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Grpf b reaks arm, fture uncertain
Pitcher has surgery after bunting incident
By Josh Kieinbaum
Daily Sports Writer
It was supposed to be a sacrifice bunt, nothing
more. But when the ball came off Brandi Macias'
bat Saturday, the Iowa right fielder delivered what
could be the most damaging blow to the Michigan
softball team this season. .i
First baseman Traci Conrad and third This
baseman Sara Griffin were both pinched weel
in at the corners, anticipating the bunt. It 'M' mis
wasn't even a good bunt - a little pop- Griffin a
up in front of home plate. Conrad was swept a
charging. Griffin was charging. Neither For the
player heard the other call for the ball. see Pag
"It was so quick and instantaneous;
they just collided," said Sara's father, Casey
Griffin. "They were both diving for it, making
tremendous efforts, and they dove into each other."
Immediately, the severity of the collision was
apparent. Griffin and Conrad were both lying on
the ground, injured. Yet somehow, Conrad had
come up with the ball.
The two left the game and were brought to the
local hospital.
Conrad was diagnosed with a mild concussion
and a sprained left shoulder. She missed the final
game of the series yesterday, and is listed as day-
- to-day.
But Griffin's injury is much more seri-
kend ous. She was diagnosed with a both-
sed bone fracture of her left arm, which
and was ~means that both her radius and her ulna
at Iowa. were broken. She was operated on yes-
story, terday in Ann Arbor by Dr. James
ge 61. Carpenter, an assistant professor of
orthopedic surgery at the University. The
surgery was successful. Two plates were put in her
lower left arm to set the bones, one on each.
"It's not all that common with athletes,"
Carpenter said. "But it's a fairly common proce-
dure. It probably happens a couple times a week at
See GRIFFIN, Page 6B
Sara Griffin was not happy about breaking her arm against Iowa.
Blake Sloan assisted on teammate Harold Schock's. - .- _ .
Blake Sloan assisted on teammate Harold Schock's
oal in the U.S.'s 5.4, overtime loss to Canada.
Schock, Sloan
score for U.S.
Defensemen trade maize and
Sblue for red, white and blue
By Jim Rose
Daily Sports Writer
DETROIT - Friday night, a pair of Michigan hock-
ey players ... er, former Michigan hockey players -
seniors Harold Schock and Blake Sloan - found them-
selves in an unfamiliar situation.
Never mind that their temporary team, Team USA,
was on the disappointing end of a 5-4, overtime loss to
Team Canada in the inaugural World University
H4ockey Championship at Joe Louis Arena.
What was really strange was that even though
Michigan coach Red Berenson was in the building, the
outgoing Wolverines were taking orders from Michigan
State coach Ron Mason.
Mason coached the team of U.S.-born seniors, while
Berenson watched the game from the stands.
Team USA also featured players such as Shawn
Bates - star of the Boston University team that
bounced Michigan from the NCAA tournament last
week - and Michigan State's Tony Tuzzolino.
*"It was nice to play with those guys for a change,
instead of having to hold them back all the time' Sloan
said. "They're good guys. They just happen to wear the
wrong colors, that's all."
Sloan was an assistant captain for Team USA, while
Schock was added to the roster Tuesday as a late
replacement for Boston defenseman Jon Coleman, who
withdrew for personal reasons.
Once the action started, Schock wasted no time mak-
ing his presence felt. He started the game on the blue
line with Sloan and scored the first goal of the night,
5:32 after the opening faceoff. Sloan got the only assist
on the goal.
Berenson, who watched from the stands, said after
the game that he was impressed with the pair.
"They had a strong showing," Berenson said. "They
played well; they played hard. They definitely belong
out there."
Team USA led for much of the night, and seemed to
be headed for a victory, before Canada tied the game
with 0.9 seconds remaining in regulation. Less than two
minutes into overtime, the Canadians scored to win.
See HOCKEY, Page 3B6
1
s s
Michigan
win s region
beats 'Bamla
Tide had won 10 straight
By Jacob Wheeler
Daily Sports Writer
We are the champions, my friend - and we'll keep on
fighting till the end.
Those magnificent words of Queen were finally heard
over the loud speaker late Saturday evening in Crisler
Arena after the Michigan women's gymnastics team
rocked the Central Regional championships en route to
an overwhelming 197.7-196.25 victory over second-
place Alabama.
Saturday marked the end of an era of the Crimson
Tide's domination in the Central Region as Michigan
stopped Alabama's streak of 10 consecutive regional
championships.
"The regional title is something that has eluded us for
a number of years," Michigan coach Bev Plocki said.
"It's something that we've waited a long time for, but we
knew we had a great opportunity to do it this year."
After showing their poker face all season, the
Wolverines finally played their ace Saturday, recording
the highest all-around score in school history.
Michigan dominated from the beginning, scoring a
49.55 on the vault after opening with a first-round bye.
Alabama faltered on its first event, the uneven bars, with
a 48.525.
Michigan sophomore Lisa Simes and freshman Sarah
Cain recorded stellar vault scores - as usual - with a
9.95 and a 9.925, respectively. Simes tied with Louisiana
See REGIONALS, Page 4B
Senior Andrea McDonald scored an impressive 9.875 on the beam - just third best among the Wolverines.
Sweet thing
Candy Cain likes her licorice, gymnastics
By Sara Rontal
Daily Sports Writer
W herever Sarah Cain goes, a
bag of licorice goes with her.
As she walks on the beam or
sits on the vault, she is always seen
munching on candy.
And again after practice, like a little
kid, Cain prances around the floor, all
smiles, Twizzlers in hand.
Yes, she is 18. Yes, she is a fresh-
man. But no, she is not a child in gym-
nastics by any means.
Although the Central Regional meet
Cain's hopes for winning an all-
around title were dashed when she
took two hard falls on the balance
beam, scoring a season-low 8.85 on
the apparatus.
"I was really disappointed in myself
for falling, but I am glad the team did
well," Cain said.
The Wolverines, ranked second in
the nation going into Saturday's meet,
won the Central Regional title, their
first in 10 years.
As a freshman, Cain has experienced
a great season, especially in the Big
of the year and gymnast of
the year.
Only one other Wolverine,
Beth Wymer, has ever received
both awards, and Wymer won
three NCAA championships.
Notonly did the meet earn
Cain the awards, but on the bus
ride home, her teammates pre-
sented her with the most coveted
award of all - Cherry Twizzler
Pull 'N Peels.
Twizzlers are her favorite food,
and it makes one wonder how an
Harold Schock didn't i
even know he was
going to play Friday -
until Michigan team-
mate Peter Bourk's
r;
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