Pages6-The Michigan Daily- Sports Monday - April 13, 1992 h '2{ y' fk Fsluggers k sw epPe ilSt F,° in larx K '°+ 'fy 5,o"n i/a' s~tn i s aWolverine bats ' 5s C come alive inn four. straighta victories tf ij S sEV w l rs 1/ re en S by Meg Beison Daily Sports Writer Penn State got a lesson in what it will take to be a contender in the Big Ten this weekend, as the Wolverines downed the Lady Lions in four games, 10-0, 6-1, 5-2, 6-1. The match up was the first time the two teams have met in confer- ence play and marked Michigan's first four-game sweep since it trounced Ohio State in May of last season. The Wolverines (6-2 Big Ten, 19-15 overall) totaled 27 runs on 40 hits over the weekend. Michigan gained some much needed confi- dence in, the series opener by scoring seven runs in the first inning and three in the second to beat Penn State, 10-0, in a five-inning mercy rule decision. "Our team put together some tough offense," Michigan coach Carol Hutchins said. "Hitting is con- tagious and we hit well. We had a lot of zip." Six Wolverines had two or more hits in the opener. Senior first base- man Heather Lyke went 3-for-4 and scored one run. Juniors Kari and Karla Kunnen, along with sopho- more Tina Martin also led the way by driving in two runs each. turn to her home state. She struck out 10 Penn State hitters over the weekend, including five in the last contest of the series. "Kelly is an all-around athlete," Hutchins said. "She stays ahead of the hitters and makes them hit her pitch." The Wolverines continued their balanced scoring attack as they went on to win the next three games. The closest of the games was Saturday's 5-2 victory. Junior pitcher Julie Clarkson (6-6), who leads Michigan with a 1.76 ERA, went five innings, allowing two runs on two hits, while striking out two. Forbis (4-4) re- lieved Clarkson in the sixth and earned her first collegiate career save, holding the Lady Lions score- less on two hits. The slugfest weekend helped some Wolverines keep up some league-leading statistics. Kari Kunnen, who leads the league in runs scored with 23, tallied five hits against the Lady Lions to cap off a strong offensive week which saw her batting average rise 23 points as she went 7-for-17. Senior co-captain Stacey Heams and Benedict con- tinue to lead the team in doubles as they hit two doubles apiece against Penn State. Kovach Rookie pitcher Kelly Kovach (9- 5, 1.79 earned run average) got the start and went three innings, holding the Lady Lions to one hit while striking out three. Junior Kelly Forbis took over in the fourth and secured the victory by allowing no runs on one hit. Kovach, a three-time All-State and All-League pitcher from Pittsburgh, recorded three of the four victories this weekend in her first re- In one of the only dark moments for the softball team this weekend, Heather Lyke is tagged out while trying to steal second. The hitters swept four games from the Nittany Lions in Univeristy Park, Penn. Lions bring important message to Crisler during Superstar Challenge Pro players, Michigan athletes square off whike enlightening youngsters by Brett Forrest Daily Sports Writer A select few Detroit Lions en- tered Crisler Arena Friday evening minus the hubris tic swagger which accompanies many professional ath- letes today. The occasion was the "Superstar Challenge" and the op- ponents were current Michigan ath- letes. The program, run by Pro Challenge, brings professional ath- letes from the Detroit area into high schools and middle schools through- out Michigan and Ohio. They com- pete against the schools' top athletes and talk about important issues with the students between events. The Lions in attendance were Lomas Brown, Mel Gray, William White, Jack Linn and Derrick Tennell. They were joined by former Lion and current Calgary Stampeder Carl Bland. Barry Sanders and Jerry Ball were conspicuous in their ab- sence. Michigan was represented by a slew of varsity athletes - from members of the women's volleyball squad to a few football players. Headlining Michigan's team were basketball players Freddie Hunter, Kirk Taylor and Leah Wooldridge and football players Ricky Powers and Burnie Legette. They all com- peted in at least one of the seven events. These events included a volley- ball competition won by the Michigan women's volleyball team; a relay race in which the men's baseball team was defeated; a sit- up/push-up race where Brown and White jumped on Wolverine football player Jay Riemersma mid sit-up; a three-point basketball shootout in which Hunter, Taylor and Jen Nuanes wowed the crowd in defeat; three-on-three touch football where NFL strong safety White had no trouble covering two receivers on the basketball court; a five-on-five basketball competition in which Wooldridge fed Hunter on two crowd-pleasing alley-oops