9 Maize and Blue Spring football 1:30 p.m. today at Michigan Stadium Admission $1 SPORTS Crew vs. OSU and MSU Today at Gallup Park Varsity 1:00 p.m. Page 10 Saturday, April 16, 1983 The Michigan Daily Wolverines face tough Hoosier hurlers By RANDY BERGER One only has to listen to the head baseball coaches of Indiana and Michigan to get an indication of where their baseball programs are coming from as they enter today's opening Big Ten doubleheader at Ray Fisher Stadium. In Michigan, is a team that currently is ranked fifth in the nation by Collegiate Baseball magazine, has a record of 19-3 and has been in post- season action in six of the last eight years. From listening to coach Bud Middaugh, whose main concern this weekend seems to be the threat of rain, one can sense he has an air of confiden- ce in his team. "WE'VE DONE all we can do to get ready," said the Michigan mentor, who is just four wins short of earning his 500th career coaching victory. "The game is played between the lines so there is not much else we can do. I'm still concerned with the weather. The better the weather, the more ex- citement there'll be due to a bigger crowd." However, if one talked to Larry Smith, coach of the 15-12 Hoosiers, one would get the feeling that more than the weather is on his mind. To say the least, the third-year coach seems to be in awe of the Wolverines' record and past achievements. "We're going into the head of the lipn," said Smith. "Michigan knows how to play baseball very well and this is probably one of their best teams ever. In addition, we have to combat the intimidation factor of playing against a rich tradition and the shroud that hangs over their winning tradition." OFTEN TIMES, though, coaches tend to exaggerate. Michigan probably is not as invincible as it gets credited and Indiana certainly isn't a pushover. Michigan's record may be somewhat misleading. The Wolverines picked up two of their three losses in their last four games and the team really hasn't appeared that sharp since its spring trip to Florida. Michigan may get a rude awakening this weekend from Indiana, which possesses a pitching staff comparable to anyone's. Hoosier pitchers facing the Wolverines include Jay Grate, a fresh- man righthander who holds a 4-0 record with an earned run average of 2.67, Mike Humphrey, who has 2-3 record and 2.73 ERA, and Bob Hicks, a lef- thander with an impressive 1.40 ERA and record of 2-1. This staff would worry any opposing coach, which definitely includes Middaugh. "Indiana has very strong pitching and it should make for a very good series,' added Middaugh. ALONG WITH ITS fine pitching staff, Indiana hasa trio of hitters who have been wreaking havoc on opposing pit- ching. Leading the group is first baseman Tony Nelson, a two-time All-American. Nelson goes into today's doubleheader with a .407 batting$ average. Center fielder Chris Sigler who is batting .357, and shortstop Joe Franczek with a .333 batting average round out Indiana's main attack. The thing holding Indiana back is probably its youth. Presently there are only four seniors on the squad. "We've been battling inexperience all year," added Smith. "We are a very young team as has been shown by passing up opportunities to score and; not taking advantage of other team's mistakes." Nevertheless Smith feels his Hoosiers can play with Michigan - but only if they play their best. Wilcox near perfect Daily Photo by JEFF SCHRIER Michigan head coach Bud Middaugh gives the umpire a piece of his mind earlier this season against Western Michigan. Looking on are Western's Greg Brake (19) and Marc Quince. (8). Michigan Base ball Statistics One out away from first in Tiger history Hitting Name, Pos............. Dave Kopf, P-DH............ Dan Disher, OF-P........... Chris Sabo, 38B.............. Ken Hayward.B-P ......... Rich Bair, C ................... Jeff Jacobson, 2B-Ss........ Barry Larkin, S ............ Mike Watters, OF........... Fred Erdmann, OF.......... Dale Sklar, OF ............... Casey Close. OF-P........... C. J. Beshke IF-OF......... Chuck Froning, IF-OF........ Dan Sygar, OF ............. Eric Sanders.C............ Jeff Minick, OF ............... Chris Gust, OF ................ Chris Seychel, OF........... Tim Karazim, P............ Kurt Zimmerman, IF-OF . G 9 17 22 22 21 22 20 21 15 18 16 15 16 14 9 5 ' 17 3 9 6 AB 13 32 81 74 60 78 62 49 36 42 35 23 30 7 12 5 11 4 2, R 2 8 23 16 8 12 16 14 3 10 2 3 4 5 1 0 7 0' 0 3 H 5 12 30 27 21 26 20 14 9 10 7 4 5 2 3 1 2 0 0 0 198 144 2B-3B-HR 1-0-1 2-i-1 8-0-7 7-0-3 5-1-1 5-0-3 2-0-1 3-1-0 4-0-0 2-1-1 1-0-0 1-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 41-4-18 23-5-4 BB 0 2 10 10 3 10 12 3 4 5 5 3 3 2 0 5 0 0 3 88 105 SO 3 9 3 6 12 3 2 6 0 12 2 2 1 0 3 1 9 0 69 105 RBI 2 2 20 24 8 25 10 10 7 7 3 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 AVG. .385 .375 .370 .365 .350 .333 .3'23 .286 .250 .238 .200 .174 .167 .286 .250 .200 .182 .000 .000 .000 CHICAGO (UPI) - Veteran right- hander Milt Wilcox, rebounding from his injury-riddled 1982 season, came within one out of pitching the American League's second perfect game in the last three years last night, allowing only a two-out single in the ninth inning by pinch-hitter Jerry Hairston in the Detroit Tigers' 6-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Wilcox, who threw a one-hitter last April 20, appeared ready to record the first no-hitter as well as the first perfect game in the American League since May 5, 1981, when Cleveland's Len Barker blanked the Toronto Blue Jays. The last no-hitter in the majors was on Sept 26, 1981, when Houston's Nolan Ryan threw his fifth career no- hitter in a 5-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. BUT HAIRSTON, batting for Jerry Dybzinsky, singled cleanly up the mid- dle on the first pitch from Wilcox after he had retired the first two batters in the ninth. The crowd of 19,483 gave Wilcox a standing ovation as he walked out to the mound for the ninth inning. Wilcox got Carlton Fisk to fly out to left for the first out and then induced pinch-hitter Mike Squires to ground out to first. Hairston then ended Wilcox' bid for the perfect game and the pro-White Sox crowd booed their own player. Wilcox came within an out of pitchng the first perfect game in Detroit history 'and the first no-hitter for the Tigers in 25 years. Jim Bunning, who later pit- ched a perfect game for Philadelphia against the New York Mets in 1964, had a no-hitter for Detroit against Boston on July 20, 1958. Wilcox, who will be 33 next Wed- nesday, was 12-10 last year despite a series of shoulder, back and hand in- juries and pitched a one-hitter on his birthday, defeating Kansas City 8-0. His best year was during the strike-torn season of 1981, when he had a 3.03 ear- ned run average with a 12-9 record. I Wilcox ... so close 4 OUTFIELDER S TR UGGLING A T PLA TE: Hulries works to reviv MICHIGAN................... 22 657 137 Opponents....................122 616 77 123 .301 68 .234 Pitching Pitcher Jamie Piper ................... Scott Kamieniecki........... Tim Karazim ....... ........ Dave Kopf ................... Ken Hayward .............. Gary Wayne............... Casey Close ................... iRich Stoll...................... Bill Shuta ..................... Dan Disher .................... G 3 3 9 6 3 6 4 6 6 3 GS 0 1 1 4 0 3 3 6 3 1 SAV 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 W-L 2-0 0-0 1-0 4-0 2-0 3-1 1-0 4-1 2-0 0-1 IP 5.7 7.3 19.3 33.0 6.7 22.3 17.3 37.7 13.3 4.3 H 2 4 12 30 4 20 16 42 8 6 144 198 BB 4 7 9 14 2 21 23 7 13 5 105 88 SO 1 5 10 23 3 19 14 14 12 4 105 " 69 ERA 0.00 0.00 1.87 2.45 2.69 2.83 3.64 4.06 4.74 8.37 3.07 5.75 By KATIE BLACKWELL Jody Humphries is in a slump; A bat- ting slump. The junior outfielder for the Michigan women's softball team is frustrated with her hitting - usually her strongest point. This is a rough spot to be in for one as dedicated to softball as Humphries. "I can't hit," said Humphries of her recent problems at the plate. "I can on- ce in a while, but it's few and far bet- ween." MICHIGAN................... 22 22 Opponents.................... 