Batter up! The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - April 2, 2001- 5B Baseball x' Preview Young hitters, By Benjamin Singer I' ly Sports Writer re Michigan bascball team (1-3 Big 1n, 10-12 overall) is approaching midsea- son form, but isn't there yet. "We obviously haven't won as many games as we'd like to," senior tri-captain Scott Tousa said. "But we're getting great hitching right now. "We're playing solid defense. We're just not hitting quite like we reed to. That'll cume, we just need to wait it nut." The lineup is a bit depleted after losing f players -- the most notable being catcher David Parrish, the New York Yan- kee's first-round pick in last year's draft. With some uncertainty sutrounding the offense, Michigan's expectations for suc- cess rely on pitching and defense. "Coming into this season we felt we had very good pitching," coach Geoff Zahn said. "We knew we had pretty good defense in the infield and I think that's proved true. ( pitching at times has shown brilliance. At other times, we're not always brilliant." The Wolverines have plenty of experi- ence on the pitching staff with 1 I returning from last year's roster, including Bryce Ralston, the ace of ! 999, who is attempt- ing to come back from Tommy John surgery. With a team earned-run average a bit over 4.00, the hurlers have kept Michi- gan in plenty of games. In Michigan's 12 losses, the hitters have experienced pitchers for 'M' asked a lot of the pitching staff, scoring an average of 2.5 runs in those games. Right now, the batting order is very top heavy as four of the first five are batting over .300, but the bottom three are hovering around the dreaded Mendoza line. "The hitting we knew is going to be inexperienced," Zahn said. "We're depend- ing on guys in the first part of the order to do it for us. Some of the guys are strug- gling at the plate. I think we just need that experience." Outfielder Jordan Cantalamessa, third- baseman Brock Koman and secondbase- man Tousa were looked to all along by Zahn as the sparks of the offense. But a couple others have emerged with sweet strokes in the young season to ease the pain of the hitting woes. "I'm very happy the way Nate Wright and Gino Lollio have come through for us," Zahn said. "They've been a good surprise for us" Wright, who was a medical redshirt as a sophomore last year, came in with just five at-bats in his college career. Now he's lead- ing the team with four homeruns. Lollio had much more experience in his freshman campaign last year, but little to show for it, batting just .183. This year, he's second to Wright in homers with three and leads the team with a .447 batting average. The key is to let that success trickle down to the bottom of the order. Hitting "coach (Chris) Harrison has been working with us," Tousa said. "I think we're just try- ing to do a little bit too much right now. Just trying to make things happen instead of just letting them happen." Even with the top of the order hitting the ball hard, Michigan is in midst of a scoring funk. Over the past five games, the Wolverines have not scored more than three runs in any outing. The emphasis on improving their hitting is therefore para- mount. "I keep thinking we're on the brink of turning it on and putting something togeth- er here," Zahn said. The fight in the Big Ten looks to be wide open, Zahn said. In his five years as a coach, five different teams have won the Big Ten season and the. Big Ten Tourna- ment, including the 1999 Wolverines. He expects the parity of the conference to give Michigan, picked sixth preseason by Base- ball America, a fighting chance. "If you don't feel you have a chance for the championship, you shouldn't take part," Zahn said. "We know anything can happen. We set out this year as one of our goals to win the Big Ten." After taking the first Big Ten game against Iowa, Michigan's conference play took a nose dive against "enn State with three losses to the Nittany Lions. "The season's still very young," Zahn said. "We have guys with talent, they just need to relax, hit the way they can and play the way they can." DANNY MOLOSOK/Daly Michigan coach Geoff Zahn blows his bubble, but doesn't want his Big Ten title hopes to burst. I Wolverine lineup rr a Koman and Lollio anchor the lineup BIG TEN STANDINGS Conference Overall Team W L W L Penn State 5 1 12 15 Minnesota 5 2 16 12 Ohio State 3 1 20 5 Purdue 4 2 10 14 Illinois 4 3 13 12 Michigan State 2 4 12 11 Indiana 2 5 16 13 Michigan 1 3 10 12 Northwestern 1 3 11 16 Iowa 1 4 9 10 SCHEDULE APRIL 3 BowuLNG GREEN 3 p.m. 4 EASTERN MicHIGAN 3 p.m. 6 Indiana 1 p.m. 7 Indiana (DH) 3 p.m. 8 Indiana 1 p.m. 10 Eastern Michigan 3 p.m. 11 Western Michigan 3 p.m. 13 Minnesota 3 p.m. 14 Minnesota (DH) 1 p.m. 15 Minnesota 1 p.m. 22 Siena Heights (DH) 1 p.m. 27 Illinois 3 p.m. 28 Illinois (DH) 1 p.m. 29 Illinois 1 p.m. MoY 1 NORDoME 7:30 p.m. 2 Detroit 3 p.m. 4 Michigan State 1 p.m. 5 Michigan State (DH)1 p.m. 6 Michigan State 1 p.m. 8 Central Michigan 2 p.m. 9 Central Michigan 2p.m. 11 Ohio State 6:35 p.m. 12 Ohio State (DH) 4:05 p.m. 13 Ohio State 1:05 p.m. 16-19 Big Ten Tournament 25-27 NCAA Regionals June 1-3 NCAA Super Regionals 8-16 NCAA College World Series Home games in bold will be played at Ray Fisher stadium PENN STATE 9, MICHIGAN 3 MiCHIGAN PENNST Player AB RHRBI Piayer AB R HRBt Tousa 2b 32 2 0 Perry I 50 2 2 Catoia essaIf 0 20 smithinct 5 0 2 oman 3b 40 0 2 2 C.Wrieta34 2 2 a tox c 4 00 aD. Wriehtosba41515 Trios Ah 3 0 1 0 0Rodiod0 4 0 2 3 Wright 1b 300 O sHurey'pr/dh 0150 Jominy ss 3 00 1 0Deenzo2b 4 2 2 3 Lsosrf/c 2 0 10 Netwellc 4 00 0 Otkskci 00 0elndez ss 3 1 1 Ghannamph/rf1 0 0 0 Reohrf 4 2 3 0 Totals 293 us a Totals 3791 09 E -iono(8), LaRosa(7). DP-PennnSitte2. LOB -PensnStateo OMiiena. 