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Tuesday
April 13, 2004
sports.michigandaily.com
sports@michigandaily.com
SPORTS
10
300th career
win sneaks up
on Maloney
By Matt Venegoni
Daily Sports Writer
Have you ever received an 'A' on a final and
did not even know it? Have you ever received an
internship and didn't even realize that the
announcement had already been made? If you are
one of these rare individuals who has experi-
enced something like this, than you and Michigan
baseball coach Rich Maloney have a little in
common.
Last weekend, Michigan won
three of its four games versus
Iowa in Iowa City, but the first
two victories were a little more
special than usual; they were 8
coach Maloney's 299th and
300th victories as a head base-
ball coach.
"The irony is that I didn't even realize it," Mal-
oney said. "I didn't know until the sports infor-
mation director, Jim Schneider, came and told the
guys on the team."
Once things sunk in, Maloney took five min-
utes to reflect on his coaching career.
"I was able to reflect on the fact that I have
been very fortunate to coach a lot of outstanding
baseball players in my years," Maloney said.
They were just five short minutes, but in that
span, he remembered the great players he has
come in contact with over the years.
In just over 10 years of coaching, Maloney has
seen five of his players in the first round of the
Major League Baseball draft (all from Ball State,
during his eight years there), including No. 1
overall pick Bryan Bullington (2002), and four
other first round picks: Jeff Urban (1998), Larry
Bigbie (1999), Luke Hagerty (2002) and Brad
Synder (2003).
"To have five first-round picks when many
coaches have never had one is a great feeling,"
Maloney said. "Especially when you consider
that those guys came from a mid-major school."
Four of those five players were not even draft-
ed coming out of high school; Maloney hopes
that their development is a testament to him and
his staff.
"I hope that some of what I did helped those
guys get drafted," the second-year Michigan
coach said.
But Maloney does not only remember the
extremely gifted players. There have been a lot of
players he has worked with that most people have
never heard of. But, he is very proud of those
players..
"Travis Minix was one of the best college
Columnist reminisces
on days at University
DANNY MOL0SHOK/Daiy
Coach Rich Maloney earned his 300th career win Saturday against Iowa. Maloney is currently In his second
year at Michigan, where he has compiled a 45-39 overall record.
pitchers I have ever seen - he could not throw
that hard, but he had great command of his
stuff," Maloney said. "His development was
great to see."
While Maloney feels most of his players had a
significant amount of natural talent, he thinks
that his hard work and his philosophy played a
part in their success on the diamond.
"During my career I think that I have paid
attention to detail, and have been a hard worker;
those have helped me the most," Maloney said.
A part of his hard work is that Maloney has
been able to have kids buy into his philosophy
that they do have something special in them, even
if they cannot see it.
"I try to find something in the players that oth-
ers cannot see, bring the best out of the kid," the
two-time Mid-American Conference Baseball
Coach of the Year said. "Fortunately kids have
bought into that philosophy."
Maloney said that he did not dwell on his
300th victory because there are too many things
going on with the team for him to rest.
"When we're in the heat of the battle, I'm real-
ly focused on that," Maloney said.
Maloney is happy about his accomplishment,
but he is more preoccupied with restoring a great
baseball tradition at Michigan.
"We're focused on winning here, and that's
what I'm thinking about," Maloney said.
In Maloney's five minutes, he had a lot to think
and remember fondly, but he moved on quickly.
In fact, Michigan won its next game to give him
his 301st victory.
GETTING SOME HARDWARE: What will a save
against an instate rival and a shutout win versus a
Big Ten team do for someone? For sophomore
Derek Feldkamp it meant winning his first Big
Ten Pitcher of the Week award.
Feldkamp earned his third save of the season
on Wednesday against Eastern Michigan. Feld-
kamp entered the game in the eighth inning with
a 3-1 lead and two Eagles baserunners. His sec-
ond pitch was smashed to third, where sopho-
more Scheidt started a 5-4-3 double play to end
the threat. Feldkamp finished the game leading
the Wolverines to the victory.
"I'm really happy to receive the award, but it
was a testament to my teammates' defense behind
me," Feldkamp said. "Beating an instate rival
helped the team and the program."
Feldkamp wasn't finished for the week. He
tossed his first shutout as a Wolverine against
Iowa in a 6-0 win. Although he enjoyed a spec-
tacular weekend, he did not see the award coming
his way.
"I was a little bit surprised," the Adrian native
said. "I didn't know until this afternoon when my
mom called."
With the award, Feldkamp realizes that oppo-
nents know he has had some success, and that
they will be gunning for him a little more. But he
feels like he is ready for it.
"Its nice to get the award and get some gratifi-
cation, but (the competition) will make me work
even harder," Feldkamp said.
KYLE O'NEILL
The Daily Janitor
There's a lot that could be said
about one's time at college,
There are certain days to
remember, certain places to remem-
ber and certain people to remember.
And while I'd love to list them all in
this, my final column, I don't feel
that would explain why I came to
college.