22 22 7 19-3 167.0 2 3-19 161.3 It is very hard for Humphries to talk about her batting problems. She's not living up to her goals. To counteract this, Humphries spends extra hours in batting practice with coach Bob DeCarolis. "Teamwise, Jody's slump is a big problem," said DeCarolis. "Historically,. Jody has been the leading RBI person." Now that Hum- phries is having difficulties driving in the runs, the rest of the team is not picking up the slack. Hence, the problem. Expressing her frustrationi at not being able to reach her usual near-.300 batting average, Humphries said, "If I don't get on base, it's boring." As a freshman, Humphries earned all- Big Ten honors. Last year, she was all- regional. This year is turning out to be a disappointment. The slump is not about to last long, according to DeCarolis. "It's a mental thing," he said. "I think we're getting her out of it a little bit. We've changed a couple of things (her batting style)." No matter what her current batting status, Humphries is always considered a threat. The opposing team worries when she comes to bat, and the Wolverines are relieved. She is still their number three batter. And she is still, despite everything, batting .240. DeCarolis has every confidence that his star slugger will return. "Traditionally, she starts out slow in the beginning of the season." Humphries almost didn't make it to Ann Arbor.^A Michigan All-Stater in softball her senior year, she was not recruited by many schools. The Westland native was about to attend Eastern Michigan when, in mid-July, she and 'her high school coaches walked into DeCarolis' office and said she would like to play softball for the Wolverines. As a walk-on freshman, Humphries began her career starting in right field. She has started ever since, earning a partial scholarship along the way. Humphries' softball career began at about age six. "My dad would take me in the lack yard and throw balls at me," she said. Realizing the con- notations of her statement, Humphries added, "It started to hurt after awhile so I thought I'd better catch it!" I e itting DeCarolis said, "Jody has a knack for sarcasm. If she has something on her mind, she'll say it." This sarcastic streak that runs through Humphries sometimes helps break the tension among the team when the going gets tough, he said. Humphries career goal is to be a sportcaster. "I think she wouldsbe really good at sportcasting," said DeCarolis. "She is very at ease with people. She would make a great stand-4 up comedian. She has talents that are going to carry her a long way." I 'M'golfers stuck in 21st at Ohio tourney' SHumphries ... battles slump Special to the Daily COLUMBUS-The Michigan men's golf team had a difficult time getting on course yesterday and found itself mired in 21st place out of 24 teamsafter the first round of the Kepler Invitational held at Ohio State's Scarlet Course. Play in the 54-hole tournament con- tinues today and tommorrow. The Wolverines chipped in a team total of 411 on the demanding course. John Nolan was the only Michigan golfer to break 80 as he fired a 78 for the day. Dan Roberts and Pete Savarino were next for the Wolverines with scores of 81 and 82, respectively. "WE'RE NOT a great team, but we shouldn't have anyone shooting in the upper 80s or 90s," said Michigan coach Jim Carras. "I feel they can come back and get it together. I'm dissappointed in the round, but it's not the end of the tournament." Women nPtters bombed Special to the Daily BLOOMINGTON - The Michigan women's tennis team could not meet the challenge of defending national champion Indiana as the Wolverines were handily defeated by the Hoosiers, 8-1. The Wolverines record now drops to 3-2 in the Big Ten 4nd 7-6 overall. Michigan's only point came in the number four singles, where Karen Milczarski rebounded from a first set loss to down Indiana's Diane McCor- mick, 3-6, 7-6, 6-1. STEPHANIE Lightvoet and Mary Mactaggart fought a tough battle in the number one doubles, taking Heather Crowe and Anne Hutchens to three sets before losing 6-4, 6-7, 6-2. TH AN Take Ulrich 9 S away with you 1 1 t , , 1 , 1 ' ti .. .. . . , . .. . ., .. . ... .. .. ... ., . . .. ._. .. .! - - - " .: . .. . . .,. . . . .. . . . + t "r. ". ,. . . .. .. . . . ... ." . . ... , ." . -- .. ._ ., .. > YOUR BSN ISWOK OFFICER'S COMMI INTHE ARM r IS51VN i I _ ik