Caps vs. Isles: a spring classic The Michigan Daily - Monday, April 20, 1987 - Page 11 M' netters sparkle I was supposed to write a column today on Saturday's Spring Game, and so early Saturday night I sat at home trying to think of what to write about. And, in fact, there are not many things to write about an intrasquad football game that really did stink. Sure, I could try to be funny with this, but when a game is that bad, it's often hard to find any humor in it. So, 'as I struggled with what seemed an impossible task, I turned on the television and watched the seventh game of the New York Islander-Washington Capital series. And watched. And watched. And watched. And I proceeded to watch what might have been the greatest game in sports history. And after the Isles had pulled out a 3-2, four-overtime victory, I said, "That football game doesn't deserve to be written about. Not after this." Not after I had just witnessed history. IT WAS A six-hour spectacle that kept getting better and better. Both goaltenders - Kelly Hrudey of the Islanders and Bob Mason of the Capitals -- were super human, combining for a ridiculous 129 Ssaves. a As each overtime period came to S d, the players were devoid of Adamantly Speaking ~ 'BY ADAM OCHLIS energy. But not enthusiasm. And as the next period started, the energy was back, and the play was spectacular. I really didn't care who won the game when it started. I edged a little to the Capitals because of their failures in years past, but I could, at the outset, live with an Islander victory. But what made this game, the longest in 44 years and the fifth longest in NHL history, so great, is that my allegiances switched as play continued. When New York's Brian Trottier scored late in the third period to tie the score at two, I started rooting for the Isles. WHEN MASON continued his brilliance through the overtime periods, I found myself swaying back to the Capitals' side. And when Mason couldn't save fellow 1984 Olympian Pat LaFontaine's slapper from the blue line at 8:47 of the seventh period, well, I didn't know what to think.,I Joy for the Islanders? Sorrow for the Capitals? Relief, because at 2 a.m. I could finally go to bed? All of the above? But most of all, I sat on my couch, emotionally worn out, thinking that it's an honor to be able to say I watched this game from beginning to end. In sports, we tend to glorify great achievements and overblow scandals. It is clichd to say the word "great" is used too much in sports. But in this case, in this game, great is the only word you can use to describe it. AT TIMES, the Capitals looked like they were going to take control. At other times, the Islanders, with younger players and fresher legs, skated circles around the Caps. But for more than three full extra periods, an entire game, no one could score. During the second and third overtimes, the action was sensational and the goaltending was even better. I wondered how New York's Trottier and Washington's Rod Langway, 30-year-olds who are considered very old in a game dominated by "kids" could continue. And at times during those two periods, both teams seemed to be playing in super slo mo, waiting for the final six minutes of the period when they would turn it in high gear. The fans at the Capital Centre were on an emotional rollercoaster as well. Loud and rambunctious during the "first game," they were dazed and confused during the second 60 minutes. Quick arithmetic shows it cost me 10 cents to watch this game on ESPN (taking into consideration the $13 per month cable charge). For those who watched the CBC broadcast, it didn't cost a thing. And to think the Michigan Athletic Department had the audacity to charge fans a dollar to watch the intrasquad game - a game in which a 19-play scoring drive was described as "boring" by Bo Schembechler, a strong advocate of time possession (read: boring) football. Thehockey game was sports at its best. There was no talk of drug abuse or "fiscal responsibility" that dominate the sports pages these days. This game epitomized the reason why people like to watch sports and why people like to write about sports. . in weeken By ADAM SCHRAGER The Easter bunny brought gifts a little early for the men's tennis team this past weekend as Michigan swept through Ohio State and Indiana in its last home meets of the season. The Wolverines swept Indiana, 9-0, giving the "best performance of the year," according to coach Brian Eisner. The victory increased Michigan's record to 22-2, and extended its winning streak to 16 matches. In the complete domin- ation of the Hoosiers, previously unbeaten in the Big Ten, Michigan did not lose a single set. "It was an absolutely tremendous match," said Eisner who recorded his 281st career victory with the win over Indiana. "Considering the fact that it was our sixth match in eight days, we played extremely well. It was the first time this entire year that the whole team was absolutely relentless." FROM THE outset of the match, there was no doubt as to who the eventual winner would be. No one except third-singles player John Royer gave up more than three games in a set throughout all of the singles matches. Fifth- and sixth-singles players Jon Morris and Brad Koontz were the fastest finishers, both recording 6-1, 6-2 victories. The doubles matches were no different, as all three Michigan teams recorded easy victories. The two unbeaten Indiana doubles teams faced defeat for the first time Saturday. "I like where we are at right now," said Eisner. "We are going to take a couple of days off right now before finals. We are at a very good level of playing right now." On Friday, the Wolverines coasted past the Buckeyes by the same 9-0 score. Junior number-one singles player Ed Nagel led the way in sweep with a straight set 6-2, 6-2 victory over OSU's Stephen Miguel, the Buckeyes' best player. DURING THE doubles com- petition, Michigan "lost concen- tration," according to Eisner and were taken to three sets in two separate matches. Overall, the Wolverines, ranked 17th in the nation, lost a total of two sets the entire weekend. The Wolverines have two more away matches at