The Michigan Daily - Thursday, September 4, 1986- Page 7 Abrupt exit leaves 'M' down, not out By SCOTT G. MILLER The clock struck midnight, and Michigan baseball's Cinderella season ended with a pair of losses in the NCAA Mideast Regional held at Ray Fisher Stadium last May. The tragic finish was a bad dream compared to the season's many ac- complishments. The Wolverines went 47-12, captured the Big Ten Eastern Division, and won the Big Ten Cham- pionship Tournament for the fifth time in the last seven years. "YOU SAW AS gutsy a club as I have had since I have been coaching," said coach Bud Middaugh. "I hope I can have some clubs down the road that are determined and as proud as this club was." That pride and determination led the team to a 12-3 record in one-run contests. Combacks were a squad speciality. No deficit seemed insur- mountable. In the first game of the Big Ten Tournament, Michigan trailed Wisconsin by eight runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. The Wolverines eventually won 12-11. Against the defending national champion Miami, Michigan trailed by two runs in the bottom of the ninth. With the bases loaded and a two-strike count, team- captain Casey Close hit a grand slam. CLOSE' FREQUENT heroics won him the Ray Fisher Award as team MVP and the Big Ten Player-of-the- Year. The seniors right fielder hit .440 with 19 homers and 72 RBIs Other seniors, outfielders Chris Gust (.339) and Kurt Zimmerman (,304), and pitchers Dan Disher (6-2) and Scott Kamieniecki added to the team and its chemistry. "I have a warm feeling for this club," said Middaugh. "I am going to cherish the experiences this club has given me this year. Of the 19 years I have coached, this has been one of my favorite clubs because they did so many things with so much adversity. "THERE AREN'T too many teams in the country that could play as well as this team played with the number one and two pitchers out of the lineup. It is like losing two quarterbacks in football. They overcame that." Arm problems sidelined both Kamieniecki and Jim Agemy, who combined for an 18-0 mark in 1985. In 1986, however, Agemy appeared in only two contests, and Kamieniecki appeared in five. Young pitchers accepted the challenge and delivered. Freshman Chris Lutz (7-0, 2.52) had the lowest ERA in the Big Ten. Jim Abbott, the highly-publicized one-handed fresh- man pitcher, went 6-2. Juniors Mike Ignasiak (8-3) and Dave Karasinki (6- 1) had steady seasons. Greg Everson, the stopper in the bullpen, had four saves and six wins. NEXT SEASON youngsters will dominate the Wolverine roster. Besides losing seniors to graduation Middaugh must replace juniors Morris, who finished second to Close for the Big Ten batting title, Karasinki, and pitcher Paul Wenson. These juniors signed professional con- tracts. "We have lost an abundance of players, which is certainly going to show on our club," said Middaugh. "It gives younger players a chance to play, but you are not playing against freshmen. You are playing against juniors and seniors from other universities." If anybody can win with freshmen, it is Middaugh. The seventh-year Michigan coach has a knack for blen- ding in young players. THE RETURNING nucleus in- cludes second baseman Steve Finken (.358), shortstop Jeff Kiel, outfielder Eddie Woolwine (.343), third baseman Billy St. Peter, and catchers Mike Gillette and Darrin Campbell. No matter what the lineup, Middaugh's philosophy remains consistent. "I am not a philosophical guy. I am a hardcore guy," said the coach with a .761 winning percentage at Michigan. "I just think you go out and play hard, and things work out well. "You don't ask for breaks. You don't cry when things aren't going your way. You just go out there and go after it." Daily Photo by JOHN MUNSON Although Bud Middaugh (above) and the Michigan Wolverines went 47-12 in 1986, the season was disappointing due to an early exit in the NCAA playoffs. Losses weaken women's track Daily Photo by SCOTT UTUCHY Lefthander season. Jim Abbot brings it home against Grand Valley State last season. The sophomore went 6-2 last FOUR ALL-AMERICANS RETURN: Thi nlads on track By EMILY BRIDGHAM Losing two of the top distance run- ners in the conference, not to mention the nation, has got to hurt and as a result younger talent is the key to the 1986-87 season for the women's track team. "I'm very optimistic as always," said head coach James Harvey. "We've had some unfortunate injuries but we managed to fill the gaps for this season and I know that will help us. We will be very young, but we will gain a lot of ground." ALL-AMERICAN'S Sue Schroeder and Cathy Schmidt,. large point ear- ners in previous years, have left the distance division open to the veteran ranks. Kelli Bert, Mellissa Thompson, and Cheri Sly will lead the pack for th e Wolverines. Bert gave a strong '86 performance, narrowly missing the NCAA standard time in the 1500-meter event clocking a season-best 4:26.5. The versatile senior also runs a quick 800-meter and 3000-meters and should kick in a strong leg