SPORTS Page 12 Tuesday, June 14, 1983 The Michigan Daily NATIONAL CHAMPION TEXAS ELIMINATES WOLVERINES 'M' batsmen finish third in Series KERSEWORDS BY JOHN KERR Ak-Sar-Ben? .. . They sure spell funny in Ahamo Random thoughts on the College World Series: Despite losing to Texas and Alabama, Michigan definitely made some people believe that non-Sunbelt schools can play baseball. At the beginning of the series one fat reporter (about 350 pounds) from Tulsa kept griping that the Wolverines played inferior competition in their regional. He added that if Michigan had played in a region with Texas, Oklahoma State, Oral Roberts, or a few other Sunbelt teams, it never would have made it to Omaha, and that every team in the Central Regional was better than the Wolverines. But after Michigan's seven-run ninth inning against second-ranked Stanford, which gave the Wolverines an 11-4 win, he changed his tune. "I'll tell you who surprised me," he said in a hick drawl, "it was Michigan. I figured they'd be gone in two games.' As it turned out he left before the Wolverines did since Oklahoma State, the team he covered, got knocked out in three games... Michigan's Dale Sklar completed a clean sweep of the All-Tournament teams when he made the CWS squad in the outfield. The sophomore center fielder also made the All-Big Ten Tournament team and the All-Regional Tournament team... Other than the CWS, the big sports event in Omaha is thouroughbred racing. The horse track is very big with all the results shown on the TV news. The name of the track is Ak-Sar-Ben. Take a close look at that. Anything look funny about it? Give up? Okay, get this, it's Nebraska spelled backwards. Pretty neat, huh. There's another track at the border of Iowa, South Dakota, and Nebraska, near Sonix City which is called At-Ok-Ad. You can figure that one out yourself. I don't know what the deal is, I guess they just get into that sort of thing out there... Unlike a few of the other coaches at the World Series, Michigan's Bud Middaugh impressed nearly everyone with his professionalism and class. The Wolverine coach never once saida bad word about anything, at times bending over backward to be helpful. Michigan is lucky to have him represent it... Two other coaches, didn't come off so well. Arizona State's Jim Brock made a complete fool out of himself when he got upset over a scorer's decision. In the third inning of the Sun Devils' game against Maine, a Black Bear hitter lined a shot at the first baseman who dove for it but the ball went under his body as he was outstret- ched. The scorer ruled a hit, which is exactly what it was. In the eighth inning, however, Brock's pitcher had a one-hitter - the scorer's call in the third. Brock called the press box and blasted the scorer calling him "arrogant" for not checking with an umpire on the play. (what the ump has to do with it I don't know). He kept up his tirade in the interview room after the game... Oklahoma State's Gary Ward rocked the boat a bit also. He refused to allow his players to observe tradition and shake hands with their opponents after each game. He called it "hypocritical" and said "that's where most fights start." What a moron. Sure it might be a bit hypocritical, but why not do it anyway? Who does it hurt? If you have instilled any sense of sportsmanship and discipline in your team, I don't think a fight is anything to worry about... One problem with the CWS is its length. The tour- nament is stretched out over ten days an, at times, it drags. There is no reason why they couldn't cut it down by a few days. By PAUL HELGREN The winningest season in Michigan baseball history came to a close late Friday night when the Wolverines fell to eventual national champion Texas, 4-2, in College World Series action at Omaha's Rosenblatt Stadium. Texas defeated Alabama, 4-3, on Saturday night to claim the championship. Despite its elimination Michigan coach Bud Middaugh expressed pride in his team's achievements this year. "I'M NOT AT all ashamed of our club," said a slightly-more-emotional-than-usual Middaugh af- ter the game. "I'm very proud of them. We didn't win, we thought we had a good chance to win, but I thought we had a heck of a year anyway. "And I hope you people (the press) respect the club we brought here because I thought they played very well." % After clobbering Stanford for 16 hits on Wed- nesday night, Michigan was held to only four safeties by Longhorn starter and winner, Mike Capel (13-1). Three of those hits came in the fifth inning when Michigan scored its only two runs of the game. Middaugh was sufficiently impressed by Texas' third starting pitcher. "I THOUGHT he threw a very strong ball game," the fourth-year Wolverine coach said. "He was very competitive. He was an outstanding pit- cher until they got the lead. When they got the lead he became a great pitcher." Texas also scored all of its runs in the fifth in- ning, but unfortunately for the Wolverines they came on a grand slam homer of starting pitcher Scott Kamieniecki (5-1). Mike Brumley hita pitch that Middaugh said was "almost on the ground" over the right field fence. That was all Texas would do for the rest of the game as three Michigan relievers kept the Longhorns in check, but it was enough. "It was the kind of game where if somebody busted one it could be the difference," said Mid- daugh. "As it turned out it was Brumley doing it." Michigan ends it season at 50-9, the most wins ever by a Wolverine club. The previous hight was 44 held by last year's club. The two wins in Series play is the most ever by a Middaugh-coached team. Middaugh's previous World Series teams, 1980 and '81, went 1-2 and 0-2 respectively in the June classic. Two Michigan players, third baseman Chris Sabo and center fielder Dale Sklar, made the all- tournament team. Sabo had a homer, two doubles, and five runs batted in while hitting .353 (6-17). Sklar had a triple and hit .429 (6-14). I I Bye, bye A2? Michigan pitcher Dave Kopf is scheduled to meet with Chicago Cubs officials today to discuss a professional contract. Kopf, who just completed his junior year at Michigan, was the Cubs' third-round pick in last week's amateur draft. See story,.age 11.