The Michigan Daily - Thursday, February 19, 1998 - 13A Spring forward Westerly winds beckon softball team By Mark Francescutti Daily Sports Writer El Nino is soaking Ann Arbor lately and the Michigan softball team doesn't have spring break off. So isn't now a great time to travel to San Diego for this weekend's Campbell/Cartier Classic? Think again. San Diego's pavement also is expect- ed to be spattered by raindrops when the Wolverines begin their regular season tomorrow Not only does their so-called vacation look to be a washout, but they also play seven straight games tomor- row through Sunday morning. Michigan finished fifth in the NCAA College World Series last summer and begins this season ranked 4th in the pre- season USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll, two spots higher than their final ranking last season. After several fall preseason tourna- ments and a long winter of practice, Michigan coach Carol Hutchins is excit- ed about the start of the season. "We've been practicing indoors all winter. Now we just need to go out and play," Hutchins said. Michigan will try to improve on its record-breaking 1997 season which included 56 victories starting tomorrow against UCLA. The Wolverines will be looking to exact revenge against 17th-ranked UCLA, the team that bounced them from the World Series last season. Michigan is 1-6 in seven outings against the Bruins and hasn't beat UCLA since 1995. Undefeated UCLA also has romped past its opponents so far this season. But the team Michigan might be most concerned with is Louisiana State. This weekend will be the first meet- ing between the two schools, and Louisiana State figures to be one of the top teams in the NCAA this season. "LSU's program has grown immense- ly," Hutchins said. "They will be ranked in the top 15 after this weekend." San Diego State, the host of the Campbell/Cartier Classic, wasn't such a polite host last year, upsetting the Wolverines 4-3. But Michigan does lead the overall series 11-5. Michigan's other opponents - Stanford, Santa Clara, and Eastern Michigan - will be looking to end their losing streaks against the Wolverines. Michigan has won all of its meetings with Stanford and Santa Clara. The Eagles have lost four straight to the Wolverines and eight out of the past ten. "Our goal is to get a gauge of where we're at,' Hutchins said. "All the games are against high-quality teams." For those shocked by the fact that the team plays seven games in one weekend Hutchins has a quick, simple answer. "This is the nature of softball;" she said. ' According to Hutchins, the Wolverines once again have one of the most well-balanced lineups of any team in the NCAA. The Wolverines have solid performers at every position, 12 returning players and plenty of depth. "I feel that that's the key to our strength," Hutchins said. "In each class, we have solid players." PITCHING: Replacing Big Ten pitcher of the year Kelly Holmes won't be easy, but Michigan plans to do just that with the return of All-American Sara Griffin, who missed the final eight weeks of last season with a broken arm. Sophomore Jamie Gillies and fresh- man Marie Barda will join Griffin in the pitching rotation. Gillies had a no-hitter last season and Barda looks to be a force this season and beyond after an impres- sive 92-19 high school pitching record. Breaking in a new freshman pitcher is especially important, as the Wolverines learned last season with Griffin's injury. "We are going to give Maria one inning at a time," Hutchins said. "Every pitch counts." INFIELD: The Michigan infield has a strong foundation with junior All-American - and last season's top offensive player- Traci Conrad at first base. Last season's Big Ten freshman of the year, Melissa Gentile, will most likely replace depart- ing catcher Jen Smith behind the plate sharing the duties with Jennifer McKittrick and freshman Kim Buget Sophomores Pam Kosanke and Karmen Lappo are possibilities at third base, leaving second base and shortstop wide open between four players - sopho- more Stacy Judd and freshmen Melissa Taylor, Chrissy Garza and Rebecca Tune. OUTFIELD: The number two-through-five hitters last season - Cathy Davie, Lisa Kelley, Tammy Mika and Kellyn Tate - will share the responsibilities in the outfield. Hutchins most likely will rotate the four to optimize each player's ability. FILE PHOTO As she begins her final season at Michigan, pitcher Sara Griffin remains one of the nation's top players. After missing the final two months of last year with a broken arm, she is healthy again and will lead the Wolverines to San Diego this weekend. baseball Likely Michigan softball positions OF Cathy Davie, Tammy Mika, Kellyn Tate, Lisa Kelley to Open In Texas y Chris Duprey aily Sports NV iter Like federal marshals there a few years ago, the Michigan baseball team plans to come out firing when it travels to Waco, Texas, for an opening weekend, three-game series with No. 22 Baylor. Coach Geoff Zahn enters his fourth season at the helm with what may be his best chance to take Michigan to the NCAA tournament. The Wolverines compiled a 36-22 #cord on