82B - a. Wrgr tt,9 DeRenzo 141 Reohr(3), Cantalarressa (8), Jominy (1.HRR--Detenzot(1),Koman (3). IP H R ER BS 5O Penn State wasn (ti) 4.01 6 23 3 23 2 Aardsa 2.2 4 0 0 501 Michigan Brauer (1-1) 2.2 6 5 4 1 2 Pistilli 2.2 9 4 4 2 0 Mcelossey 1.2 0 5 0 0 Umpires - John Johnston (home plate), Dave Burk (first base), oloe ciyde (third base). At: Ray L Fisher Stadium At"endance: n/a Start:3:25 p.. Time: 2:30 Jordan Car an Roberts Bill LaRosa Scott T oman By Jeb Singer DAly Sports Writer As Michigan thirdbaseman Brock Koman stepped up to the plate against Oakland last week, the outfielders took a step back. Obviously they had done their homework, because Koman has been hitting at a torrid pace this season. So far, he is third on the team with a .357 average to go along with his three homeruns. These numbers are well up from last season's .283 average with no home runs. "He's been excellent for us;' Michi- gan coach GeoffZahn said. Koman's success this season can be attributed to the significant amount of playing time that he received a season ago and summer ball. "I am not surprised at all by his improvements," Zahn said. "He had a great summer and I knew he'd be ready to go." Koman has been rewarded for his production by hitting out of the third spot. Usually this spot is reserved for the team's most reliable hitter, which Koman is quickly becoming. "I feel comfortable in the three spot," Koman said. "My job is to drive in runs." Koman's 21 RBIs at this point in the season lead the team by far, with I1 being the next highest total. One possible reason for Koman's emergence is the productivity of Gino Lollio hitting behind him in the cleanup spot. Lollio leads the team with a .447 average, a tremendous number consid- ering that he hit just .183 last season. His 21 hits are better than his total from all of last season. Lollio knows that his production is critical to keeping the offense going. "The middle of the lineup is very important because we often step to the plate with a lot of runners on base," Lollio said. "We have to produce." Although other Michigan players are hitting above the .300 mark, Lollio and Koman have been the strongest spots in an otherwise lackluster lineup. Lollo knows that the team needs to put more runs on the board. In three games this weekend against Penn State, the Wolverines had just five runs. "We are strong up and down the lineup" Lollio said. "We have to pro- duce if we are going to be a winning team. We have the talent." Koman and Lollio have shouldered a lot of the offensive responsibility this season, and the rest of the team needs to come through. "Yeah, the middle of the lineup is important," Koman said. "But so is the top of the lineup and the bottom of the lineup." Designates Hitte he arms race:Sizing up the Wolverines' staff The rotation By Steve Jackson Daily Sports Writer The rotation: Nothing :s more inportant to a team's success on the mond. Only the Yankees, Braves and Marlins have won World Series titles r the last six years. Each of those clibs had one of the strongest pitch- ing staffs in the league. For Michigan baseball to succeed in.2001, its pitchers will have to step ap and carry the team on their shoul- ders. No. 1 BoBBY KORECKY This junior right-hander is the * ongest cog in the Wolverines' wheel, A tree workhorse, Korecky has pitched four-straight complete games for Michigan. Each week Korecky will stand against the best the Big Ten has to offer. 'He is a competitor with great speed and three effective pitches," Michigan pitching coach Steve Fos- ter said. No. 2 NIcK ALEXANDER One of the Wolverines' tri-captains this year, Alexander brings veteran leadership to the staff. The lefty doesn't have the strongest velocity on the team, but relies on location and experience to get batters out. "He's a real gamer," Foster said. "He has had two good starts and two average ones so far this year." The senior has earned-himself a permanent spot leading off Saturday doubleheaders for Michigan. "The top two spots are as strong as you'll see in the Big Ten," Foster said. No.3 JIM BRAUER Last year's Mr. Baseball in Indi- ana, Brauer brings a young vibrant energy to the staff. "For a freshman to be where he is right now, that's impressive. You can't coach that," Foster said. Brauer relies heavily on a slider which Foster calls his "bread-and- butter" pitch. "lie reliesc ,No. 4 Tim LEVEQU E a very strongc A sophomore right-hander from All four cot Northridge Calif., Leveque