in the distance relay. The other senior standout on the team is middle distancer Dedra Bradley Bradley is the only member left from the world-record holding distance relay, which ran a 11:08.8. BRADLEY CLOCKED hot times in both the 400-meter and also 400-meter hurdles. Until this season Bradley has run largely in the shadow of middle distance star Joyce Wilson. A definite bright spot on the '86-'87 squad, and one that will be around for a few years, is Debbie Duncan. Dun- can, a shot put and discus sensation, was able to break the school record last season in the shot, flinging it 13.98 meters. She also won the discus event on numerous occasions and sailed the disc to a season best 43.84 meters. In close competition with Duncan will be sophomore Starry Hodge who took fifth in the shot last year at the Big Tens, close behind Duncan's third. And Ann Arbor Huron's Sonya Payne will further add to this event, after winning the state title. ANOTHER largely sophomore- dominated field is the sprints. Falling into the hands of Dana McKeithen and Gretchen Jackson for the second year, the hope is that these two will stack up the needed points in this area. The jumping field is another highly questionable area, after the loss of Angie Hafner. Coach James Henry will have to rely on younger talent and recruits to fill this spot. And recruit he did, grabbing up some of the best local as well as national talent in both the long and high jump Gretchen Jackson's abilities in the triple jump should gain some points for the team. Jackson went a season-best 11.02 in., after being out a good portion of the season last year. She also managed as a high school senior to finish eighth in the world. Among the hopeful jumpers are Elaina Davis, Michigan's 1985 long jump state champ, and Gillain Osbor- ne out of Wesbury, NY, who has gone 19'4", almost two feet further than any others on the Wolverine squad. While Lisa Devries will be a vital replacement in the high jump after leaping 5'101" in high school in Lon- don, Ontario "I believe that this year we will get more places and be right up there," said Henry. "We had a strong year this past year, probably our best, but I think we will be even better By EMILY BRIDGHAM With at least four All-Americans among its ranks, the Michigan Men's track team will return for its '86 87 season in top form. .'! The Wolverines' only major loss was middle distance sensation Todd Steversen. This loss can only be par- tially filled by indoor All-American junior Omar Davidson, who has proven his worth for the thinclads. RETURNING FOR his fifth year, All-American Chris Brewster will be eligible to compete in both the cross country and indoor track seasons. Brewster cranked out his All- American honors during the '85 cross- country season. He missed his second All-American title in the 3000-meter indoor finals later in the year when was sidelined due to a leg injury. Also going the distance for the Wolverines will be freshman Brad Barquist, who clocked a 9:06.8. two mile as well as an 8:31.7 3000 meters, These times should keep pace with 3 seniors Joe Schmidt and John t nam bers and Junior John Scherer. Thest three were a few feet behind B ewstei and had fine 85-86 efforts which placed them high in the Big Ten. Schmidt will also be the main con tender in the 3000-meter steeplechast, where he earned All-Big Ten honors during the '85 season. "WE'RE NOT pulling a lot of recruits, but we're trying to beet up ta dia-a --p haetie wa,-a a 46.61 last March and ran one of the hottest third legs in the 1600-meter relay the school has ever seen. Adding depth to the middle distawi ces will be sophomores Claude tiller and Matt Butler as well as senior Bill Davis and junior Rollie Hudson Tiller and Davis, who competed with David son in the 1600-meter relay will probably fill out the ranks again. FIFTH YEAR senior Thomas W itcher, will be back for the Blue during the outdoor season to cover the hurdles. The two time All-American easily blew past his competition in the NCAA indoor 55-meter hurdle finals last March, capturing the crown and winning the event in 7.22. His victory marks the first time a Wolverine has von an NCAA title. Senior triple-jump champ Butch Starmack will also be contending for All American honors. Starmack, a walk-on, narrowly missed qualifying for the indoor NCAA's during the '86 season If his progress is any in- dicator he should have little difficulty with the last inch necessary to quality Aiding Starmack in the field events will oe .ophomore J ,J rant, whose st rength in both the shot and discus place him among the top in the Big 'en Like Wilcher Grant plays foot- ball in the spriting events, the squad falls a bit short relying on the younger talent ot sophomores Wiley Boulding an Ted Harris. These two clocked 6 49 and 6 53 respectively in the 60-yard dash and should be joined by a few new recruits. according to coach Harvey. Vat er IAL* " UN Urn EW~~ (Ow YAMAHA (aJarIRh IEEE 11116 -ru 1-E KyOEE 3TANDBERG LUXMAN C [ ..ldE lmpi "I IJ~-iII..fl11X1 *ai ua I uLA i II L/I