The Michigan Daily- Friday, March 13,1992- Page 13 PLAYOFFS Continued from page 1 of the week honors -by turning aside 68 shots (.944 save percentage). Bales led CCHA goalies in saves 0994) and minutes played (1,944) for the second-straight season. Despite Bales impressive numbers, Michigan's Steve Shields led the league with 23 victories, besting his closest competitor, Dain Madeley of Lake Superior by six. The Wolverines own four victo- ries over the Buckeyes this season, including a pair of 9-3 conquests at ost, but both sides are relying on season results about as much as early popularity polls. "Those games were played when the two teams were different," Berenson said. "We are supposed to win, but that is why we play the games." Ohio State's greatest improve- nient in the late stages of this season has been on the power play. By con- reiting 10 of its last 22 opportuni- ties, the Buckeye's have tied Michigan (47-216, 21.8 percentage) for the season. Ohio State's Ron White will be the leading power play scorer play- ing in this weekend's series. He and David Smith (30 goals-12 assists) headline the only quartet of 20-goal scorers in the conference. "Coach told us that they have scored as many goals on the power play as we have," defenseman Aaron Ward said. "Obviously, we need to look out for it. But they don't have a sniper, like a Felsner or Roberts or Neaton. Brian Loney (a member of the CCHA all-rookie team) has a good shot, but there really isn't only one guy to concentrate on." Although the two teams are tied for fifth in the conference in power play production, they move in op- posite directions for penalty killing. While Michigan is second at 83.6 percent, Ohio State is last in league at a 70.2 percent clip. What the Wolverines want to concentrate on is winning the whole tournament. They know that the Buckeyes are the first step. "It's the playoffs, and anything can happen, so we've got to play Michigan hockey," David Oliver said. "If you worry too much about Florida Classic awaits Blue softball by Meg Beison Daily Sports Writer The Michigan softball team travels to Tampa this weekend searching for more than just an es- cape from the Arctic temperatures of Ann Arbor. The three-day South Florida Classic consists of four pool- play games with single-elimination play beginning late Saturday and winding up Sunday. Twenty teams will compete in the tournament, including such softball powerhouses as Iowa and Florida State, who are ranked in the top ten. The Wolverines begin pool play today against Illinois-Chicago and Iowa State. Action continues Saturday when they face Eastern Carolina and Connecticut. "Our goal is to win our pool and advance to the final four," Michigan coach Carol Hutchins said. Hutchins is confident that her team is capable of achieving this goal after the valuable experience they gained at the Arizona State Diamond Devil Classic. The Wolverines returned from the trip with a 6-4 record. "I was fairly pleased," Hutchins said. "We got a lot better. We think the team improved as a unit." In order to continue to see im- proved results, the Wolverines will concentrate on two facets of the game in Tampa - pitching and team focus. "We want to see improved per- formance from the pitching staff," r Hutchins said. "We need them to be dominating. We need more strike- outs and shutouts." In terms of team focus, the rem- edy will come in simply playing more games. Hutchins said the team was "a little erratic" in its first action of the season. Bales the other team, it is going to take away from your own play." In other first-round CCHA play- off action, Illinois-Chicago plays at Lake Superior, Ferris State travels to East Lansing to face Michigan State and Miami will square off with Western Michigan in Kalamazoo. l , ,.Veverse ll~ svf $2 ATTENTION ALL UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN STAFF AND STUDENTS! Saturday, March 14th 1 10am - 3pm C4 'MA. 0 - March 19, 20, 21 at the Power Center } ,0 \0QI The M Go Blue Shop is having an Inventory Sale with all Merchandise at Wholesale Prices!! Don't be another pawn... Make your own move... Buy your tickets nowJ S,20"'ell t 'fir? arts Be sure to bring your University of Michigan identification. Yost Ice Arena 1000 South State St. 764-8099 All Sales Final NOON- A C T OIP1 crn