Softball vs.Wayne State Today, 3 p.m. Varsity Diamond The Michigan Daily SPORTS Baseball vs. Northwestern Saturday, 1 p.m. Ray Fisher Stadium Wednesday, March 29, 1989 Page 9 Softball team set togo in opener BY PETER ZELLEN Opening Day is always exciting and the Michigan softball team is caught up in the frenzy - ready to face Wayne State in their home opener today. "I don't feel nervous yet I'll get nervous by the game," said senior centerfielder and captain Beth Mueller. The eighth-ranked Wolverines are coming back from an 18-6 spring road trip in California and New Mexico and are raring to face Wayne State. "I'm excited," said junior pitcher-thirdbaseman Jenny Allard. "We're all pumped to play and we're up and confident due to our spring trip. We hope that contin- ues and we'll keep feeling good." Coach Carol Hutchins enters her fifth season at Michigan with a career record of 128-74. She looks forward to the game. "Wayne State's always a good pro- gram and they'll be pumped up and fired up to play us," Hutchins said. Hutchins' outlook for the team's play is that of tremendous confidence. "We're proud and we're looking ahead to play hard," said the coach. Starting for the Wolverines in the opener should be sophomore Andrea Nelson. Over the spring, the righthander compiled a record of 14-1 with. a team-leading 0.95 ERA. The Ann Arbor native has 'given up only 74 hits and 18 walks in 103 innings. Another asset that Nelson provides is emotion. "It's her 'mental toughness," Hutchins said. "Andrea just wants to win so bad and the pitcher on the mound has a lot to do with a team's person- ality." Offensively, the Wolverines are batting .272 as a team with Allard leading the squad at .359 with 15 RBIs. Second is Mueller with a .350 average and a team-leading four homers and 16 ribbies. First pitch is at 3:00. FALCONS AND WEATHERMAN TEAM UP IN BLUE LOSS BGSU soaks Michigan 8-0 BY DAVID HYMAN Call the Michigan baseball team's loss to Bowling Green yesterday a washout - literally. With the Falcons leading 2-0 after six and one-third innings, the game was held for a 59 minute rain delay. After the teams returned, Bowling Green (9-2) responded with five more runs in the seventh inning on way to a 8-0 victory. The game was called with two outs in the top of the ninth due to darkness. Even before the first pitch was thrown, it was easy to see the weather would play a factor in deciding yesterday's affair. The flags in centerfield were blowing fiercely towards rightfield and accounted for one of the four Michigan hits - Phil Price's double, which car- ried to short rightfield after heading for straight center. "I think the weather affected both of us," Michigan coach Bud Middaugh said. "We just weren't effective after the rain delay and they were." Many people wondered why the game continued after the long rain delay as it was getting dark, but Middaugh explained, "The field was playable and you try to play as many innings as you can." First-year pitcher Jason Pfaff (0-2) started strong with three strikeouts retiring the first six batters in a row. However, he took the loss, for the 12-5 Wolverines, pitching five and one-third innings with one earned run on four strikeouts and four hits, receiving no runs from his teammates. "He was pitching behind batters and I didn't like that, but it didn't hurt him until he gave up a few walks," Middaugh said. Pfaff said: "I was feeling uncomfortable out there. I think the coach expects me to pitch better, but he was happy with my performance today." Bowling Green opened the scoring in the top of the third when catcher Daren Stiles singled to rightfield. He scored on a fielder's choice after a walk and a sacrifice. Sophomore Jeff Tanderys relieved Pfaff and pitched only one inning giving up one earned run. Bullpen ace John Locker then relieved Tanderys moments before the delay, walking the first batter to load the bases, and an RBI single by Brian Koelling started the scoring. After the delay, Locker walked the next two batters, and hit a batter, before a single by first baseman Greg Lashuk - extending his hitting streak to 11 games - cleared the bases. Locker was relieved by junior Rick Leonard, who made his first appearance of the season. "I thought he threw very well," Middaugh said. "He is going to get some more time in the future." DAVID LUBLINER/Daily Michigan coach Bud Middaugh cannot be smiling after watching his Wolverines fall 8-0 to the Bowling Green Falcons. Middaugh was not the only one to have to stand around. The game, including a 59 minute rain delay, lasted three hours and 43 minutes before being