Nope, I came to college to learn
and hopefully discover something
about myself. It took four years -
and a few crappy grades - but I
did do a little bit of each.
I learned that being smart will
only carry you so far and that two
jobs totaling 50 to 60 hours a week
will absolutely bury your sopho-
more and junior GPA.
I learned failure is something that
will occur, but it is not something
that should become acceptable.
I recently learned that the passion
of Pudge Rodriguez, the careful
planning for the future of Dave
Dombrowski, the endurance of
Bobby Higginson and the overall
fun attitude of the 2004 Detroit
Tigers are characteristics that I wish
I had more of. And yes, I know 5-1
does not equal an American League
pennant.
I learned that the things that I
write in print do carry a weight and
a responsibility behind them, and
I'm sorry to my audience for any-
time that I didn't show a piece of
writing the proper care or research
it deserved.
I learned Jim Richardson was the
best quote on this campus, Milan
Gajic was the funniest, Lloyd Carr
knew how to handle reporters better
than anyone gives him credit for,
the women's golf team was always
up to talk whenever the chance pre-
sented itself and Carol Hutchins
may have more drive than anyone
else at this University (yes, that's
why her teams rarely fail despite
having a high school facility of a
stadium).
Speaking of high school facili-
ties, I learned that the wrestling
lockerroom is laughable when com-
pared to the new men's and.
women's basketball lockerrooms
installed just feet away from Ryan
Bertin and the rest of his team-
mates. (Note: If there are rich
Michigan wrestling alumni out
there, now is the time to get your-
self a head start on a 2005 tax cut
and donate some cash to rebuild the
team's lockerroom.)
I learned I'm a good, but not
great, writer.
I also learned grammar this year.
Thank you, John Rubadeau.
I learned that every student needs
to take a class taught by him, Anne
Curzan, Donald Lopez, Alethea
Raybeck and Ian Fulcher before
they leave. Trust me, it's the only
way you'll learn the greatest knock-
knock joke of all time, the fact that
linguistics is fun, the Buddhist
ways, the importance of poetry and
the importance of comic books in
literature.
I learned that the rest of the
teachers I had were great, as well -
I just don't have the space to adver-
tise for everyone.
I learned that I am a damn good
driver - long distance that is. I
also learned that Vanessa Carlton's
"1,000 Miles" was quite the over-
played song during the spring and
summer of 2002. There were other
songs that were also overplayed
during road trips that I took, but
those tunes have thankfully left my
brain.
I learned Sting is still the best
musician and performer, "South
Park" is still reigning king, "The
Simpsons" still surprises us with
funny episodes, "Family Guy" may
have jumped the shark by getting
cancelled and sent to Cartoon Net-
work, "The Matrix Reloaded" and
"Star Wars: Episode II" were much
better than what people thought,
"The New Guy" was a horrible and
horribly addictive movie and "Mad-
den 2002" was the perfect way to
bond with your roommates - and
to see a hole get punched out of the
wall after Brian Campbell, as
Donovan McNabb, threw his third
interception of the NFC Champi-
onship.
I learned that there will never be
a videogame moment funnier than
when Brian Birchler snapped his
game of "FIFA Soccer 2002" in half
after I improved my overall record
against him to 132-74. Apparently
scoring 90-percent of your goals
from midfield is not how the real
game is played.
I learned that Adam Cole can't
sing, and that neither can Nickel-
back. I learned alcohol does bad,
bad things to Rob Palmerlee and
Joe Ypma - beer pong may never
be the same. I learned Jeff Quast
and Levi Roodvoets study harder
than anyone else I know - I can
only hope for their sake, it pays off.
I learned Brian Bielawski is a good
poker player, but susceptible when
bullied back by the table. And I
learned Jeff Snyder's name is Jeff
Snyder (and that right now he's
shaking his head and thinking about
why I'm even writing this.)
I learned what it is to lose.
I learned what goin' to work was
all about.
I learned that my coworkers and
bosses at The Michigan Daily and at
Crisler Arena were better than I
could have ever hoped for (I would
name-drop here, but I only have so
much room).
I learned that I am not envious of
those who have to choose between
love and future employment away
from that love - if only because
there is barely a winning scenario.
I learned that I'm destined to be
me, which isn't so bad, I've found
out. Although, I am a little sick of
my metabolism keeping me at a
measly 155 pounds - yeah, I went
there, all you overweight people.
Finally, I learned that, while no
one, and I mean no one, knows our
ultimate purpose here in life, I've
found that the concepts of happi-
ness, fun and showing respect to
others will get you through the day-
to-day grind a lot easier.
It's been a pleasure sharing my
thoughts and my writings with you
for three years.
Thank you.
- Kyle O'Neill would also like to
quickly thank (in no particular
order): Jeff Phillips, John Lowe, Jon
Schwartz, Mark Francescutti, Lisa
Craft, Chris Ehman, Juan Mathews, J'
Braids, Courtney, Burke, Naweed,
Clayts, Tory, Mulinar, Justin, Tex,
Laurie, Darius, Dodick, Shibby, Julie,
Mangler, Q, Birchler, Stefano, Joe,
Rob, Levi, Bryan, Snizide5202, UM
Coleminator, Sean, Mom, Dad,
Morosi, Wags, Mr. and Mrs.
