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8 - Friday, March 30, 2007
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Hobey snub is
unfair to .J.
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ANGELA CESERE
Senior pitcher Lorilyn Wilson will look to exact revenge upon Big Ten rival Northwestern this weekend.
Big Tenfoes e to clas
By MICHAEL EISENSTEIN
Daily Sports Writer
Bottom of the ninth, two outs, bases
loaded, tied game.
It was just past 1:40 p.m. and the heat
was taking a toll on everyone in Louis-
ville, Ky. They'd been at '
it since 11 a.m. Michigan at
The Wolverines' W
toughbattle with North- Northwestern
western was turning Matchup:
into an epic game. Michigan
But senior pitcher 25-5; North-
Lorilyn Wilson's 1-2 western 24-6
pitch hit Wildcat Nicole
Pauly, forcing in the When: Today
game-winning run. 3P.M.
And so goes pre-con- Where: Sha-
ference play. ron J. Drys-
This is typical Michi- dale Field
gan-Northwestern soft-
ball. The two Big Ten
powerhouses split the Big Ten Champion-
ships last season - Northwestern won the
regular-season title (eventuallybecoming
the Women's College World Series run-
ner-up), and Michigan beat the Wildcats
6-0 for the tournament crown.
Their last meeting was the second day
of last weekend's Women4Women Invi-
tational, and No. 10 Michigan (25-5) had
just defeated then-No. 25 California the
day before.
Teams are not quite in top form yet, so
perfection is far from expected. Michigan
played its toughest conference competi-
tion close to the end, and the loss didn't
affect its Big Ten record.
Today, the two teams meet again. And
this time, it's for real.
"I think last weekend when we played
them, weboth played a good game," junior
first baseman Samantha Findlay said.
"And I feel like that game could've played
out either way had we been playing like a
conference game."
Whereas the Wolverines had most of
last season tobuild up to the daunting con-
ference matchup, this year No. 8 North-
western (24-6) is staring right at them
from the get-go. The last time Michigan
faced the Wildcats early on in the Big Ten
season was four years ago. Northwestern
swept the Wolverines in two extra-inning
games, 6-5 (nine innings) and 3-1 (eight
innings).
But even though they nearly matched
the Wildcats blow-for-blow in Louisville,
the Wolverines are not where they want
to be offensively. It's early in the season
and room for growth is expected, but with
conference play beginning, it's important
that the team's offensive woes are turned
around quickly.
Michigan left seven runners on base
against the Wildcats. Twenty-eight more
were stranded in the Wolverines' three
other games last weekend.
And Michigan's biggest Big Ten match-
up takes place today in Evanston - exactly
when the Wolverines need their offense.
Although Wilson and Northwestern's
Eileen Canney combined for 27 strikeouts
and just seven hits in the game, there was
no shortage of offensive opportunities
- there was just no converting.
Northwestern loaded the bases three
times against Wilson, and Michigan had
bases loaded in the eighth with Findlay up
at bat. But only once did either team con-
vert the loaded bases into a run scored.
For Michigan, the key to reversing
its offensive misfortunes last week may
simply be a refocus on the fundamentals
and regaining confidence in its offense.
Following the invitational-ending win
against Louisville, in which the Wolver-
ines put just two runs on theboard, Mich-
igan coach Carol Hutchins said the team
just needed to work on "the process" - the
most basic parts of the game.
"I think they're a little overly concerned
with winning right now," Hutchins said
following the Louisville game. "Right now
our perception of the game is making it a
little bit more than we need to."
Said Findlay: "We've definitely been
mentally preparing for Northwestern....
I think they're a tough team to beat, but I
think we'll be able to step up for the chal-
lenge this weekend."
Last year, the late-season series
between the two teams played a large part
in determining the regular-season Big Ten
champion. This year, there isn't reason to
think the championship doesn't hinge on
this first weekend of conference play.
They call it the Hobey Hat Trick.
I call it a load of crap.
Wednesday night, the Hobey
Baker Foundation announced the three
final candidates for the
Hobey Baker Memo-
rial Award, and T.J.
Hensick wasn't one of
them.
I'm not upset E
because I've spent the
last four years watch-
ing Hensick dazzle
crowds with spec- A
tacular moves. The COLVIN
trophy is supposed to
be a reward for an out- A Touch of
standing season, not Dutch
an outstanding career.
(But while we're talking careers,
can we please take a moment and think
about Hensick's 222 points, including 147
assists? If this was a career award, it'd be
sitting on Hensick's mantle already.)
I'm upset because Hensick simply
deserved to be among the last three con-
sidered for college hockey's top honor.
