The Michigan Daily - Friday, April 12, 2002 -11
Pitchers
gain skill
out East
Michigan rowers to continue
team growth and improvement
By Jim Weber
Daily Sports Writer
While pitching in the Cape Cod
League last summer, Michigan pitchers
Rich Hill, Bobby Korecky and Jim
Brauer got to feel like film critics for a
day. The three, along with the rest of
the players in the league, went to the
movie theater for a sneak peak at the
film "Summer Catch," a movie about
baseball in the Cape.
Hill and Korecky gave it two
thumbs down.
"It was kind of cool watching it and
laughing together, but I've seen better
movies," Korecky said.
The movie theatre wasn't the only
time Hill and Korecky got together on
the East Coast. They first went out to
tape Cod two summers ago, where
they lived with the same host family.
Hill returned to that family this past
summer, and he was much more com-
fortable with his good-humored host
the second time around.
"It's kind of awkward at first when
people start joking around with you,
and you don't really know if they are
joking or not," Hill said of his first
summer. "This past summer, we got
along a lot better and sat around and
watched baseball games."
Korecky has played with teammates
from Michigan in each of his two sea-
sons in the league, playing with Hill his
first year there and Brauer last summer.
Of the three, Brauer was the most
successful, recording the fifth-best
ERA in the league and earning a spot
on the Cape Cod All-Star team.
Brauer said he benefited from pitch-
ing against some of the top hitters from
around the country.
"You are used to the best hitters
being at the top of the lineup, but when
you get to the Cape, every kid in the
lineup can hit," he said.
Part of the pitchers' success might
have stemmed from one specific
rule of the Cape Cod League. Col-
leges use aluminum bats, but in the
Cape, wooden bats are mandatory,
just like in the pros.
"When you are throwiing to a wood
bat, it is easier to throw strikes. You
know if you miss, you won't be hurt as
much as you would be with alu-
minum," Korecky said.
Korecky and Brauer found that
pitching against wooden bats has also
helped them against aluminum bats.
They both took more risks on the
mound over the summer, allowing them
to gain control and confidence in their
pitches.
Brauer also said that one of the best
parts of summer baseball was learning
about other college programs. Appar-
ently, he and Hill liked what they heard
from their summer teammates. They
both considered transferring.
Brauer did not say why they wanted
to transfer, but said that it was for "rea-
sons that are no longer an issue."
It may not be a coincidence that
Brauer and Hill are still on the team
and coach Geoff Zahn resigned last
fall.
While in the Cape, players were also
able to get away from baseball and
familiarize themselves with townspeo-
ple and teammates.
Jeff Trzos, Michigan's No. 4 starter,
was able to enjoy his summer in a dif-
Ingram to
try out for
WNBA
By Jim Weber
Daily Sports Writer
Alayne Ingram was one of 80 players
invited to the WNBA Pre-Draft Camp
on Friday and Saturday in Chicago.
Ingram was a second-team Big Ten
selection last season for Michigan after
playing point guard
for the first time
since high school.
Ingram will likely
have to play point :;.
guard in the
WNBA because of
her 5-foot-7 frame.
A week from today,
the draft will be
held at 11:30 a.m.
and on ESPN2. Ingram
Ingram's senior season did not go as
she planned. Michigan tied for ninth in
the Big Ten after being a preseason
favorite to win the conference. Her
By Daniel Bremmer
Daily Sports Writer
The Michigan women's rowing team has performed
well this season, but coach Mark Rothstein believes his
team has not yet peaked.
"The season's still young, and we just need to keep
improving," Rothstein said.
The Wolverines have won two of their three
outings this spring following an impressive coty
fall season, which included three top six fin- COL
ishes out of fields of 19, 24 and 53. In their Whea: 9a.m.
last regatta, the eighth-ranked Wolverines latest: The w
defeated No. 12 Michigan State last weekend face some of 1
in East Lansing. competition o
This weekend, Michigan will travel to whenthey fac
Columbus to compete in the Buckeye Invita- 15 teams Sat
tional, an event it won last season.
While Rothstein was happy with last year's win, he
emphasized that the past doesn't mean much in the
present.
"This is a new team, and we've forgotten about last
year," Rothstein said. "We're moving on with this season."
While Rothstein is hoping his team comes out of
Columbus on top, he realizes that the Wolverines will
have more chances against Ohio State later this season.
"If we beat (the Buckeyes), we are still going to have to
beat them again," Rothstein said. "And if we don't beat
them, we'll still have other chances (to beat them). It's still
very early, and right now we just need to keep improving
and coming together as a team."
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A significant part of this year's success has been the
strong leadership from the senior class. Michigan expects
to have seven seniors rowing in its top three boats this
weekend.
"They've got a month left in their college careers, and I
think that they're a big key, not only for this weekend but
for this whole season," Rothstein said. "Their leadership
has really been impressive recently. They've
A really stepped it up, and I think that they've set
[sus the tone."
Invitational The senior leadership will prove to be
AI 1 p.m. important, as the field for the Buckeye Invita-
perines will tional is one of the strongest Michigan will
ir best face this season. In addition to the Wolverines
e year, and Spartans, No. 3 Ohio State and No. 14
hree top- Texas are all ranked in the top 15 nationally
ay. and will likely row their wayinto the NCAA
Championships.
The Wolverines should receive a strong performance
from their second varsity eight, a boat that was recently
honored as Big Ten Boat of the Week. The boat has won
13 straight races dating back to last season and is looking
to extend its streak.
"(The second varsity eight) is coming into this weekend
very strong, and they should do well," Rothstein said.
Rothstein hopes that the team's strong performance in
practice this week combined with its determination will
be enough to overcome the competition.
"Our team has really come together this week,' he said.
"I think that they're going to row with a lot of heart, and I
think they'll do well."
-° iu
DANNY MOLOSHOK/Daily
Jim Brauer got to see "Summer Catch," as well as catch up with some of his
teammates while playing in the Cape Cod league last summer.
CHAMPAIGN
Who: Michigan (4-4 Big Ten, 9-16 overall) at
Illinois (3-5,16-7)
When: 7:35 p.m. today, 5:05 p.m. tomorrow,
2:05 p.m. Sunday
Latest: Michigangets back to Big Ten play after
beating Central Michigan 9-7 on Wednesday.
ferent league out East, where he made
new friends.
Playing in the New England Colle-
giate Baseball League, Trzos became
popular among the local youths that
attended games by selling raffle tickets
during the games.
Trzos, who was a closer in the suh-
met, was able to sell the tickets because
he didn't have to be in the bullpen until
the last couple innings.
The kids liked him so much that
they brought him candy after the
games. He became a local celebrity.
They recognized him around town,
even when he was working at a local
grocery store.
Although the kids might have been
disappointed when Trzos left the stands
for the bullpen, they were always happy
to see him arrive on the mound. He set
a team record in saves and made the
league All-Star team.
These four pitchers will all be start-
ing for Michigan in its four-game series
against Illinois this weekend. The
Wolverines had a much rougher startto
the season in nonconference play, but
they are a game ahead of the Fighitng
Illini in the Big Ten standings.
The World Socialist Web Site
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Imperialism in the 211" Century:
The impact of American ,
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Monday, April 151h, 7:00-9:00 pm
Koessler Rm, Mich. League.
For information: sse@umich.edu
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