called. AL EAST: In this declining division, the Blue Jays should be chirping in October eiiW gp uWW np\n BY PETER ZELLEN Remember when it took 100 wins to take the American League East? Until a few seasons ago, this was the case, but alas, that was then, this is now. When writers and fans alike use to predict this division, they always had trouble because there was just so much talent. Up until 1987, no AL East team had won the divisional title more than once in the 1980's. Now they have trouble picking the winner because no one is capable of dominating the A.L. East. All the teams are just kind of, you know, there. Nowadays, you can only count on the Indians for consistency -they always lose. Michigan Daily SPORTS 763-0376 In order of projected finish, here comes the American League East: Toronto Blue Jays - You can ne- ver be comfortable about this team. They have the talent but it's this Canadian thing. They choked in the '85 playoffs and handed the division to the Tigers in '87 after losing their last three games. With the Expos losing the playoffs in 1981, it's ob- vious that Canada is destined never to have a team in.the World Series. Milwaukee Brewers - They're a good team and a young team and that's probably why they won't win. They've got good players but outside of Robin Yount and Ted Higuera they have no great players. Shortstop Gary Sheffield is the next Willie Mays wanna-be. Boston Re d Sox - On Opening Day at Fenway, the television cam- era will pan the Red Sox dugout and all the players will be reading Penthouse at diff- erent angles, try-, ing to get the best view of Margo's Bog g s behind. Except for Boggs, of course. he'll be hitting .350. New York Yankees - A funny thing happened to me on the way to Yankee Stadium. I went there to buy some tickets so I got in line. When I moved up towards the front, I saw that they were handing out uniforms and a ball. They led us all to the mound and watched while we threw. One of the scouts came up to me and mumbled something about Opening school commit- ment but then this portly man in a suit started writing out a check and... Detroit Tigers - Can they do it a- gain like they did in '87? You know ; those Mars Black- s man Nike com- f mercials? He looks at Alan Trammell and says "Can." John He looks at Pat Sheridan and says "Can't." Then he looks at the team and says "NO" Sparky's magic wand has run dry. Cleveland Indians - They're underrated, but not close to winning the division. They traded for a bunch of new faces in Pete O'Brien and Oddibe McDowell in order to spark their offense. They'll help but not Day and hating Tommy John. plained to them about I ex- my enough for the 90-95 wins it will take to go to the playoffs. I didn't in- clude a joke here, but that's because it's Cleveland. Baltimore Orioles - They were so much fun last year. Losing their first 21 games. Having three Ripkens on the team. Letterman jokes. The whole deal. Then they had to get ser- ious and start trading for prospects. This plan might just work yet as the Birds are looking to be competitive by the 2018 season. However, all these teams could finish as much as two places either way. Likely candidates are the Indians and Orioles - who could place as high as fourth and fifth. The Yankees might be the grimmest pos- sibility. If Winfield can't come back and their questionable pitching staff fails, then the Bronx Bombers and their manager (whoever he is) could be in serious trouble come the end of the season. presents An Evening with. M Thursday, March 30 Survivors 730pmae" This evening's presentation will explore education outside the classroom. What is learned and unlearned by being a survivor of the Holocaust? Hillel does not necessarily endorse the D opinion or agree with its editorial policies. The LSA Student Government Speaker Series Presents: Sponsored by Ih% MLnigan Student Assembly Dr. Arthur Schlesinger Former Advisor to President John F. Kennedy, Pulitzer Prize Winner Wednesday, March 29 8:00 pm - Power Center Admission is Free EY!XL~L EKli I P ! X R L I"Qf]E] E [[LiL1~il 3 J ( i] JOSTENS GOLD RING SALE IS COMING! Come Laugh With Us!! LALTGIFf RACK Stand U'p Comediv PRESENTS THE HILARIOUS COMEDY OF GARY HARDWICK With Student Comedians Rich Eisen and Laurence Rosenburg with your host Rich Eisen THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN Women's Glee Club presents its Annual Spring Concert with *Madrigals *Harmonettes ea 60's medley eM Songs ~Jh 1 Friday, March 31 Rackham Order your college ring NOW. Stop by and see a Jostens representative, Wednesday, March 29-thru Friday, March 31,