Page 8-The Michigan Daily/New Student Edition - Thursday, September 6, 1990 Pitching still keys 'M' baseball by Matt Rennie Daily Baseball Writer Contrary to what the headlines said, there was indeed more Michigan baseball action in Fisher Stadium than in the 15th District Court. Coming off a 1989 season in which they had the best regular-season record in the Big Ten, the 1990 Wolverines had quite a reputation to fulfill. If the season proved anything, it was that the so-called prognosticators of college baseball ought to keep their day jobs. After its top three starting pitchers from 1989 left Ann Arbor for the professional ranks, Michigan was predicted to be in need of strength on the mound. However, the Wolverine hurlers went on to lead the conference in earned run average for the second year in a row. Southpaw Jason Pfaff, named the team's most valuable pitcher, posted a 6-2 record and a 2.71 ERA, and co-captain Kirt Ojala contributed a 6-3 mark to complement his 2.25 ERA. Closing the door for the Wolverines, or more appropriately slamming it shut, was sophomore relief ace Todd Marion. Marion struck out nearly one batter per inning and was named the team's most improved player. On the other end of the spectrum, the alleged offensive explosiveness of the Maize and Blue failed to materialize until the second half of the season. Perhaps the single player who epitomized the team's offensive rejuvenation was Dan Ruff. Ruff, along with many of his teammates, suffered through a dismal start, but then came alive to contend for the team lead in runs batted in. Against Michigan Sate in East Lansing, Ruff had what coach Bill Freehan called "a career in one afternoon," collecting 14 RBI's on the afternoon as the Wolverines completed a four-game season sweep of their rival Spartans. The one steady performer for Michigan was Tim Flannelly. The pre- season all-American batted over .400 and collected team MVP honors. Il Freehan (above) assumed control of the baseball programifter rmer coach Bud Middaugh resigned under pressure. The team is irrently serving a two-year probation. The softball team graduated two key seniors after last year's 3 disappointing season and now they are left with big spikes to fill. Disappointing Softball team fails to hit expectations by Sarah Osburn Daily Sports Writer al Scandal Jb Matt Rennie Daily Baseball Writer ;.,Before it ever took the field this spring, the 1990 Michigan baseball team had taken its place in the books of Wolverine history. Unfortunately, this was much the same way Richard Nixon wrote his chapter of the history of the presidency. For the first time ever, the NCAA placed a Michigan team on probation for rules violations, which occurred under the tenure of former baseball coach Bud Middaugh. The NCAA handed down the two-year probation sentence last February in response to the findings of a joint investigation between the university and the Big Ten conference. While the investigation report listed 43 violations of the NCAA rules, the most serious of these involved recruiting transgressions, the payment of players by Middaugh, and violations of Big Ten travel squad limitations. ,Once the university discovered these violations, it co-operated fully with the NCAA and the Big Ten in a combined effort to clean up the program. "At the University of Michigan, we believe that the right way is the only way," Michigan president James Duderstadt said. "We are, rocks baseball program Freehan hired to clean up Middaugh 's misdoings M determined to restore and protect the integrity of Michigan athletics." The majority of the violations centered around the sales of football game programs, a program which Middaugh oversaw. In an effort to ease the financial burden of his non- scholarship players, Middaugh paid them more than the standard rate which other sellers received. As a result of this diversion of athletic department funds, embezzlement charges were brought against Middaugh. The former coach, who resigned his position on July 12, 1989, was cleared after Judge George Alexander dismissed the charges. Alexander said that while Middaugh did indeed make excessive payments to his players during the 1987 football season, there was no adequate proof that the money belonged to the university. In the aftermath of the investigation, the University was faced with the arduous task of rebuilding its baseball program. The man who must lead the Wolverines down the road to recovery is the new coach Bill Freehan. Freehan, who graduated from Michigan in 1966, earned all- American honors and set single season batting average records, which still stand