4 SPORTS Thursday, April 8, 1982 Page 8 SOPH AIDS 'M'BATSMEN Sabo shows all-around strengths t By JOE CHAPELLE When Chris Sabo decided to come to Michigan, he had to choose between playing baseball and hockey. Con- sidering, that Fisher Stadium is filled with snow right now, hockey . might have been Sabo's more logical choice. Luckily for the Wolverine baseball team, however, Sabo decided otherwise. When the sophomore batsman arrived at Michigan last year, he considered competing in both college hockey and baseball. In addition to his talent on the baseball diamond, Sabo also played for a brief time as a goalie in the Michigan- Ontario Hockey League. "I WANTED TO play college, hockey," said Sabo. "I was recruited by Michigan's old coach Dan Farrell, but coach (Wolverine baseball coach Bud Middaugh) said that baseball was a year-round sport here. I liked playing baseball better." The Wolverine third baseman may not have made a poor choice. As a freshman last year, Sabo managed to string together several impressive ac- complishments. He tied Michigan's single season home run record, making ten round-trippers last season. That honor is shared with former Detroit Tiger great Bill Freehan, Dave Brown and teammate Jim Paciorek. Sabo's hitting strength is also demon- strated by his .341 batting average last year, which made him the fourth leading hitter on the team. This season, Sabo hopes to pick up where he left off. "DURING THE spring trip, I was hit- ting a lot of grounders and liners at people. Right now, I am trying to move the ball around out there," Sabo said. Sabo had .278 average during the 11- game spring trip in 36 at bats. He has since raised his average, and after 18 games is at the .323 mark with 20 hits in 62 at bats. Middaugh is quite impressed with Sabo's hitting abilities. "I moved him from the fifth to the third hole," said Middaugh. "I think that that should tell you what kind of player I think he is. That is a key position and, to win, we will need him to produce a lot of hits." HITTING, however, is not Sabo's only forte. 4The sophomore's base stealing talents are also impressive: He led the Wolverines in that depar- tment last season as a freshman, gar- nering 11 steals in 14 attempts, ip- cluding one theft of home against In diana. "Coach (Middaugh) hasn't been giving me the (steal) sign yet this year. He's waiting for it to get a little warmer (in order to avoid injuries)," said Sabo. This season, though, Sabo may not at- tempt to steal as many times since he is followed in the batting order by Paciorek - another one of Michigan's power hitters. "I CAN'T AFFORD to have him gets on first and steal second, allowing thei *other team to walk Paciorek," saidi Middaugh. "His speed has to help. He's a good all-around player. Of cour- se, I like it whenever he steals the: plate," Middaugh said, referring to Sabo's theft duringthe Indiana game.: The fielding department is also one of Sabo's strong points. "He's also playing in a key spot it third," said Middaugh. "That ie another place where we'll need a good, performance in order to win." ANOTHER ONE of the sophomore' qualities which tends to make him a contributor to Michigan's success is that he is a team player. "Right now I'm concerned with the team effort," said Sabo. "Every player wants to be a pro. I want the team to win the Big Ten, and I want to go back to Omaha.I think that we can play be- ter this year." Middaugh believes that the team Ofp fort is very important. "Each inh dividual should be' involved with the team effort and I think Chris does that," he said. WOLVERINE third baseman Chris Sabo shows the batting style and the throwing arm that have made him a key contributor to Michigan's success this season. Sabo is currently hitting .323 and is third on the team in assists. UPEND ATLANTA, 120-115: Pistons win 'mus By RANDY BERGER Special to the Dpily PONTIAC - The Classy Chasis were bad dancers, the popcorn was stale, the music ws obnoxiously loud, but the Pistons won, 120-115. It was a big win, for that matter, as Detroit toppled Atlanta, the very team that they need to beat out for the last playoff spot. "IT WON'T HAVE to take a miracle for us to reach the playoffs now," said Piston coach Scotty Robertson. The game really shouldn't have been as close as it was. "We got careless with our ball-handling at,the end and our defense left lanes wide open for the Hawks to get easy baskets," added Robertson. As late as 1:49 left in the ballgame the Pistons had an eight point lead, and it appeared that the game was over. However, reserve Hawk center Steve Hawe's tip-in of a Rory Sparrow missed free throw suddenly put the Hawks in the game. Detroit's inexperience then showed, as it committed two costly tur- novers to enable the Hawks to close the gap to 116-113, with 39 seconds remaining. Fortunately for the Pistons, the Hawks ran out of time and luck, and Detroit upped its record to 36-40, still two games behind Atlanta in the chase for the last playoff spot. The pistons were led by Kelly Tripucka's 27 points, and Isiah Thomas' 12 assists. Dan Roundfield led the Hawks with 23 points, as their record fell to 38-38. Bulls 122,,Caraliers 105 RICHFIELD, Ohio (AP) - Reggie Theus scored 22 points and Artis Gilmore and Ronnie Lester each had 20 to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 122-105 game National, Basketball Association vi tory over the Cleveland, Cavaliers lat. night. Chicago's victory snapped a six- game losing streak while the Cavaliers stumbled to their 13th consecuti defeat and 27th in 31 games. .CHICAGO LED, 65-61 with eight minutes left in the third quarter and outscored the Cavaliers 17-6 over toe next three minutes to gain an 82-67 Al- vantae. Gilmore led the surge with six points and Lester added five. ' 76ers 116, Nets 113 EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) Julius Erving scored a game-high 38 points, including 18 of Philadelphia's final 26, to pace the 76ers to a 116-113 victory over the New Jersey Nets ji National Basketball Association actifl last night. The Nets were leading, 46-45, with 3:36 left until halftime then the Sixers, led by Erving's eight points, took offon a 16-2 Tally that put them ahead, 61-48. The Nets battled back early in the fiial quarter with Albert -King scoring Si-x points in a 9-2 spurt that narrowed the gap to 88-84. WITH 33 SECONDS to go, Ray Williams hit a three-point field goal that cut Philadelphia's lead to 110-107. Two free throws each by Erving and Cala- well Jones pushed the Philadelphia lead to seven. Ray Williams followed with another three-pointer to make it 114-110, but Er- ving added another jumper for the Sixers. sum w6w a SEA ADVENTURE Sail in a Tall Ship! See the Tall Ships Race! One week' cruises cost $250-$395. Group Rates. Free Brochure. Directory of Programs-$3.50. Write: SUMMER SAIL, ASTA, Fort Adams, Newport, R.I. 02840. Phone: 401-846-1775. pp, ALL JUNIORS MUST BE SHOT FOR APPEARANCE IN THE 1983 MICHIGAN ENSIANI 4 0s - - U