opened in relief durin the year with 17.1-straight scoreless with spot star: innings. That was good enough to CLOSER JEt secure him a spot in the Big Ten At 6-foot-6 rotation - at least for right now. is an impress "The No. 3 and 4 spots could vary. But the key fo some from week to week," Foster be winning th said. "But these two have done well ball games. and they deserve to pitch." "Jeff's ERA LONG RELIEF: VINCE PISTILLI, into this we' RICH HILL, KIRK TAYLOR AND throwing theb BOBBY WOOD In his last o Hill and Taylor are both tall left- the side to set ies, but they have very different the season. pitching patterns. Hill, like the STAFF senior Pistilli and junior Wood, is a "We have a power pitcher. ship and your "They all have good velocity," it's a healthy Foster said. "They're in the high 80s "We have be to low 90s." (Big Ten) pit Taylor, on the other hand, really we're hoping 1 needs to use the whole plate to make "What we a up for a less than amazing fastball. consistency." SWEEP Continued from Page 11B "Both Wrights (Donnie and Chris) and Netwall - they know what they're doing at the plate," Zahn said. "They're experienced. If they get a pitch they can hit, they drive it." Michigan had its chance in the bottom of the seventh. A two-out ti , $ Al} :vtn-o rally, aided by a passed ball, allowed shortstop Bill LaRosa to drive in a run. Two runners were left on base as Jake Fox struck out to end the game. The second half of the double- - header was a slugfest for the Nit- tany Lions. Brauer did not complete the third, allowing five DANNYMOLS0N0I/Daiy runs on six hits. Vince Pistilli State. He hit his came on in relief, but did not fare much better, allowing four runs in on changing speed and changeup," Foster said. uld see extended action g Big Ten games along ting during the week. FF TRZos and 225 pounds, Trzos ive physical specimen. or him as the closer will e mental battles late in is high, (8.31 heading ekend) but he's been ball great," Foster said. uting, Trzos struck out cure his second save of combination of leader- ng competitive guys - mixture," Foster said. en in the top four in ching all season, and to be No. 1. are really looking for is No. a BoBBY KORECKY The junior from Saline is an All-America candidate this year, and ranks sixth among Michigan's career save leaders. No. 2 Nice ALEXANDER The senior tri-captain is wearing the number 36 this season -his sixth jersey number asa Wolverine. He was last year's team MVP. No. 3 TiM LEVEQUE Leveque is pitching bril- liantly sofar this season, having allowed no earned runs in 17.1 innings. He proudly boasts that he was at Dodger Stadium for Kirk Gibson's 1988 World Series homerun. Bobby Korecky No.4 JiM BRAuER This freshman All-America candidate was Indiana Mr. Baseball in 2000, and was drafted by the Expos last year. DANNYMoLOSHoK/Daily 2.2 innings. Despite the problems on the mound, Zahn believes the problem for the Wolverines is at the plate. "I think the biggest thing right now is we have young hitters," Zahn said. "And they're struggling at the plate. They have to get used to the way (Big Ten pitchers) are pitching to them." Friday night was the best chance for Michigan to come away with a victory. With a 1-1 tie going into the ninth, Bobby Korecky allowed back-to-back doubles to Netwall and Melendez, which scored one run. Dan McCall pitched for Penn State, and had five strikeouts in the complete game, including the last two of the game to preserve the 2- 1 win. Michigan's only run came, on a homerun by Fox, the first of his career. L History lesson Michigan won its two national championships in 1953 and 1962, but its history goes back further and, extends to the present day. Below is a list of notable Wolverines who excelled both in Ann Arbor and in the majors. Retired numbers Michigan has four retired numbers -44, 33, 11 and 1. They belong to Ray Fisher, Don Lund, Bill Freehan and Moby Benedict, respectively.. Fisher is the namesake of the current stadium in which the Wolverines play. Lund and Freehan both played in the big league. Lund for Dodgers, Browns and Tigers, and Freehan for Detroit. Major League Hall of Famers George Sisler played for the Wolverines from 1913 to 1915. His 257 hits in 1920, while playing for the St. Louis Browns, is still a record. He was electeq to the Hall in 1939. Former Michigan coach Branch Rickey is also in the Hall, for his work as an owner. As an executive of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Rickey is responsible for bringing Jackie Robin- son into the majors, thereby breaking the long-standing color barrier. He also was the first to develop the farm system, which he accom- plished in both Brooklyn and St. Louis. Former Wolverines in the majors Michigan currently has eight former players in major league baseball. Kelly Dransfeldt, Scott Kamienieki, Barry Larkin, Mike Matheny, Steve Ontiveros and Brian Simmons are active. Joe Jones of the Pirates and Leon Roberts of the Devil Rays are both coaches, 9 shman catcher Jake Fox makes the play at the plate in Friday's game against Penn st collegiate homerun in the game. 4 j