today. Freehan seems to have the integrity that the athletic department was seeking. "I feel we have a baseball coach who can overcome (the probation)," ath- letic director Jack Weidenbach said. While the task which is set before Freehan is unenviable, the former Detroit Tiger catcher knew what he was getting into. "I took this job knowing there were major problems with the program," Freehan said. "I did not know the situation, but I was told to expect the worst." While the Big Ten handed down penalties in addition to those imposed by the university, Freehan said that by far the most disheartening was the two-year ban on post-season play. "(The ban) affects the way I can motivate my team, and the way I can talk to recruits," he said. Some noted the inclusion of the 1990 season as one of the seasons affected by the penalties as a factor in Freehan's favor because the probation will only hamper one more recruiting class. This year's players felt the proba- tion more deeply than others, as they played a season without much in the way of goals. The hardest part for most of the Wolverines was to pay the price for the misdoings of their former coach. "I don't think it's fair that we all have to suffer because of what took place in the past," third baseman Tim Flannelly said. "It was one man's actions. It's unfair that a hard working group of people like we are has to pay for that." During the entire difficult situation, Freehan appears to have become the leader that then-athletic director Bo Schembechler envisioned when he hired the new coach. "I took this job to get the cloud off this program and to help it through a difficult time," Freehan said. Da" The Michigan softball team began the 1990 season with very high' expectations: after three consecutive second place finishes the Wolverines; had their sights set on a Big Ten title. Though they lost four letter winners, the team returned a plethora of talent. Eleven letterwinners returned - among them, Stacey Heams,' who was named the team's rookie-of-the-year in 1989. She joined Bonnie Tholl, who returned for her junior season after making first team All-Big Ten and the All-Midwest Regional. Another junior, Julie Cooper, was a Bud Lite All-Tournament sel- ection in 1989, and Andrea Nelson made the All-Midwest Regional team and won the Bud Lite Invitational MVP. Senior Sara Dyksterhouse was named to the 1989 second team All- Big Ten. "Sara is real consistent. She has been a rock at first base," Michigan coach Carol Hutchins said. "She has been in her position for four years, and she is what makes our defense work." 1990 team captain Jenny Allards' list of achievements is extensive.: To name just a few, she made first team All-American, was named Big Ten MVP, made first team All-Big Ten, and was a three-time Big Ten: player-of-the-week. With all the talent, it's easy to see why expectations were high as the Wolverines opened the season during a spring break trip to Florida. After' a rocky start, they came back to win the South Florida Invitational. The Wolverines then traveled to San Jose California in an attempt to repeat as Bud Lite Invitational champions. They failed to win even one tournament game. On top of the losses, shortstop Bonnie Tholl dislocated her shoulder in the competition. This caused her to miss the Ohio State tournament. With Tholl's return, the Wolverines managed a split with Big Ten rival Minnesota. Michigan lost the first two games, but then came back to take the next two, 10-1, and 4-0. Michigan had an unsuccessful series against Ohio State, losing three out of four games. "We are all disappointed that we lost three games," Allard said. The breaks began to fall the Wolverines way as they came back to sweep Central Michigan and Northwestern. This temporarily put them back in the championship race. However, a four game sweep by Iowa took them back out again. The Wolverines couldn't muster even one run in the series as they lost 1-0, 3-0, 5-0, and 1-0. Michigan's bid for the 1991 Big Ten title will be hindered by the loss of key seniors. Allard and Dyksterhouse will leave a void that will be4 very difficult to fill. M .1 I C G IG RL ea N VS GP 2p G v P t o ~j5trh sni ~AJOS~nr b 7 < , N r'ro~ '9/ cI4 F.'9r , Need the hot news fast? Find it in the Daily. U- Women's Varsity Softball Tryouts! - Sept. 12 & 13 . 4:30 p.m. " Contact Carol Hutchins MEN I fince 1962 I HOURS: Mon-Sat 10a.m.-2a.m. Sun 12p.m.-10p.m. " 763-2159 2045 Packard U. What to wear to football gamesj ~w. 9 O + i 1. ' \ r , M 4 t. Sr 4? ,"} y,,,.' ^ t Quality Bikes At Reasonable Prices! 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