01
Page 8 -The Michigan Daily-Tuesday, April 5, 1988
Michigan pitching
stifles
WMU
Kansas finds end
of rainbow, 83-79
By LORY KNAPP
Kicking off its home opener with a bang, the
women's softball team swept a doubleheader
from Western Michigan yesterday, 3-2 and 7-0.
The victories pushed the Wolverines above the
.500 mark for the first time this season with a 9-
8 record.
Following the Broncos' two-run first inning
in the first game, strong Michigan pitching held
Western scoreless the rest of the day. Senior
pitcher Michelle Bolster recorded the victory in
the first game, striking out eight, while rookie
Andrea Nelson hurled a shutout in the second
game for her fifth win of the season.
"Andrea threw the best I've seen all year," said
Michigan coach Carol Hutchins. "If we keep
pitching like this we'll win a lot of games."
NELSON IS NOT the only first-year
player who is having a good season. Rookie
sensation Julie Cooper, who is leading the team
in hitting with a .351 average (20 hits), went
four-for-eight in the doubleheader.
After falling behind quickly, 2-0, in the first
inning of the first game, the Wolverine bats re-
sponded in their half of the inning with two runs
of their own.
A lead-off single by Bonnie Tholl and an error
that allowed Cooper to reach first put runners on
first and second. Jenny Allard then drove in the
first run with a single of her own, and a single
by Bolster drove in the second run of the inning.
MaryAnn Daviera hit a two-out, bases loaded
single in the bottom of the fifth
be the game-winning RBI.
which proved to
The second game was a different story as the
Wolverines waited until the fifth inning to ex-
plode. Bridget Venturi was hit by a pitch, and
Beth Mueller and Cooper followed with singles
to load the bases. Allard's three-run double made
it 3-0.
"If you are the other team, you don't want
Allard up with the bases loaded," said Hutchins.
Allard went five-for-six in the two games.
Bolster, showing her hitting prowess, drove in
Allard with her fourth home run of the season in
only 17 games. Cooper and April Bagley added
the other two RBIs in the bottom of the sixth
with a fielder's choice play and a sacrifice.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -
Danny Manning scored 31 points
and grabbed 18 rebounds as unranked
Kansas won its second national
championship with an 83-79 victory
over No.4 Oklahoma last night to
become the losingest champion in
NCAA history.
The Jayhawks, 26-11, played fast
and slow and withstood a record-set-
ting three-point performance from
Oklahoma's Dave Sieger to avenge
two losses against the Sooners, 35-
4, during the regular season.
This was the third championship
game played between two teams
from the same conference, and it
was the third this decade in which a
heavy underdog managed to win the
title.
Kansas was an eight-point
underdog,butin the first half the
Jayhawks ran with the Sooners, the
nation's second-leading scoring team
and the regular-season and tourna-
ment champions in the Big Eight.
Then they showed patience in the
second half, running down the 45-
second clock before taking good
percentage shots. The Jayhawks
shot 64 percent for the game, 35 of
55, and they cooled off after a first
half in which they made 17 of 20 at
one pomt.
NL
We
st will look up to Giants once again
San Francisc and Cincinnati.
By LISA GILBERT
Ah, mediocrity.
In the topsy-turvy world of the
National League West, where con-
flict and controversy are the rule
rather than the exception, the one
thing that remains consistent is
mediocrity.
No team has won back-to-back
division titles since the Dodgers did
it in '77 and '78. The West hasn't
produced a World Series champion
since 1981.
All six teams have serious ques-
tions they must answer before any-
one can be considered a legitimate
front-runner. Questions such as:
-Can Roger Craig squeeze another
year out of starting pitchers Rick
Reuschel, 38, and Mike Krukow,
36?
-How will the young Reds re-
spond to the loss of club leader Dave
Parker?
-How does Tommy Lasorda ex-
pect to improve the worst defensive
infield in the NL?
-Which Astro team will show up
in 1988?
Until some of these questions are
answered, the NL West shapes up to
be a two-team race again between
Here are the teams in the predicted
order of finish:
San Francisco-Despite their
collapse in the playoffs last year, the
Giants had a banner season in win-
ning their first division title since
1971. The star-studded 1987 lineup
returns with one noticeable new face,
speedy center fielder Brett Butler.
The Giants feature the division's
top infield. In addition to infielders
Jose Uribe and Robby Thompson,
slugging sensation Will Clark is
THE SPORTING VIEWS
years which team has the best over-
all record in the NL West? You
guessed it-- the Cincinnati Reds.
Restless Reds fans are frustrated
with three consecutive second-place
finishes. After considerable club-
house dissention last year, owner
Marge Schott fired 13 upper-level
executives and hired Murray Cook as
her new general manager.
