12A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, March 26, 1998
Barda: Strikeouts are
nice, but not exactly
'exciting' in the field
By Rick Freeman
Daily Sports Writer
Pitchers simply don't like it when a
hitter gets a bat on their pitch. When
they see the ball leap off an opposing
hitter's bat, they get edgy. And they
don't exhale until the batter heads
back to the dugout.
But Marie Barda's not just any
pitcher, and when she and the rest of
the Michigan softball team head to
Bloomington this weekend, she won't
be completely upset if the Hoosiers
make contact with her pitches. In fact,
she'd welcome the chance. to make
some plays of her own in the field.
But why would a pitcher like field-
iig the ball?
"It's just really exciting" Barda said,
trying to explain. "It goes so quickly."
She said it's the most exciting part
.of softball - running down a bunt,
then turning and whipping the ball to
teammate Traci Conrad at first base. It
makes sense for a fielder to think that
way, but a pitcher?
Barda didn't face the same level of
competition in high school as she does
now, and she even said she would get
bored with the almost-constant stream
of strikeouts of her pre-college days.
And who can blame her? Her pitches
so befuddled high school opponents,
they resorted to bunting just to make
contact with the ball.
So maybe that's it. She was bored.
And when the rare chance came to
,spring into action, she pounced. But in
high school, when she also played
first base, Barda said she didn't have
the same hunger for fielding.
But now, she just pitches. And she's
found that it makes her enjoy fielding
the ball even more. But she can't quite
explain it.
She talks about how she likes the
action, how she likes having to react
quickly. She mentions the pressure of
the situation. And then she hits on the
reason.
"Its all up to me to get the out."
Barda said.
The freshman said she likes the
pressure and the competition of col-
lege life - including, of course, get-
ting more of a chance to field better
hitters.
So, still bored?
"I'm not bored at all," she said.
She might find herself bored this
weekend if the thunderstorms predict-
ed for central Indiana open up on
Bloomington.
She might find herself wishing she
were bored if Indiana finds a way to
hit her pitches out of her reach - and
everyone else's. But that shouldn't be
a problem for the second-ranked team
in the country. Barda's changeup -
her favorite - should give the
Hoosiers fits when she pitches.
And if the Hoosiers aren't facing
Barda, they'll face either the 23-
strikeout average (last season) of
sophomore Jamie Gillies or this sea-
son's .069 earned run average of
senior Sarah Griffin.
Gillies and Barda are still looking
for their first decisions this season.
Barda, of course, is looking for a little
extra. As fun as it is to make an out for
her team, there's still something else
Barda likes even more.
Strikeouts, of course.
'M' baseball
cruises, 14-6
By Andy Latack
Daily Sports Writer
Michigan baseball coach Geoff Zahn was worried about hi
team being rusty, and with good reason. The Wolverines' pas
five games were cancelled due to weather, leaving the tea
with a dangerous idle stretch preceding the beginning of
conference season.
As it turns out, Zahn had little to Worry about. Th
Wolverines showed no signs of sluggishness yesterday, blast
ing Ball State, 14-6, in their home opener at Fisher Stadium.
Behind a massive 12-run fifth inning, Michigan (6-9-1) go
a much-needed victory before beginning the Big Ten season a
lllinois this weekend.
"We needed this game big-time, and we played well for no
playing for nine days," Zahn said. "We came out and swung th
bats, and played pretty well defensively."
It took the Wolverines a while to get their bats going, b
starting pitcher Mike Hribernik gave them all the time t
needed. The right-hander shut down the Cardinals, allowi
just three hits and no runs in five innings. He faced just 16 bat
ters in his appearance, and could have stayed in the game, bu
Zahn wanted to use the blowout as a chance to prepare more o
his pitching staff for this weekend's series with the Illini,
Junior Ryan Kelley took over for Hribernik in the sixt
inning and gave up two runs in two innings. He was replacedi
the eigthth by Vince Pistilli, who allowed four runs. Freshma
Nick Alexander pitched the ninth to close out the game.
