UTiertckfttIguuPlg Sottball postponed by weather The Michigan softball team's matchup with Purdue was postponed due to snow and cold yesterday. The doubleheader was rescheduled for today at 1 p.m. Due to the scheduling change, today's doubleheader against non-conference opponent Western Michigan had to be postponed. A makeup date has not been announced. II Wednesday April 17, 1996 10 'M' basketball under NCAA investigation By Brent McIntosh Daily Sports Editor The 1996 Ford Explorer crashed Feb. 17 by Michigan basketball player Maurice Taylor is under investiga- tion by the NCAA, according to a " letter from an NCAA enforcement representative to Michigan Director of Athletics Joe Roberson. The letter from Guy Troupe, dated March 11, also informs Roberson that the vehicle or vehicles of at least one other Michigan basketball player are under investigation. Which players' vehicles are under scrutiny is speci- fied in the letter, which The Michi- gan Daily obtained under the Michi- gan Freedom of Information Act, but University officials concealed that information from members of the media by whiting out portions of the letter. Among its various inquiries, the NCAA asked the department to re- port whether it believes "that viola- tions of NCAA legislation concern- ing recruiting inducements, extra benefits or amateurism have occurred with any of these vehicles." In the letter, which follows a report by the University and preliminary interviews conducted by the NCAA, Troupe wrote that "It seems appro- priate to further review this informa- tion." The letter went on to request that the University provide a comprehen- sive review of the ownership and fi- nancing of Taylor's vehicle, along with answering broader questions about the Athletic Department's ve- hicle registration program. "(It) would be appreciated if the institution would review Taylor's use of the vehicle ... and arrangement for vehicles used by other men's basket- ball student-athletes and include the results in a written report to the en- forcement staff by April 12, 1996," Troupe wrote. Taylor crashed the Explorer in the early morning while carrying Michi- gan players Willie Mitchell, Louis Bullock, Robert Traylor and Ron Oliver, along with Flint Northern se- nior Mateen Cleaves. The only major injury in the one-car accident was a broken arm suffered by Traylor. The program quit recruiting Cleaves after the incident; he has since said he will play at Michigan State next year. Taylor's vehicle belonged to his aunt, Ford employee Sabrina Lloyd, who , according to The Detroit News, claimed she bought it under the "A Plan" discount available to her. While probable references to Lloyd are whited out of the letter - so that her name appears nowhere on the released See INVESTIGATION, Page 11 JOE WESTRATE/Daily The Ford Explorer driven by Maurice Taylor, with four other Wolverines and then-recruit Mateen Cleaves as passengers, crashed Feb. 17. The NCAA will investigate the vehicles driven by Taylor and at least one other Michigan basketball player. The University decided not to recruit Cleaves after the incident as punishment for possible recruiting violations. tennis akes By Richard Shin Daily Sports Writer In a battle between two Midwestern men's tennis powerhouses, Michigan is truly the leader and best. The No. 27 Wolverines swept all six singles matches and won two out ofthree doubles matches in pounding No. 31 Notre Dame, 7-0, at Liberty Sports Com- plex yesterday. Michigan, which was ranked second ,in the region behind the Fighting Irish entering yesterday's match, extended its winning streak to a season-high seven matches. "(The Wolverines) came out with fire in their eyes and played really hard," Notre Dame coach Bobby Bayliss said. "They out-competed us and out-coached r us. It's the worst we've been beaten in p years. "It was a good old fashioned butt- ikicking." The win was especially satisfying for the Michigan seniors on the squad, who defeated Notre Dame for the first time in their careers. Michigan's No. 1 singles player, Peter Pusztai, who is ranked No. a 22, won for the first time ever over No. 42 Mike Sprouse, defeating the Irish senior in three sets. "Mike and I are No. 1 and 2 in the region, so I really got pumped up for the match," Pusztai said. "I was a lot more focused." Fellow Michigan seniorJohn Costanzo was also victorious, battling through in- juries to win a three-set match over Ryan Simme, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2. The victory im- proved Costanzo's record at No.2 singles to 19-15. "I have never beaten (Notre Dame) before today," Costanzo said, "We just wanted to come here and win, and to sweep them 7-0 is just unbelievable." The third senior on the Wolverines, Geoff Prentice, defeated John O'Brien in another three-set match, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2, at fifth singles. The win moved Prentice to 1 1-17 for the season. "Four years ago, we never would have imagined that we would beat Notre Dame 7-0," Prentice said. "We just worked so hard and out-competed them this time. It's just a great feeling." Four years ago, when Pusztai, Costanzo