Aurelio beating the Oakland A's and former Kemp's ground ball to the pitcher. weak-hitting A's, upping his record to 4- Rodriguez and a misplayed Texas Troy right hander Steve McCatty, Jason Thompson slashed an RBI single 2 by scattering nine singles over the League fly-ball to right had most of the previously unbeaten, 3-1. past short to give Detroit its early lead. nine innings. sparse crowd remaining in their seat So far this season, the A's have Oakland tied the game briefly in the Neither team could manage an extra until the end of the game. managed to look like at least the sem- fourth, pushing across a run on three base hit in the contest as the Tigers, blance of a major league club on nights singles by Jeff Newman, Essian, and when McCatty is pitching. Last night Derrek Bryant. But the Tigers roared was no exception as they stayed in the back in the same inning to chase Mc- contest until the final inning. Catty and score two more runs on four THE TIGERS wasted no time at all in singles. getting to McCatty in their half of the LeFlore, who reached base all five Howe and Perry don Dodger blue By GEOFF LARCOM sday, while Howe is due to check in with To be nattily clad in Dodger blue, the Dodgers' AA club in San Antonio eyeing the plate from the pitcher's once he signs a contract with the parent mound in Dodger Stadium ... club. That's the scenario former Wolverine Howe put off his signing the dotted pitchers Steve Perry and Steve Howe line until the Dodgers returned from would ultimately love to enact, now that their road series against the Chicago they've each been selected by the Cubs. Howe had reached a verbal Dodgers in the first round of the free agreement with the Dodgers, but agent draft. preferred to delay the actual signing But first, the two Michigan aces must until a formal meeting could be make names for themselves in the arranged. Dodger's minor league system. Perry, In addition to centerfielder Rick who signed a contract with the Dodgers Leach, who was selected by the Detroit last Friday, will report to Los Angeles' Tigers, Howe and Perry comprised a Class A affiliate in Lodi, Calif. on Thur- Wolverine trio drafted in the first round. SCORES This past year at Michigan Howe posted a 7-2 record, while striking out 46 with a 1.78 ERA over 75 innings. In signing with the Dodgers, the record- American League setting moundsman is forfeiting his Toronto2, Seattle 0 final year of college eligibility. Boston 4, Kansas City 0 - Perry, who graduated with a B.G.S. Baltimore6, Chicago degree this spring, compiled a season Detroit 3, Oakland 1 slate of 4-5, while racking up an im- - National League pressive 48 strikeouts in 51 innings. Philadelphia 4, Houston 2 While at Lodi, Perry will be under the New York 3, Cincinnati 2 tutelage of Ron Perranoski, the former Dodger relief ace. Out of hand AP Photo In an attempt to catch a fly ball, this unidentified Phillie fan was charged with a fielding error, as he dropped his glove on the play.