Field Hockey vs. Central Michigan *Tonight, 7 p.m. f Tartan Turf SPORTS Football vs. Maryland Saturday, 1 p.m. Michigan Stadium The Michigan Doily, Thursday, September 28, 1989 Page 9 NEWCOMERS GET DREAM TRYOUT FOR BASEBALL TEAM Freehan fields three walk -ons By Peter Zellen Daily Sports Writer Young men dream of playing baseball. Over the past two weeks the Michigan baseball team has provided an opportunity for some of those dreams to come true. The Wolverines recently held open tryouts at Fisher Stadium and coach Bill Freehan is pleased at the results. "We had, ultimately, about 80 kids show up. Most of them called in when they checked into school," Freehan said. "Sixty percent of my first phone calls when I took the job in August were kids calling about tryouts." Of the 80 that tried out, six remained after the first week. A week later, that number was cut down to three. However, surviving the tryouts does not mean that they have made the final squad. "This ball club will evolve until opening game, or around that time. There's still some pruning to do. At the end of fall we'll reevaluate and a lot can happen," Freehan said. The three presently on the squad as walk-ons are: Josh Woods, a lefthanded hitting outfielder from Los Angeles, Brian Santo, a lefthanded pitcher from Notre Dame High School in Harper Woods, Mich., and Scott Schorer, a catcher from Grosse Pointe North High. All three are first-year students. "I was really excited when I came in. At first I was thinking that there's no chance to play Big Ten baseball," Woods said. "When they first called me it was more like shock than actual joy." "It's like a dream," Santo said. If these three stick with the team, they should address some dire shortages. Presently, Michigan has only four outfielders, one lefthanded pitcher, and there's always a need for more catching. The walk-ons can find solace in the fact that last year's walk-on remained with the team. Those three are catchers Steve Wallis and Toby Brzoznowski as well as pitcher Terry Woods. "We evaluated them as objectively as we could. Speed, arm strength, hitting ability, infield ability. We hit them fly balls and ground balls, we had some pretty tired puppies out there," said rookie coach Freehan. Presently the team has 35 players including the walk-ons, and no matter what their status, all the players treat each other equally "At first, it was real awkward, but everyone was extremely friendly. They accepted me as one of their own," Woods said. Santo reiterated Woods' thoughts: "The other players were pretty friendly. They were helpful and told me where to go and some things to do." Freehan said that the final cuts will be based on a number of criteria. "Ability, work ethic, position need and skill are all involved. The biggest is raw talent." For now, all players are still with the team but anything could happen by Opening Day in February, "It's not the easiest job in the world but I'd rather be honest with these young men than lead them on," Freehan said. 'M' field hockey team faces CMU Chippewas avid Sc hecter Daily Contributor Daily File Ph& Former Wolverine Mark Messner is once again a Los Angeles Ram. Don't worry, Messner still a Ram - for now by Adam Benson Daily Football Writer ANAHEIM, Ca. - Mark Messner had his Michigan following frightened last week when he was waived by Los Angeles Rams. Until he was picked up again by the Los Angeles Rams. It sounds strange, but there is an explanation. The Rams wanted to place first-round pick Cleveland Gary on the active roster and move Messner to the developmental squad while he recovers from an injury and adjusts to his new position, linebacker. . While on developmental, Messner still works out with the Rams. He can be called onto their roster for a game and then sent back. But after leaving him on the roster to start the season, they can't move him to developmental without waiving him first. So while the rest of us out north worried for Messner's future, the former All-American never wondered about his future. Well, maybe a little. "It wasn't nearly as scary for me as it was for people back home kreading it," Messner said. "The Rams told me a while back that they had to make roster juggling, but that I was going to stay here. The only thing that had me nervous was if someone else wanted me. I really crossed my fingers." Now that Messner has a little job security, he can relax and concentrate on playing football. "I need to see offenses from a linebacker's position. I love playing it. I was going against 280-pounders from about four inches away, nose-to- nose. Now, I've got a five-year run at them. The only thing that is tough is that instead of being told where to go I have to diagnose and make things happen, but I also get to hit those little receivers." After watching most of Michigan's loss to Notre Dame, Messner wished that he could be hitting receivers again as a Wolverine. "It was sort of eerie," Messner said of the game with the Irish. "I would sit there and I would watch just the defensive line and say 'rip, rip, rip'! I would see the things that should be done, but it wasn't me in there ° anymore." Messner was impressed with the play of his replacement, red-shirt frosh Chris Hutchinson. "I've been impressed with Hutchinson since he got there. I hadn't seen him as a defensive tackle, but when the coaches say 'he reminds us of you' then I know that he is going to be a helluva ball player. "Although I never knew what they saw in me," Messner said with a laugh. This brief scare is now over and Messner is sure that he has a future in the NFL. "In the preseason, the coaches preached 'go out there and play. If you screw up, we can correct it. If you don't show us that you can play, we have nothing to gage you on.' That's when I started making my move. Before that, I was so convinced I was coming home. I told my Mom to get the resume off my computer disk. Now, I'm confident and I think they are too." Swinging home after two straight weeks of road games, the Michigan field hockey squad returns to Ann Arbor tonight, looking to topple the Cen- tral Michigan Chippewas. To date, the Wolverines carry a record of 4-3-1. As always, the Wolverines hope to capitalize on their team unity at Tartan Field. Midfielder Josee Charvet said, "Coach (Patti) Smith really tries to instill a team spirit in us. "She's done that more than any coach that I've had, and I think that's really helped us as far as working together. In games our practice everyone is taking that shot, everyone is playing defense." Defense keys the Michigan attack. Throughout the season, the team has emphasized defense as the first line of the offensive attack. Said Charvet, "The job of the defense is to push the offense - to be a catalyst on the offense. We initiate from the backfield." Part of the offensive burden also falls on midfielder Sandie Marotti. Still nursing an injured leg, Marotti may not be 100% against the Chippewas. Looking for their first ever berth in an NCAA Championship Tour- nament, Michigan needs to get Central Michigan under their winning belt. Charvet M a rotti -47 WANTED: STUDENT PHONATHON CALLERS " Resumes " Passport Photos " Office Supplies - Pick-Up & Delivery Open 24 Hours 540 E. Liberty 761-4539 Open 24 Hours 1220 S. University 747-9070 Open 7 Days Michigan Union 662-1222 k"nko's the copy center UM News in The Daily 764-0552 -- Part Time Employment The School of Education will interview students by phone who will be hired to call alumni nationwide for an alumni fundraising phonathon. " Phonathon held Sunday through Thursday, October 10 - November 16 * Callers will be expected to work two of the six calling sessions each week with some opportunity for additional hours * $5.00 per hour, incentive4.bonus pay, plus great work experience For interviews, call 763-4880 TODAY!!! The University of Michigan is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer. _ II It i I E > 4° - E As a Marine officer, you could beinkcharge of a a freshman or sophomore, ask about our under- Mach 2+ F/A-18A, a vertical take-off Harrier or graduate officer commissioning programs. If you're a one of our other jets or helicopters. And you could junior, check out our graduate programs. Starting do it by the time you're 23. But it takes aspecial salaries are from$2Q,000 to $24,000. And commitment on your part.We you can count on demand leaders at all Iels. going farther...faster. We teach you to be one. If you're MUf A UJA v * IWrrefokigraewgoodmen faster. ..U U. r~ri U. N 69 Don't Forget Senior Portraits!! 21 i