idjgan ?DiI Up in the air The Michigan baseball team's game against Toledo, scheduled for 3 p.m. this afternoon, has been cancelled because of poor weather DT conditions. It has not yet been rescheduled. Thursday's game against Oakland University may also be cancelled. Wednesday March 27, 1996 11 Michigan softball looks to continue recent dominance By Andy Knudsen Daily Sports Writer Ordinarily, a 5-1 weekend record and a tournament title would be enough to satisfy a coach. But Michigan softball coach Carol Hutchins would have liked to add another dash of sugar to her team's already heavily sweetened weekend at the Tennessee Tournament of Champions. "We definitely would have liked to be 6-0," Hutchins said. "We should have won our first game." In that game against Southwest Mis- souri, the No. 10 Wolverines (21-8) had nine hits but could only manage one run. Three errors also did not help Michigan's cause in the 2-1 loss in eight innings. But the Wolverines quickly recov- ered and instituted a new game plan -- complete domination. In the remaining five contests, Michigan outscored its opponents 46- 1. That's right, 46-1. Quick math dictates that one run allowed in five games equals four shutouts. Not only did the Wolverine pitch- ing staff - namely junior Kelly Holmes and sophomore Sara Griffin - give an excellent performance, they put on a clinic: Holmes threw a no-hitter Saturday against Indiana State, her second of the season and the team's third; Grif- fin pitched a one-hitter in Sunday's title game versus Austin Peay; and Griffin and senior Tracy Carr com- bined for a one-hitter as Michigan demolished Morehead State. Hutchins, though, doesn't like to get too worked up over no-hitters. "I don't focus on no-hitters; I focus on winning," she said. "I tell Holmes that the key is her down ball and just hitting her targets." The Wolverines also packed their offense for the trip to Tennessee, and Morehead State found out the hard way. Michigan sent a school-record 25 players across home plate in only five innings in the most lopsided game of its 19-year history. Junior catcher Jennifer Smith went 8-for-13 (.615 batting average) in the tournament and earned Most Valu- able Player honors. Carr also made the all-tournament team with a .444 batting average (8-for-18). Smith and Carr had five RBI and two extra-base hits apiece. The Wolverines should have a lot of confidence as the tournament sea- son ends - they have won 12 of 14 games over the last two weekends. But at 2 p.m. today. Michigan be- gins the season where seven innings against one opponent just isn't enough -- doubleheader season. This afternoon's twinbill sends the Wolverines to Notre Dame to face a Fighting Irish squad also known for its strong pitching. "Their pitching is always solid and they are a big rival," Hutchins said. "We need to be disciplined at the We need to be disciplined at the plate. That's how you beat good pitching'." - Carol Hutchins Michigan softball coach plate. That's how you beat good pitch- ing." The Irish (18-10) lead the overall series, 3-2, and will be looking to avenge two losses to Michigan in last year's NCAA Region I Tournament. Hutchins hopes the team can im- prove in a couple areas before the conference season starts Saturday. "Our defense needs to pick the ball up a little better." she said. "If we did that, maybe we wouldn't havedropped that first game (to Southwest Mis- souri). "(But) we're learning what we're capable of and that's what the pre- season is all about." Michigan's Sara Griffin (right) has been nearly unhittable lately. Last weekend, the sophomore Itcher tossed a he-hitter against Austin Peay and combined with senior Tracy Carr for a one-hitter against Morehead State. MARK FRIEDMAN/Daily Today's games Michigan vs. Notre Dame When: 2 p.m. (doubleheader) Where: Ivy Field, Notre Dame, Ind. Records: Michigan 21-8, Notre Dame 18-10 Rankings: Michigan No. 10, Notre Dame unranked Boston University 's Pandolfo a leader both on and off the ice By Scott Lauber The Daily Free Press Hockey captains are easily recog- nized by the "C" they wear on their sweaters. Perhaps Boston University captain Jay Pandolfo should have donned a red "S" and a red cape in- stead. That's because Pandolfo has been the Terriers' Superman this season, leading the team to another success- ful campaign in a year of triumph and tragedy on Babcock Street. Last week- end, Hockey East rewarded the mild- mannered senior with its Piayer of the Year award and a spot on its All-Star Team. "It's a real nice honor, especially after the season I had last year," Pandolfo said. "There were plenty of ther