and bas- ketball senior Chris Setter dunked in Tennell's face; and a slam-dunk competition where Hunter electrified those in attendance with several earth-shattering displays of athleti- cism. A fun time was had by all as par- ticipants from both sides joked around for the entire evening. There was a deeper reason for the event, though. Between several of the events, a Lions player took the microphone to speak to the fans about something that was important to him. Brown made introductory remarks concern- ing making the right choices in life. Bland spoke of the huge role Christianity has played in his life and decision-making. Finally, White talked of his life and family history and how his religious faith has guided him throughout his life. Powers was glad he took part in the challenge. "I had a real good time," he said. "I was listening to the messages and it made me think a lot about my life." Afterwards White spoke of his commitment to Pro Challenge. "To me it's worth it if one soul is saved," he said. "It's worth the time, because we're not going to save everyone in the gym, we're not going to save ev- eryone that we talk to. "But what we can do, if out of a hundred people we talk to, three lives are changed, then those three people can each save three people. Then it just becomes a chain reac- tion. Whenever I can fit it into my schedule, I do as many (outreaches) aslIcan." These athletes know they occupy an important place in society. That is why they appear in events such as "Superstar Challenge." They want to present a positive role model for young fans. "I think we have an important message to bring people," said Brown when asked why he came out to Crisler. "I think it's important for people to see some of the profes- sional athletes who have come out tonight. It does everybody good." Burnie Legette felt the same. "I like the message behind it - the whole purpose of the whole event," he said. "It is very positive. We need to do something to give back to the youth of today. I feel that I am in a position, along with the rest of the athletes, to help by being a positive role model." Along with Pro Challenge, Athletes in Action and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes were instrumental in bringing the event to the University. Athletes in Action campus direc- tor Bruce Dishnow thought the hap- pening held a vital meaning for the community. "I feel that it is a very needed message - making the right choices," he said. "I think that was communicated very well, about staying away from drugs and alcohol and also where the pros find their strength for making the right choices." The "Superstar Challenge" was enjoyed by a crowd largely made up of children. All of the athletes made time for autographs and pictures. It was a positive experience from start to finish. Bland summed up the rea- soning behind the appearance of the athletes best. "This gives us the opportunity to come out and share our strength and what keeps us going in life," he said. "We had a lot of fun." Kirk Taylor and his three fellow senior cagers were among the Michigan athletes who participated in Friday's Superstar Challenge. Omni I TOIBA I I T200X ETpeI al Bundle Offers T22S0SX 70with university ID - ~ ~ B4Q8U MB h ard disk 220X\T00X/40 & Carry Case -2 MB3 RAM. 5.5 lbs odPerfect 5.1 $2049 3.5" 1.44 MB3 floppy AND 38+6SX,;2( processor T2 X/S)60 & Carry Case + odPerfect 5.1 $2299 Buy a T2200SX and get a Megahertz Pocket Fax/Modem for just $99* ($379 SRP) Limited time only! UNIVERSITY DISCOUNTS on all TOSHIBA models and other hardware..&all for our catalogue. MOST POPULAR SOFTWARE available at guaranteed LOWEST PRICES! 'l 1 HALF OFF*' TILL FALL AT WILLOWTREE DSR, Inc. 800-875.0057 *VISA, Mastercard & American Express Accepted Authorized TOSHIBA Warrantee & Repair Service J .i N MOM" Located on Plymouth Road 2 Miles west of U.S. 23 Directly across from U-M Nlorth Campus W *Certain conditions apply. Lease expires 7/31/93. Presented by HALL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 769-1313 Mon. - Fri., 9-5:30~ Sat., 12-4 " Sun., Closed ILLOWTREE 1 .4 oll e " nor ,e55or vo, vc (,-tog N Nab " NOT ANOTHER i V " 5UMMER AT THE MALL! a " " " " " A student was walking through her dorm when a guy from her sociology class came up to her and continued an argument that had started in class about affirmative action. When she refused to argue with him he walked away mumbling, "You niggers don't belong here anyway." He called it free speech. She paid for it. HATE SPEECH VS. FREE SPEECH a people of color dialogue Come share your experiences and feelings about hate speech. Talk with other people of color about our side - the side that never gets heard. Monday, April 13 ......... .......... 0 The progruam that cuts through the red tape and allows coi: to work in: i