Northwestern and at Iowa May 3 and 4, before the Big Ten championships in Minneapolis the weekend of May 8-10. Buy Atari ST and get Sylvia Potter's Income Tax Program Free 663-0090 STATE ST EET 334 S. State Street, Ann Arbor SPORTS OF THE DAILY: Batsmen bash Buckeyes, sweep four COLUMBUS (AP) - Jim Abbott and Mike Ignasiak both pitched shutouts over the weekend as Michigan swept a four-game series from Ohio State. Michigan raised its record to 29-7, 7-1 in the Big Ten. The Wolverines are now ranked 14th in the nation. The victories leave Wolverine head coach Bud Middaugh tied for second place on the school's all- time win list with Moby Benedict at 345. Michigan won the opening game of yesterday's doubleheader, 3-0. Darrren Campbell and Kourtney Thompson each hit home runs while Ignasiak allowed only five hits and struck out 10. The junior right-hander raised his record to 4-3. In the second game yesterday, the Wolverines erased a three-run deficit en route to 6-4 win. Ohio State jumped all over starter Tim Lata, who failed to make it through the first inning. But the Wolverines roared back with four runs in the top of the second, highlighted by Tom Brock's two-run homer. The Buckeyes tied the score at four, but Michigan put the game out of reach with solo round- tiippers by Phil Price and Rich Samplinski in the fifth inning. Chris Lutz (4-0) entered the game ins the third inning and picked up the win. 'On Saturday, Jim Abbott began the series by four-hitting Ohio State in a 1-0 pitchers' duel. It was thie second straight shutout for Abbott (5-1) who last week blanked Purdue in the Big Ten opener. Michigan got its only run when Greg McMurtry singled and scored on Steve Finken's shot to left which just eluded a diving Tom Eiterman. David Burba took the hard-luck loss for Ohio State (11-14 overall, 0-4 Big Ten). The Wolverines won the nightcap, 6-5 in eight innings. Brock led off the eighth with a single and moved to third when a sacrifice bunt was thrown away. Ohio State reliever Joe Caudell balked Brock home with the winning run by dropping the ball while on the rubber. The Wolverines scored their six runs with the benefit of only two hits. However, Buckeye pitchers were wild, issuing 10 passes. Dave Perralta, who earned the win, entered the game in the bottom of the seventh with two out and fanned Dirk Pica with the winning run on third. Ignasiak got the final out in the bottom of the eighth to earn the save. Softballers take five of six Beth Mueller and Bridget Venturi keyed late inning rallies and Mueller, Jenny Allard, and All- American catcher Alicia Seegert blasted Michigan's first homers of the season as the Wolverines took five of six over the weekend against Eastern Michigan and Big Ten rival Indiana. Behind solid pitching and timely hitting, the Wolverines split the first and swept the second of two doubleheaders with Indiana last Friday and Saturday, then took two by identical 4-1 scores from non- league opponent Eastern Michigan yesterday. Michigan improved its Big Ten record to 10-4 (23-12 overall). All four games against the Hoosiers here in Ann Arbor were tight one-run contests which fired up the streaking Wolverines. "We're on quite a roll right now," said Michigan head coach Carol Hutchins. "Vicki (Morrow) is pitching brilliant ball, and Alicia (Seegert)... she really creamed that ball on Saturday. That pumped us up, helped us get real loose. Then Sunday, we got the homers from. Jenny (Allard) and Beth (Mueller). Our hitting is certainly coming around." On Friday, after losing the opener in heartbreaking fashion, 2- 1, the Wolverines bounced back in the closer, as junior Bridget Venturi came through with a two-out, seventh-inning single which scored Martha Rogers with the game- winning run. Michigan's bats also came alive in the sixth and seventh innings of Saturday's nightcap to wipe out a 2-0 Indiana lead and improve pitcher Vicki Morrow's record to 13-5. Beth Mueller singled in a run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to give the Wolverines an exciting come-from-behind victory. Earlier in the sixth, All-American catcher Alicia Seegert had hit Michigan's first round-tripper of the year to bring the Wolverines within one. - KENNETH GOLDBERG EXPERIENCE THE EXCITEMENT OF OWNING YOUR OWN BASE BALL TEAM Thinking Man's Baseball, the sensational strategy baseball game, lets you and your friends draft teams of major league players. Your team's results are based on the actual performances of the players during the baseball season. Have fun competing with your friends in. fraternities, clubs, or other school activities. During the season, you will receive the weekly standings of all teams in your league. You will also receive statistics and other information needed to make strategic decisions, such as when to acquire hot rookie prospects. Write now for our brochure so that you can soon be managing your dream team: The Thinking Man's Baseball Company P.O. Box 147 CMU-12 Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Reminder To Our Readers Wednesday, April 22 will be the last date of publication for The Michigan Daily. Have a great summer! Now Leasing For The Fall! Efficiencies Ore Bedrooms Two Bedrooms The Finestwamp us A partments With All The Best Locations! Open Saturdays For Your Convenience Or You May Arrange Evening Appointments. 543 Church Street " Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104 (313) 761-1523 W. p- -( What's Happening Recreational Sports SEMESTER BREAK HOURS: May 2, 1987 - May 5, 1987 WILSEARCH is the University Library's newest Computerized Information Retrieval System. If you're doing a research paper or project this semester, WILSEARCH can find books or articles from over 15 databases on your topic. You choose the database, and you do the search; its easy! WILSEARCH is available at the following locations during reference desk hours: * Undergraduate Library * Graduate Library * North Engineering Library [ nmo n thp lihrarv and trw nur npwpst romp- rch tnnl- Date CCRB NCRB IMSB Sat., May 2 Sun., May 3 Closed Closed Closed Closed 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Noon-7:00 p.m.