Softball vs. Detroit Wednesday, 3:30 p.m. 'M' Varsity Diamond 0 SPORTS Baseball vs. Indiana Today and Tomorrow, 1:00 p.m. Ray Fischer Stadium ----------- The Michigan Daily Saturday, April 6, 1985 Page 8 Batsmen to battle Hoosiers By BRAD MORGAN A double-header loss to Western Michigan may have slowed Michigan's baseball juggernaut down a little, but it will be full-speed ahead as the batsmen steam into the Big Ten season today against Indiana. The Hoosiers will bring their 36-8-1 team record to town for a pair of 1:00 p.m., doubleheaders at Ray Fisher Stadium today and tomorrow, and Michigan head coach Bud Middaugh knows how important those games are. "WE TRY to have intensity for every game, but the Big Ten games are crucial," he said. "We're starting a whole new season today." Michigan's spring season had been nothing but smooth sailing until it ran into a fired-up Bronco team that was opening its season Wednesday. The Wolverine's 10-7 and 9-8 losses at the hands of WMU were their first of the season after reeling off 16 straight victories. "We lose two games and you guys jump down our throats," Middaugh laughed when asked what went wrong in Kalamazoo. "We're not going to win them all. Any loss is disappointing, but we just did not play well. Our defense wasn't as solid as it had been, and our pitching wasn't consistent." FOR HIS TEAM'S conference opener, Middaugh has pinpointed pitching as the main area on which he intends to concentrate. "My biggest concern is improving the mechanics of some of our pitchers," he said. "They're some things we (the coaches) can do to help. At Western, I was happy with Dan Disher and (Kevin) Gilles. And (Greg) Everson came in for one-third of an inning and got us out of a jam, so you've always got to take the good with the bad."r 'A' looks to halt2-gme slide Middaugh will probably turn to his aces in an effort to steer clear from the rough seas his moundsmen found in the mid-week losses. Startprs for the four 'We try to have intensity for every game, but the Big Ten games are crucial. We're starting a whole new season. today." -Bud Middaugh AT THE PLATE, junior Mike Watters has been on a tear so far this season. The second baseman/out- fielder is clipping along at a .415 pace, has knocked in 13 runs, scored 21 and is eight-for-eight in stolen bases. "He's worked hard, and he's in a good groove now," said Middaugh of Watters. "He has definitely helped us out a lot so far this season." Other big bats for Michigan include junior Casey Close, who leads the team with four homeruns (.390, 16 RBI's) and shortstop Barry Larkin, team leader in RBI's with 17 (.340, eight stolen baes). Offensive help could also come from junior Eric Sanders (.571), senior Randy Wolfe (.444) and senior C.J. Beshke (.395). INDIANA HEAD coach Bob Morgan will look to his senior trio of catcher Bill Mueller, shortstop Alex Smith and left fielder Chris Ziegler to give the Hoosiers an early spot at the Big Ten helm. Morgan had no up-to-date statistics for the three, but said, "They're my seniors, and they're definitely my best hitters." On the mound, Morgan isn't sure of what order they'll go in, but the four starters will come out of a group of five that includes Jay Grate, Mike Hum- phrey, Ray Pulver, Brad Fella and Mark Graner. Grate was only 2-2 in the conference last year, but finished second in the league with a 1.33 ERA. "We've played good defense and hit the ball well, but our pitching has struggled," Morgan said. "We've had a couple of nagging injuries that have bothered us all year." In the end, though, Morgan knows it's going to be tough to knock the wind out of Michigan's sails. "We're just going to have to play good baseball," he said. "We've got to get good hitting, good pitching, good defense, and then put it all together." games will almost certainly include junior Scott Kamieniecki (4-0, 3.54 ERA) and freshman Mike Ignasiak (2-0, 0.60). The other two starters wil most likely come form the trio of Jim Agemy (3-0, 1.71), Dave Karasinski (2-0, 2.83), and Paul Kasper (2-0, 0.00). A contorted but determined Jim Agemy puts some tongue into it in baseball action earlier this week. The freshman may start in this weekend's series FDU coach called Fairle igh dishonest in Tulane TEANECK, N.J. (AP)-Fairleigh