guys who could've gotten it. It's a nice honor, getting voted on by other coaches." After being sidelined much of his junior year with numerous aches and pains, ranging from a strained ab- dominal muscle to a lacerated left hand, Pandolfo has been an iron man for the Terriers this season. His num- bers speak for themselves. The (Burlington, Mass. native leads the Terriers with 38 goals, four hat tricks, 13 power-play tallies and six short- handed goals, making him one of the leading candidates for the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to col- lege hockey's top player. Though that award usually goes to great goal scorers, Pandolfo's great- est asset is not his scoring ability. In a year that has seen the Terriers capture Hockey East's regular season cham- pionship and the Beanpot Tournament crown, it has also witnessed a devas- tating injury to Terrier fresh- man forward Travis Roy. The rei Roy was Para- he's su lyzed after crashing into le de i thesboards in $$$$E $$ the season guys resp o p e n e r . 5 P a n d o I f o ' s leadership in Boston Univers the locker room helped hold the team together in a time when many players could have come emotionally unglued. "I thought (being captain) would be a lot harder early in the year after Travis got hurt, but a lot of guys, like Bobby Lachance and Doug Wood and even some of the juniors stepped up in the locker room," Pandolfo said. "There are a lot of leaders on this A It team, so it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be." Modesty is another one of Pandolfo's qualities. His teammates are quick to credit him with easing the tense situation in the locker room af- ter Roy's accident. Pandolfo's com- munication with his teammates was crucial in maintaining the team's fo- cus while continuing to remember their fallen team- mate. Before every son Why practice, the cap- tain hangs Roy's I orange practicejer- sey on the glass, and after every Ph h game, he carries Shthe freshman's - Tom Noble sweater with him in y goaltender the handshake line. I think the rea- son why he's such a good leader is all the guys respect him and listen to his opinion," Terrier goaltender Tom Noble said. "Jay's just an easy kid to talk to. He treats the freshmen the same way he treats the seniors. "I remember last year as a freshman that it's tough coming in, but (last season's captain) Jacques (Joubert) and all the veterans made me feel like I was a part of the team. Jay has done the same thing. He hangs out with everybody and he makes everyone feel comfortable." The toughest stretch of the season for Pandolfo and the Terriers will come when they take the ice against Michigan Thursday night in the NCAA semifinals. There are no easy games in the playoffs, and if Pandolfo wants tojoin the elite group of Terrier captains with a national champion- ship, he must continue to set a good example for the rest of the team. "I'm just making sure I'm always working hard, and that keeps every- one else disciplined," Pandolfo said. "I make sure I'm working hard in the weight room. I try to always be on time and not screw anything up." "He leads by example, and he's a great leader and a great player," Noble said. After his col- legiate career ends, a profes- Pandolfo sional hockey fu- ture lies ahead for Pandolfo. Hisseniorsuccess bodes well for the NHL's New Jersey Dev- ils, who selected Pandolfo in the see- ond round of the N H L entry draft. But before he thinks of a professional fu- ture, Pandolfo has unfinished busi- ness in the playoffs. "I know we'll be ready for the rest of our games from here on in," Pandolfo said. "We know we don't have a second chance if we lose, so I want to make sure everybody's ready to play every single night. If we do that, we'll go a long way." So, while he may not be able to leap Walter Brown Arena in a single bound, this Superman may just spur his team to its second consecutive national title -just as any good captain would. I I w here sum r' Cedar Point has over 3,500 job openings for the summer of 1996. Plus, we have housing available for employees 18 years of age and older. But more important, interviews for all summer jobs are coming up soon, and the sooner you interview, the better your chances of getting the job you want most. So come talk to us, and you may find the answer to that nagging question. FOR MSA PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT Jefe & Mesh Interviews will be held at: University of Michigan - Dearborn University Mallt Wednesday, March 27 12 noon - 7 p.m. Sandusky, Ohio No appointment necessary. EOE. 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