He led the country in scoring with 69
points. He picked up his defensive play
(the biggest knock against him in previ-
ous seasons), even spending time on the
penalty kill. He passed the puck as good
as, if not better than, any of the NCAA's
top players.
Don't believe me? Ask his linemates,
Kevin Porter or David Rohlfs. They
scored 41 goals combined, and for most
of those, it was Hensick who put the
puck on their sticks. They would certain-
ly vouch for the senior center.
So why the snub? Well, we can only
speculate why the 25-member com-
mittee wasn't impressed enough with
Hensick.
Maybe the 10-minute misconduct he
got slapped with as the last 12 minutes of
Michigan's season-ending loss to North
Dakota ticked away had something to
do with it. After all, the award isn't just
about skill, it's about character. Few peo-
ple know exactly what Hensick said to
the referee to earn such a harsh punish-
ment, but I can't be mad at Hensick for
getting emotional when he saw his last
shot at a trip to the Frozen Four slipping
away. I lose my temper gettingstuck in
traffic. How would you react to your col-
lege hockey career ending like it was for
him? And why should those 10 minutes
cancel out a season of amazing play?
The Howell native's character can't
come under scrutiny from that one pen-
alty - no one knows the exact terms of it
anyway. If hockey legend Red Berenson
names someone an alternate captain of
the Michigan hockey team, his character
can't be too shabby.
Well, maybe the competition for the
award was just too stiff to include Hen-
sick in the final three. Notre Dame's
David Brown, Air Force's Eric Ehn and
North Dakota's Ryan Duncan were the
ones chosen over Hensick.
I've seen all three play in person this
season - Brown three times, Ehn and
Duncan once.
I think Brown is an intelligent goal-
tender who benefits from the stifling
defense played in front of himby for-
wards and blue liners. The senior doesn't
get tested much, but when he does he
usually passes it.
I think Ehn has raw offensive tal-
ent. And while his some of the junior's
64 points (second in the nation, behind
Hensick) did come against a few feeble
Atlantic Hockey opponents, he did play
impressive hockey all while surviving
the rigors of a military academy.
I think Duncan is also talented, and
lucky to play on a line with equally tal-
ented players T.J. Oshie and Jonathan
Toews. As the Wolverines can attest,
playing against WCHA teams is not easy,
so Duncan's 57 points for the Fighting
Sioux are big.
That said, Hensick not onlybelongs in
that group, he should be at the front of it.
I don't mean to discredit the other play-
ers, and I haven't seen them in person as
much as Hensick, but keeping Hensick
out is simply unfair.
I can't tell you how many times my jaw
hit the floor after watching Hensick fool
a defender or goaltender. Players like that
don't come along every recruitingclass.
It's a shame someone that special
can't even be a finalist for an award he
deserved.
- Colvin suggests you take the time
to look up who Hobey Baker actually was
and prepare to be amazed. She can be
reached at ambermco@umich.edu.
'M'-Nine should be in mix for a repeat of title
By ANDY REID The Big Ten gets little respect
Daily Sports Writer compared to teams below the
Mason-Dixon Line, the race to
Let's face it, the South monopo- snatch NCAA Tournament bids
lizes college baseball. will be heated.
In the 2007 Collegiate Baseball Conference champion Michi-
Preseason Poll, gan was the only team who got an
every team in BIG TEN invitation last year. Most baseball
the top 10 comes PREVIEW analysts predict at least two invita-
from a southern tions this year, so who has the best
state. Michigan, picked to win the chance to challenge the big two of
Big Ten, barely scratched the top the Big Ten - Michigan and Ohio
40. State - for those spots?
Michigan (11-6) Predicted Big
Ten finish: first
With his first Big Ten regu-
lar season and tournament titles
under his belt, Michigan coach
Rich Maloney has his eyes set on
a repeat. The offense, led by junior
Nate Recknagel and sophomore
Zach Putnam, can erupt at any-
time. The Wolverines averaged six
runs per contest in nonconference
play.
Michigan's pitching should be
solid, with Putnam and senior
Andrew Hess pacing the rotation.
Junior Ben Jenzen, the Wolver-
ines' closer, is possibly one of the
Big Ten's best stoppers. The only
question may be the third slot in
the rotation. There are a few pitch-
ers who might get the spot, but
sophomore Adam Abraham is a
possible frontrunner.
The Wolverines have already
proved that they deserved the pre-
season hype with big wins over
Oklahoma, Mississippi State and
Troy.