Cook promptly acquired lefty
Danny Jackson in a move that will
help solidify shaky starting pitching.
However, in a decision that raised
eyebrows around the league, he
dumped the team's inspirational
leader Dave Parker.
Still, despite an overwhelming
amount of talent, the question per-
sists as to whether Rose is capable
of leading the Reds to a division ti-
tle. This could be his last chance.
Los Angeles-The Dodgers went
into the off-season looking to im-
prove the worst defensive infield in
the majors. New GM Fred Claire
proceeded to acquire shortstop Al-
fredo Griffin from Oakland. The plan
was then to move Steve Sax from
second to third base and Mariano
Duncan from shortstop to second.
Problem solved, right? Wrong.
Duncan has since been demoted to
the minors and the new arrangement
has Pedro Guerrero, not known for
his fielding ability, at third. Griffin
is no defensive ace either. He com-
mitted the second highest amount of
errors among AL shortstops last
year.
On a brighter note, Claire did
sign multi-talented free agent Kirk
Gibson. Gibson will fit in nicely
with Guerrero and Mike Marshall to
form the heart of the Dodgers order.
San Diego-Surprised? You
shouldn't be. After being 19 games
out in May last season, Larry
Bowa's troops settled down to post a
52-45 record from June 5 to
September 23.
Despite a sixth-place finish, San
Diego made no major trades in the
off-season. The Padres feel that they
have some of the league's best
young talent, including NL Rookie
of the Year Benito Santiago and
John Kruk.
Tony Gwynn is a fixture in right
field, but pitching is a problem
when the staff ace is Ed.Whitson
(10-13, 4.73).
Houston-Flashback. 1986. As-
tros have the best pitching staff in
baseball. Mike Scott wins the Cy
Young Award. Houston captures the
division title.
Flashback. 1987. Astro pitching
slumps badly. Twenty fewer wins,
six fewer shutouts and five fewer
complete games. Scott slips to a
mediocre 16-13. Houston finishes a
distant third.
Although the Astros claim 1987
was a fluke, the guess here is that
they lack the firepower and pitching
to challenge San Francisco or
Cincinnati.
Atlanta-With no major off-sea-
son acquisitions, Dale Murphy re-
mains the only major league name
on the roster. Braves fans are in for
another long season.
0
one of the NL's brightest young
stars, and Kevin Mitchell, acquired
last year from San Diego at mid-
season, hit .306 as a Giant.
Both starting and relief pitching
remain steady if unspectacular. Craig
came within a game of the World
Series last year without a single
pitcher who finished higher than
ninth in any statistical category.
There's no reason to expect that he
won't do it again.
Cincinnati-Over the last three
I
9
One Month's
Free Rent
Albert Terrace 1506 Geddes
1700 Geddes
SENIOR SEND-OFF
0
0
Heat &
Water
Included
- WRAPPING THINGS UP
*Tying up loose ends in AnnArbor
*Getting started in a new city
" Lifestyle changes
*Financial issues after college
S Discusslife in the real world with graduate
students, professionals and peers
President and Mrs. Robben Fleming
cordially invite all students to an
Open House
in their home at 815 S. University
Monday, April 11, 1988 from 4:00-5:30pm
Refreshments served
Spacious 2 Bedroom Bi-Levels
Large 2 Bedroom Apartments
Furnished
Air conditioned
Laundry Facilities
Parking for Tenants
543 Church Street
(313) 761-1523
We also have other great properties!
which are centrally located to campus
Yes
we're
open
Saturdays.
Tuesday April 5th 7 to 9 p.m.
in the Michigan Union Pendleton Room
- Bring friends !I-
-Refreshments -
Sponsored by the Student Organization
Development Center
xx
Adw-
0I
mon... thursday's c.a
1 AUGJ
presents comedian
JOEC
DA
"THE W
BAL
Studen
MIKE TOWER HARRY
WED!
AF
And'
JON
isses aren't all tha
SUNCL
iNNY
ILD Mi
.LARD
nt Comedians
BERBERIAN
NESDAY
PRIL 6
it important
ZACK
zdT~p Cometdy
E
JN"
JIM MERCURIO
E3$TO JAPAN
DISCOUNT FARE
FROM DETROIT
(WEEKDAY DEPARTURE)
ALL NIPPON AIR $750.00
NORTHWEST $735.00
UNITED AIR $795.00
JAPAN AIR $850.00
- HOTEL PACKAGE -
TOKYO HOTEL SUNSHINE CITY PRINCE
2 NIGHTS $160.00 (Single)
OSAKA HOTEL NEW OTANI
2 NIGHTS $170.00 (Single)
o- !At1
1*-P-nor t f .r-P2k1t
0
Your Host
N FORD