"We got good pitching out of Hribemik:' Zahn said."
we got some innings for some guys who haven't been abl
pitch. That was big for us."
Another bright spot for the Wolverines was their hitting
which came alive in the bottom of the fifth inning against Bal
State pitcher Jamie Spottz. After second baseman Scott Tous
and third baseman Mike Cervenak reached base on singley
Ball State shortstop Brian Dorrmann booted Derek Bescoa
ground ball, loading the bases.
In the next at bat, Bryan Besco lined the ball up the middle
scoring Tousa and Cervenak and giving the Wolverines a 3-
lead. Shortstop Brian Kalczynski then singled in Besco, open
ing the floodgates for a major Wolverine rally.
When it was all over, Michigan had scored 12 runs, cappe
off by Bryan Besco's three-run homer in his second at bat
the inning.
"We had a pretty good game today," said Tousa, who
3-for-5 with two RBI. "We finally got some runs on the boar
and got to blow somebody out. It feels pretty good."
is just a big jok
ey're gonna win it side of the Atlantic. He also fell i
love with another American cultur
Buyukuncu's love standby - ESPN. Espeically a ce
standing joke on tain show that showed highlights o
his Bulls every night.
oke is his favorite But SportsCenter wasn't merely
o Bulls. way to follow his Bulls, or even a wa
Questions to to satify his appetite for sports. H
his teammates learned to speak better Englis
about his love for watching the show,
the five-time No, he doesn't feel the need to giv
NBA champions new names to his teammates or spea
draw eye rolls and in clever phrases. But every morning
smiling groans. after early practice, he goes back t
"He's a foreign- his apartment and watches hi
er, and all for- favorite show with bagels and cereal
eigners love the But his final morning swim is Qyg
Bulls," Malchow and done. This is his last mee"tj'
says. Michigan. Three races and that's:iti
Urbanchek He can still practice, and will d;
Buyukuncu has until he graduates next DecerM
y himself in the But he said he won't be able to cQ
tribute to the team anymore,
ears Malchow and that's the worst part about leaving.
is Thompson. He's not done yet. He can still W
s Derya like the a national title for Michigan. And
won't let distractions hurt his fi'n
Thompson shoots act.
Even the Bulls game during tomorr
id his precious night's finals won't distract him. Soi
in Turkey, and things are more important, after all.
a just in time to He can always catch it
rid title from this SportsCenter.
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Buyukuncu's Bul
69
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LIME
Continued from Page 11A
"Tom, how you get the lime in the
coconut?"
No limes or coconuts seem to be
lying around, until Urbanchek points
to a printout of Stanford's swimming
website on the bulletin board.
Oddly enough, it pictures a lime
and a coconut, and the question that
Urbanchek has been repeatedly pos-
ing is written across it.
The swimmers take notice, and one
finally bites.
"So what is it?"
"I don't know" Urbanchek says. "I
guess we'll find out."
"1 think it's pretty stupid," another
swimmer pipes up, barely concealing
the team's feelings toward the
Cardinal.
U ..
Malchow and Buyukuncu stand
together watching their teammates
race at the end of practice. They lean
toward one another, occasionally nod-
ding.
Discussing strategy? Two
Olympians combining notes before
their big races?
No. Hoops.
"Yeah, the Nuggets," Buyukuncu
says,
all."
Malchow smiles.
for basketball is a
the team.
The only bigger j
team - the Chicag
laughing. "Th
1
+K
t
i
c
E
E
c
Buyukuncu
wanders over, but
drifted off to bury
sports section.
Urbanchek overhe
grabs a passing Chr
"Hey, Chris, doe
Bulls?" he asks.
"Oh, just a little,"'
back.
Buyukuncu four
Bulls growing up
moved to Californi
catch their first wo
announces the arrival of the
1997-98 University of Michigan
alary $u pplement!
WHO: Al interested persons..
WHAT: SalaFy Supplement
WHEN: NoWm
(8:30 a.n.-S p.m.) until they're gone!
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Mastercard, VIsa, or cash sales only! Sorry, no checks.
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(Please, no campus-mail orders.)