16 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, October 6, 1999 - - -~ 0 / W ; ; ,: Ward leads Astros' way against Maddux ATLANTA (AP) - Daryle Ward. who started the season in Triple-A, is making a big impact in October for the Houston Astros. Ward's leadoff homer against Greg Maddux in the sixth inning sent the Astros on their way to a 6-1 victory yesterday over the Atlanta Braves in Game I of the NL Division Series. The win provided hope that Houston will end its history of playoff failures, and was a troubling start for a team with its own postseason struggles. "This is great, but we've got a long way to go," Houston's Jeff Bagwell said. "It's only one game against the Atlanta Braves. They can come back in a heartbeat." The Braves have made an unprece- dented eight straight playoff appear- ances, with only one World Series title to show for it. Now, they've got to win three of the next four games against Houston. "The noose tightens a little quicker in the short series" Chipper Jones said. "It's important for us all to bring our 'A' games to the ballpark tomor- row." The Astros sealed the victory in the ninth with four runs against reliever Mike Remlinger. Carl Everett had a sacrifice fly before Ken Caminiti haunted the Braves again with a three- run homer. Playing for San Diego, Caminiti hit a 10th-inning homer against Kerry Ligtenberg to win the first game of the 1998 NL Championship Series. The AP PHOTO Daryle Ward, who began the season in the minor leagues, came up big for the Astros last night, breaking a scoreless tie with a homerun off Greg Maddux. Fall II Season: Oct. 28th - Dec. 30th Padres went on to a 4-2 victory over Atlanta. The East champion Braves lost only their second division series game since the format was instituted in 1995. Before Tuesday, they were 12-1 over- all, including 10 straight victories. Houston, which clinched its third straight Central title on the final day of the season, has never won in five play- off series, including a 3-0 sweep by the Braves in 1997. The Astros won't get swept this year, seizing the home-field advantage in the best-of-5 series. "Two years in a row, we lost the first game," Bagwell said. "This gives us tremendous momentum." The Braves led the majors with 103 wins but drew the smallest crowd in Atlanta's 44-game postseason history. The turnout of 39,119 was nearly 11,000 short of capacity at Turner Field and easily eclipsed the previous low of 42,117 for Game I of the 1998 NL Championship Series. In the right- field upper deck, only a few dozen people occupied seven sections of blue seats. "It was certainly disappointing," Jones said. Game 2 is Wednesday afternoon in Atlanta before the series shifts to Houston for Game 3 Friday. Ward, the son of former major lea- guer Gary Ward, was recalled from the minors for the second time on July 20. He took over for the slumping Derek Bell and came through with two of Houston's biggest hits this season. USCHO Poll October 5, 1999 The Michigan hockey team may not play up to its No. 5 ranking against Notre Dame this week- end. The Wolverines will be without cap- tain Sean Peach. SARA SCHENCK/Daly e rs wIl mss Peach against Notre Dame Now accepting Registrations for Fall II Leagues Registration Deadline: October 20th Individual Registrations are welcome Call (734) 913-4625 for Details WIPEWORLP www.wwsports.com SPORTS CENTER I - !!I E-I Rank Team Record s. By Chris Grandstaff Daily Sports Writer The Michigan hockey team will open its regular season this weekend against Notre Dame a little short-handed. The Wolverines will be without senior cap- tain Sean Peach and may be without freshman center Mike Cammalleri. Peach sustained a groin-injury in Friday's Blue-White game and Cammalleri separated his shoulder in the contest. Camalleri, Michigan coach Red Berenson said, is listed as "doubtful" for the game against the Irish, dressed for practice on Tuesday but left the ice short- ly after practice started. "Right now I don't think he'll make the trip;" Berenson said. Losing Peach on defense will be an especially tough blow for the Wolverines who already lack depth at the blue line after the loss of three players in the off season. "It concerns me a lot but there's noth- ing I can do about it," Berenson said. "We can't worry about it, the only thing we can do is get our team ready." PEARSON MOVING UP: Long time Michigan assistant head coach Mel Pearson received a raise on Tuesday. Berenson promoted Pearson, who is in his 12th season at Michigan, to associate head coach. "We're doing it to recognize (Pearson's) loyalty to the program," Berenson said. "This isn't a one man show, this is a team effort. He's made a big contribution to the program and this is my way of rewarding him." The promotion may be an extra incen- tive to keep Pearson, who last summer turned down the head coaching job at Miami(OH) in order to remain with the Wolverines. Berenson who is "not mak- ing any plans to leave" said that the move in no way indicates a coaching change. THE ROAD TO PROVIDENCE: The Wolverines open the 1999-2000 season ranked fifth in the country according to the preseason U.S. College Hockey Poll. Michigan received one first place vote and is one of three CCHA teams to crack the top ten. The others are Michigan State at No. 3 and Northern Michigan at No. 9. But Berenson doesn't put much faith in fhe polls - at least not yet. "It doesn't really mean much because we haven't played a game yet," Berenson said. "It's where you're ranked at the end of the year, as any coach will tell you, that matters. I think (our ranking) is a reflection of what we did last year and our recruiting class, but I think they're overlooking the players that we lost" Boston College begins the season as the nation's top team, while defending national champion Maine will begin its title defense ranked second. ICEBREAKER TO A: Next season the Michigan hockey team and Yost Ice Arena will host the IceBreaker Cup. The preseason tournament will be in its fourth year and will feature Michigan, North Dakota, New Hampshire and a fourth team yet to be named. The tour- nament will be part of a busy early sea- son schedule for the Wolverines who will travel to the great white north the very next weekend for the Johnson Nissan Classic in Anchorage Alaska. I Welcome Back Students Wendy's is seeking people to work in our friendly team environment. 1. Boston College (26) 0-0-0 2. Maine (7) 0-0-0 3. Michigan State (1) 0400 4. North Dakota (4) 0-0-0 5. Michigan (1) 0.0-0 6. New Hampshire (1) 0-0-0 7. Clarkson 0-0 8. Colorado College 0-40 9. Northern Michigan 0-0-0 10. Denver 0-0.0 363 302 291 266 231 177 149 141 78 46 Ask how you can Apply in person I 0 h per U of M League 911 N. Univers ity U of M Union 530 S. State St. Others receiving votes: Minnesota 42, St. Lawrence 36, Wisconsin 26, Ohio State 14, Rensselaer 11, Notre Dame 7, Providence 5, Boston University 3, Colgate 2, Mass. Lowell 2, Northeastern 2, Alaska Anchorage 1, Bowling Green 1, Harvard 1, MSU- Mankato 1, Niagara 1, St. Cloud 1 I - mX fQ.""., ti±, , , , ., , t dt ,' , :; " qp b u < qq r ° ; 7y igW+t ... .. j I