the way to the Big Ten regular season championship last year. This sea- son, Michigan looks to win 40 games, the so-called magic number needed to earn a berth in the NCAAs. "We need to focus on the mid-week games the most," said outfielder Jason Alcaraz. "We have a tendency to come off of a big weekend and have a let- down." Baylor will have an advantage against e Wolverines, having played nine games already. After being swept in its opening three-game series at Arizona, Baylor has rebounded, winning its past six. Bayl or's Kip Wells is rated the No. 10 major league prospect in the country according to Baseball America, and Michigan will have the dubious pleasure Hof facing him on one of the three days. Wells' fastball is his go-to pitch, as it *as last year when he struck out 79 bat- ters in 79 1/3 innings. The Wolverines aren't fazed by him, however after prac- ieing on their own fireballer all winter, - -J.J. Putz. "He's good." said outfielder Jason Alcaraz. "But after facing Putz all win- ter, we're ready." Baylor's bullpen can also hold the ;opposition. Jason Jennings, an all-Big '2 selection, returns as the closer for the 4ears, after saving 10 games last season. Two big bats, James Blair and Jeremy Dodson, solidify Baylor's lineup. Blair hit .376 last season with ten home runs. Dodson is a tough out as well, posting a .337 batting average with 15 home runs in 97. For the Wolverines, senior Derek Besco and junior Bryan Besco will play the majority of games at right field and first base, respectively. Derek, after hitting .391 in '97, is ~ooking to make his final season his best. But last season will be difficult to top, where he earned First Team all-Big Ten honors. 38 Pam Kosanke/. Karmen Lappo Middle Infield Melissa Taylor, Chrissy Garza, Rebecca Tune, Stacey Judd SP Sara Griffin Jamie Gillies Marie Barda 1B Traci Conrad C Melissa Gentile, Jennifer McKittrick, Kim Bugel Likely Michigan baseball positions CF Dan Sanborn/ Brian Bush !.F Jason AEc araz/ Rob Bob~eda RF Derek Besco WARREN Z INN/Daily The Michigan baseball team returns the bulk of its pitching staff from last season, placing the Wolverines in an enviable position. One season after winning the Big Ten championship, they are setting their sights on a larger goal - the NCAA tournament. S$ Brian 2B Bobby Kalczynski Sae SP Brian Steinbach Brian Cranson J.J Puitz 38 Mike 18B Brian Cervenak Besco RP Tyler Stek'etee Matt Herr Robbie Reid C Mick Kalahar w wU r w w. w ~ His best hitting competition could come from his twin brother Bryan, who will play almost every day as well. Bryan brings his .344 batting average from 97, when he edged Derek in round trippers, with 15. Mick Kalahar will see most of the action behind the plate. Kalahar, a senior, hit only .234 in '97, but brings back the defensive and pitch-calling skills that earned him the starting job. Bobby Scales will make the transition to second base this season after occupy- ing the designated hitter role in '97. Fighting a nagging injury, Scales will probably start this weekend. If Scales can't go, freshman Scott Tousa will step in. Senior captain Brian Kalczynski, after hitting .350 and earning first team all-Big Ten honors last season, will start at shortstop. Mike Cervenak has a good hold on the hot corner this season, after hitting .342 in the '97 campaign. Alcaraz and sophomore Rob Bobeda will split time in left field, with Alcaraz having a slight edge. Both hit for high averages in '97. "Rob had an outstanding freshman year;' Harrison said. "He was one of our best all-around players." Center field will be a platoon of Dan Sanborn and Brian Bush -- each hit over .333 last season. Either way, the Wolverines should be solid in center. Michigan returns all of its starting pitchers. Brian Steinbach posted a 9-4 mark in last season in 13 starts. Bryan Cranson, the lone left-hander, is coming off of a solid 6-3 season. Also, Putz returns better than ever, adding some velocity to the fastball that helped him to a 5-1 mark in '97. Closer Tyler Steketee, who tied a Michigan record by saving 10 ball- games last year, is a late-innings fire- man. Steketee fanned 42 hitters in 40 2/3 innings in '97, a key statistic for pre- venting inherited baserunners from crossing the plate. Robbie Reid and Matt Herr will join the team after they finish their respec- tive seasons on the basketball and hock- ey teams. Both should see action in mid- dle relief or in the outfield. "We'll see how long it takes for them to get in baseball shape,' Harrison said. University of Wisconsin-P latteville 1 "If you have built rustles in i/hecail; your work nzeed not be last. That is where they should be. Now put the fouindations under them., -Henry David Thoreau EAT-IN lWYORK , UPZ A UEPW TAKE-OUT W~ i CATERING 605 E. William St. " Ann Arbor t L A tAR - L LA IL V ar Learn Your Way Around The World " Study abroad in Seville, Spain, or London, England, for a summer, for a semester or for a full academic year " Courses in liberal arts and international business " Fluency in a foreign language ngt required " Home-stays with meals " Field trips taxes of 4.U I to avove prices.