Morosi/Stefaniak/Wags, Essexville,
Garber High School, the University of
Michigan, Scott Paluch, Thomas Jef-
ferson Elementary, MacAlear Sawden
Elementary, Bush Elementary,
Cramer Jr. High, the Detroit Tigers,
2019 Briar Dr. and all surrounding
neighbors, Sting, Ah-ha (for "Take On
Me"), G-Filice, Weber, Rosen, Bob,
my Bravadal, Sebass, Harold Hol-
comb, Rob Garcia, Dave Schwartz, a
bunch of great high school teachers
and coaches, a lot of great professors
and, last but not least in this short list
of thanks, Kyle wants to thank Nike,
to which he sold his soul to a long
time ago. He can be reached at
kylero@umich.edu.
Captain Churchill leads softball by example
By Anne Uible
Daily Sports Writer
When the Michigan softball team voted on whom to
elect as team captains this season, there was no doubt in
coach Carol Hutchins's mind that one name would
emerge from the election - senior infielder Angie
Churchill.
"Churchill has bought 100 percent into our system
and successes," Hutchins said. "Whether she's on the
bench in the dugout or out playing in the game, she is a
consistent leader for the team."
The infielder grew up playing softball, and participat-
ed in several club teams around the Mokena, Ill., area,
which is about 30 miles outside of Chicago. When
Churchill was a senior in high school, Hutchins made
the five-hour trip to her school to watch her play in a
home game. By the end of the competition, Hutchins
caught a glimpse of Churchill's maturity and competi-
tiveness and offered her a spot on the Wolverines'
squad.
"I can still remember going to see her play,"
Hutchins said. "It was a very cold day in Illinois, but
after the game I knew she would be a great addition to
our team . She was a depth player."
"Depth player" is probably the best way to describe
Churchill's participation and versatility on the field at
Michigan. Since her freshman year, she has played
every infield position except for first base. Recently, she
has been playing third base to fill in for sophomore
Grace Leutele, who injured her hamstring in a game
against Purdue two weeks ago.
But the captain is happy with any playing time she gets.
"If I can play, I'll play anywhere," she said. "But if I
had to pick, I'd choose the left side."
While her time on the field is often limited, Churchill
plays the role of captain well, always remaining opti-
mistic. She constantly strives to promote her team
morale and prepare the underclassmen for the stresses
and expectations that accompany playing for one of the
best softball programs in the country.
"I try to be a leader every day at practice," the senior
said. "The Big Ten season can get intense, but I try to
teach (the younger players) that a lot of that pressure
comes from yourself. When we lose, we feel like the
weight is on our shoulders."
Up until this point, though, Churchill has been lucky
enough not to have to deal with much losing this season.
The Wolverines currently boast an overall record of 33-
6, and lead the Big Ten conference, by remaining unde-
feated (8-0) even after this weekend's homestand against
Ohio State and Penn State.
"I couldn't be happier to be a team captain than I am
right now," she said. "I feel like our team has really
come together this year."
Hutchins has watched Churchill develop within her
program over the course of the past four years, and she
is impressed by her ability to empower the team and
help raise it to its current level of excellence.
"She has been a great leader for us both on and off the
field," Hutchins said. "This is a kid who has, for the past
four years, been a great leader the entire time. She has
contributed to our success, and will go down in history
as a great leader. Angie loves Michigan and softball, and
it shows everyday when she walks on the field, whether
she is playing or not."
a0
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MIKE HULSEBUS/Daily
Senior Angle Churchill is spending her final year
at Michigan as captain of the squad.
Bonds ties Mays with 'Splash Hit' into Bay
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Barry Bonds hit
his 660th home run exactly as he would have
scripted it: at home before a sellout crowd to give
the Giants the lead.
The San Francisco slugger tied godfather
Willie Mays for third on baseball's career list
yesterday with a towering three-run shot that
splashed into McCovey Cove, sending the Giants
to a 7-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.
Bonds connected in the fifth inning on a 3-1
pitch from Matt Kinney (0-1) for his second
homer of the season. The estimated 442-foot blast
put the Giants ahead 5-4. It was the 28th time
Bonds has homered into the water.
"It was like a weight was just lifted off my
shoulders," Bonds said. "I felt a sense of accom-
plishment in baseball. It's a relief now to be able
to stand next to my godfather and finally feel like
to the fans in each direction as they cheered,
"Barry! Barry!" and gave him a standing ovation.
The sellout crowd of 42,548 appeared to quickly
forget about the steroid controversy surrounding
their star slugger and his personal trainer.
Children along the left-field wall bowed to
Bonds when he came out to play the field in the
top of the sixth. A banner of Bonds was unfurled
from the light tower to the left side of the main
center-field scoreboard to match one of Mays on
the other side.
"I think this is probably the icing on the cake,"
~yA5'S '
-W1,011" AJV