and Prentice were freshmen, Michigan finished in eighth place in the Big Ten at 8-14. This season, the three seniors have been integral to a team that has now secured the top seed in the Big Ten tour- nament for the second consecutive year. "Just to beat them would have been an accomplishment," Prentice said. "It feels good for us because when we got here, we were horrible, and now we've turned this team around." The Wolverines dropped to No. 27 in the new rankings, released yesterday, but Michigan coach Brian Eisner said that the rating was not indicative of the team's recent performance. The Wolverines have now won seven consecutive matches heading into the final Big Ten match against Iowa on April 20. "We're getting better and better," Eisner said. "I cannot think of a win in the last 10 years I have enjoyed more than this one." Softball. ready to debut at Olympics By Dan Stillman Daily Sports Writer America's "Dream Team" is ready to compete in the Atlanta Games this summer- and we're not talking bas- ketball. One of the United States' best op- portunities to win a gold medal in' could come in a sport making Olympic debut- women's fast-pitch softball. . A 20-year drive to make the top participation sport in the world an Olympic one culminated in June of 1991 when softball was awarded full- medal status for this year's games. Now, players around the world, in- cluding some current Wolverines, have a new ultimate goal, in many ways due to the work of the Amat Softball Association of America. Since the first world championship of softball was held in 1965, Don Porter, executive director of ASAA, has led the drive to make softball popular internationally and obtain Olympic status. Over the past two decades, Porter and the ASAA took coaches and play- ers around the world, introducing soft- ball to many of the 101,countries t* now compete internationally. All the while, the United States domination of the sport has been stag- gering. Since 1986, the United States' record of 110-1 in international play has earned it 11 gold medals. In the past three Pan American Games, America has accumulated a 30-0 record and outscored its oppo- nents, 83-1. In November's Pan Ameri i Qualifier in Guatemala, the United States went 15-0, shutting out its op- ponents 118-0., while posting a team ERA of 0.00. The '96 Olympic team consists of the 15 best players in the country, as determined by a seven-person selec- tion committee that spent three years attending softball events across the country and the world. The search ended in Olympic try- outs and the Olympic camp, which was held this past September. Although no Wolverines "made the team, two current and two former Michigan players were among those who were invited to try out. Current Michigan sophomore pitcher Sara Griffin and junior out- fielder Kellyn Tate, along with former shortstop Bonnie Tholl and former slugger Patti Benedict, made it d> into the tryout process. All four stayed alive until the final cuts and are considered among the top 65-70 players in the country. Tholl, now an assistant coach for Michigan, was invited to the Olympic tryouts after making a good showing on the U.S. Pan American Games qualifying team. "It was kind of like the making dream," Tholl said. "It's one of most exciting things I've ever done." Tholl hopes the world will finally understand what fast-pitch softball is all about. "A lot of people think (softball) is always slow-pitch with big, fat, lazy people playing," Tholl said. "People don't know the action in the game." Mike Candrea, coach of softball powerhouse Arizona, views the Olym- pics as a chance for the sport to attention. "The one thing that's always been missing in softball is exposure," Candrea said. In an attempt to increase exposure leading up to the Games in July, the U.S. team will go on a pre-Olympic tour, playing games against clubs anc regional all-star teams in 21 cities. The tour, which begins in Sa mento on April 26, will take the te across the country before ending ur in Atlanta in July. Although the youngest member o the team isr18 years old, the averag age is 26 or 27, according to ASA director of communications Rot iUNYA BOUAU/Uaily Michigan's No. 1 singles player Peter Pusztal defeated Mike Sprouse of Notre Dame in three sets yesterday to lead the Wolverines to a 7-0 sweep of the Fighting Irish. Michigan Is No. 27 in the nation and has won seven consecutive matches. The Wolverines have one regular season match left on their schedule, this Saturday against Iowa. The Big Ten championships begin April 25 and the NCAA regionals get underway May 3. I Introducing The Amtrak Explore America Fare. Over 500 Destinations. Unlimited Stopovers. One Low Price. Plus Discounts From Five Of Choice Hotels' Chains, Avis, And AmtralC* When You Pay With VISA. Ok, you've survived lectures on the Peloponnesian War and your midterms .so grabvour ....-_ What's more, when you pay with VISA, you'll also get: * 5% off Amtrak sleeping accommodations. (*Not anolicable to fares). And with the Student Advantage Card you'll get an additional 15% off Amtrak fares. For more information la" i m. i