Ohio State (13-3) Predicted Big
Ten finish: second
How is Ohio State this good at
everything? After recording 37
wins, getting swept by Michigan
and narrowly missing the NCAA
Tournament last year, look for the
Buckeyes to play with a chip on
their should this year. Ohio State
lost two huge offensive weapons
to graduation - Ronnie Bourquin
and Jedidiah Stephen - but five
batters who hit at least .325 last
season will be back to haunt oppos-
ing pitchers.
As if the offense isn't good
enough, every Buckeye starter will
return back to the mound for the
2007 campaign. They have a great
closer in Rory Meister. That is, if
they need to use him. The series
between the Buckeyes and Michi-
gan should decide the Big Ten.
title.
Minnesota (14-5) Predicted
finish in the Big Ten: third
The Golden Gophers are the
safe bet to challenge for a Big Ten
crown. After a subpar 2006 regu-
lar season, Minnesota surged in
the conference. tournament and
lost to Michigan in the title game.
The Gophers might lack a big bat
this season, but they bring back
plenty of consistent hitters that
should get the job done.
A depleted pitching rotation
might be the only thing holding
Minnesota back from making a run
at the league title.
Purdue (9-8) Predicted Big Ten
finish: fourth
The Boilermakers won't escape
mediocrity this season. The 2006
team was supposed to make a run,
but ended up falling flat and fin-
ishing in the middle of the pack.
Don't expect much more this sea-
son. The four leading hitters last
season won't return, and inexperi-
ence at the plate will haunt Purdue
throughout the conference season.
Illinois (7-8) Predicted Big Ten
finish: fifth
Last year, Northwestern was an
anomaly in conference play, con-
tending for a title after a terrible
non-conference slate. Illinois could
be that team this season.
The Illini will have no trouble
this season scoring runs with six
sluggers returning who hit better
than .300 last season. Sophomore
Kyle Hudson, also a star receiver
on the Illini football team, will be a
crucial piece to the Illinois puzzle
after putting up gaudy numbers in
limited action last season.
If the pitchers can slow down
the opposition, this team could be
very dangerous.
Northwestern (6-11) Predicted
Big Ten finish: sixth
Junior Antonio Mule, one of the
Big Ten's leading power hitters,
returns to anchor the Wildcats,
who were a big surprise last sea-
son. Northwestern lost too much
experience to pull a repeat of its
2006 campaign, but a run isn't
completely out of the question.
Led by Mule, the offense will be
the heart of this team, which has
plenty of veterans stepping up to
the plate. The pitching, however,
will be left up to unproven talent
that may not keep up in the Big
Ten.
Michigan State (7-8) Predicted
Big Ten finish: seventh
The Spartans have plenty of
work to do if they want to play in
the conference tournament. Mich-
igan State's gameplan has revolved
around its explosive offense. But
with five .300 hitters graduated, it
could struggle at the plate. A vet-
eran pitching staff will anchor a
team unaccustomed to relying on
defense to win.
Road trips to Ohio State and
Minnesota and a home-and-home
series with Michigan will make
things incredibly tough for the
Spartans.
Penn State (4-13) Predicted Big
Ten finish: eighth
Penn State coach Robbie Wine
and his son, sophomore first base-
man Cory, will be leading a Nittany
Lion squad that will try to break in
its brand new stadium with a suc-
cessful season.
While the bats are consistent,
the team has just one returning
player who hit for more than .300
last season. The batting questions
won't be a big issue, because the
pitching should carryPenn State.
Three weekend starters from
last season will be back on the
mound, and junior college transfer
Ryan Stobart should fill in the end
of the rotation.
Penn State's biggest edge com-
ing into conference play could be
early-season experience. Their
overall record looks awful, but the
Nittany Lions faced stiff competi-
tion.
Iowa (9-5) Predicted Big Ten
finish: ninth
At this point, last place in the
conference is a toss up between
the Hawkeyes and Hoosiers, and it
could be decided when the teams
meet for a weekend series in May.
Although the Hawkeyes' top two
bats return this season, the pitch-
ing staff doesn't have enough expe-
rience to carry this team into the
postseason.
Indiana (10-8) Predicted Big
Ten Finish: 10th
With a baseball program in des-
perate need of a recruiting boost,
the Indiana Atheltic Department
poured money into new baseball
facilities that could put the Hoo-
siers on the map in years to come.
The plans helped bring in 18 fresh-
men, highlighted by Indiana's Mr.
Baseball, Josh Phegley.
Indiana won't begin to see the
desired benefits for quite some
time. The Hoosiers have just one
returning offensive star, senior
Keith Haas. Although Indiana has
some experience on the mound,
don't expect the Hoosiers to qual-
ify for the conference tournament
in 2007 (just the top six teams par-
ticipate).
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