Dickinson Coach Tom Green on Friday denied an allegation that he gave a high school basketball player $10,000 in a shoebox in 1981 after the player decided to attend Tulane University. "I am appalled an accusation has been made," Green, who was an assistant coach at Tulane in 1981, said in a statement released by Fairleigh Dickinson. "It is simply untrue. I have always worked within the framework of our strict NCAA guidelines, and at no time have I ever wavered from those rules." THE ALLEGATIONS of the payoff to John "Hot Rod" Williams were repor- ted this week by The Times-Picayune- The States-Item in connection with a point-shaving probe at Tulane. Three players, including Williams, three students and two others were in- dicted Thursday by Louisiana grand jury on charges they manipulated the point spread in three games this season. The newspaper, quoting unidentified sources, said Williams has given prosecutors in Louisiana a taped statement describing the 1981 incident which said he received the $10,000 from Green and another unidentified man. IN THE STATEMENT, Williams said that while a high school senior he was visited at his Sorento, La., home by Green and another man whom he did not know and was given the shoe box containing the money, sources told the newspaper. Williams said the allged exchange happened after he agreed to attend the New Orleans school. Fairleigh Dickinson said in a statement that it is standing by Green. Green became Fairleigh Dickinson's head basketball coach last year and led the Knights to their first-ever NCAA tournament appearance this past season. against Indiana. MSUt ices CCHA4 awards scandal By CHRIS GERBASI The last red light of the college hockey season has been turned on, the last coach's cliche has been ut- tered. Now it's time for more impor- tant things (drum roll and fanfare please): The Daily's Fifth Annual 'Hockey Coaches Poll. Yes, fans, the ballots are in and the only thing the CCHA's nine coaches agree on is that Craig Sim- pson of Michigan State is the league's top center. JOINING SIMPSON on the all- league line is teammate Kelly Miller at left wing and Ray Staszak of Illinois-Chicago at right wing. The voting for defensemen produced a three-way tie-between three Spartans. No wonder State had such a successful season, led by blue-chip blue-liners Don McSween, Gary Haight and Dan McFall. The Spartans had anoth'er diligent performer on defense, Bob Essensa. Essensa (1.78 goals against) was one of the top goaltenders in the nation statistically and the CCHA coaches thought Western Michigan's Glenn Healy (3.10 GA) wa's equally brilliant. THE SELECTION of Simpson and Miller was no accident. Simpson was also chosen as the best playmaker in the league and the smartest player, while Miller was voted the best skater and hardest worker. Ironically, Simpson, the only unanimous choice as all-league and the league's leading scorer with 69 points, did not earn Player of the Year honors. Staszak grabbed the Best Skater, Hardest Worker Kelly Miller, Michigan State Best Stickhandler Dan Dorian, Western Michigan Best Playmaker, Smartest Player Craig Simpson, Michigan State Most Accurate Shot Allan Butler, Lake Superior and Jamie Wansbrough, Bowling Green Most Underrated Player Allan Butler, Lake Superior Best Penalty Killer Tom Anastos, Michigan State BestDefensive Defenseman Chris Dahiquist, Lake Superior Hardest Checker Shawn Cronin, Illinois-Chicago CCHA Coaches All-League Team LW-Kelly Miller, Michigan State C-Craig Simpson, Michigan State RW-Ray Staszak,Illinois-Chicago l-Gary Haight, Michigan State fl-Dan McFall, Michigan State fD-Don McSween, Michigan State G-Bob Essensa, Michigan State G-Glenn Healy, Western Michigan Rookie of the Year Paul Ysebaert, Bowling Green Player of the Year Ray Staszak, Illinois-Chicago Coach of the Year Ron Mason, Michigan State honor easily, based on his 30 goals and 24 assists. The most underrated player award went to Allan Butler of Lake Superior State and, fittingly, he did not receive an all-league vote. But Butler's 22 goals helped the Lakers to the NCAA playoffs. HE ALSO shared the most ac- curate shot distinction with Jamie Wansbrough of Bowling Green. Dan Dorion of WMU was judged as the best stickhandler, while Tom Anastos of Michigan State was chosen best penalty killer, Chris Dahlquist of LSSC best defensive defenseman, although he received only one all-league vote, and Shawn Cronin of UIC hardest checker in the league. The choice for Rookie of the Year was clear-cut. Paul Ysebaert of Bowling Green broke into the league with a bang scoring 21 goals and 22 assists. The closest race was for Coach of the Year, between deserving can- didates, Ron Mason and Frank An- zalone, each of whom guided their teams to the NCAA tournament. Mason led MSU to one of the best records in NCAA history and he edged out Anzalone, who turned around Lake Superior's program from an eighth-place finish to the runnerup's spot in the CCHA. 0 Royals to repeat, rule the rest By DARREN JASEY During the second half of last season the Kansas City Royals emerged from the lower tier of the American League West to capture a pennant that nobody seemed to want. The unprepared Royals' fans hardly had enough time to get ex- cited before their team bowed out to the Detroit Tigers in three games. This year Royals' fans can expect a pennant winner. Dick Howser's pitching rotation is stacked with good young arms, including Bud Black, Bret Saberhagen and Mark Gubicza. It also helps to have a Dan Quisenberry in the bullpen. The Royals hitting attack features the new George Brett. New George Brett? It's true. To cut down on the nagging in- juries that allowed Brett only 377 at bats last year, he trained extensively during the off-season. A FULL SEASON from Willie Wilson, an improving Daryl Motley and the addition of catcher Jim Sundberg solidify the Royals at all positions. Indeed, the Royals are in such good shape that if Steve Balboni matches his home run output of last year (28), it will be a bonus.- The Royals should leave the rest of the West in the dust, but if they should slip, any of the remaining contenders will join the battle for the top. Hard as it is to believe, Bill Gardner's. Minnesota Twins now have some pen- nant experience behind them. The Twins are sure to improve upon last year's 81-81 record if Ron Davis (29 saves) does not let 13 late-inning leads slip away again. An effective Davis, combined with the trio of Frank Viola (18-12, 3.21 E.R.A.), John Butcher, and Mike Smithson give the Twins some staying power. The big bats of first baseman Kent Hrbek (.311, 27 HR, 107 RBI) and right fielder Tom Brunansky (32 HR, 85 RBI) give the Twins scoring power. WILL THE Chicago White Sox lose ugly, as in last year's fense could become quite potent if speedsters Daryl Boston, Julio Cruz and Rookie of the Year candidate Ozzie Guillen are often aboard in front of dangerous Harold Baines (.304, 29 HR) Greg Walker (.294, 24 Hr) and Ron Kittle (32 HR). The Seattle Mariners have not finished above .500 in any of their first eight years, but the return of last year's im- pressive rookies Mark Langston (17-10, 3.40) and first baseman Alvin Davis (.284, 27, 116) just may be long enough to buoy the Mariners above sea level. The starting foursome of Langston, Jim Beattie, Mike Moore and Matt Young must live up to the high expectations of new manager Chuck Cottie and top relievers Edwin Nunez and Ed Vande Berg must combine for more than last year's 14 saves in order for tlj Mariners to contend. THE CALIFORNIA Angels will be hard-pressed to stay within three games of the Royals like they did last year. The aging Angels, now managed by the aging Gene Mauch, will rely heavily on starting pitcher Mike Witt (15-11, 3.47), who tossed a perfect game in his final outing last season. Other than additional star- ters Ron Romanick and Geoff Zahn, the Angel staff lacks starting depth. It's too r bad because the bullpen of Doug Co e bett, Luis Sanchez and Danny Moor may be the second best, besides Quisenberry, in the West. Much of the Angels' run production will come from the muscular Brian Downing (23 HR, 91 RBI) and third baseman Doug DeCinces (20 HR,82 RBI). If the Angels are to contend though, they'll need some sock from the old-Reggie Jackson and Rod Carew-and some pow from the new-Dick Schofield, Gary Pettis and Mike Brown. However, it is most unlikely that the Angels will gopfffft. The Texas Ranger outfield of Gary Ward (21 HR, 79 RBI) S Pah (99 N n R T)an fiw wvia U aWhi ea