SPORTS The Michigan Daily Tuesday, May 22, 1984 Page 16 Batsmen beat NU for title By ROB POLLARD It took them one game longer than they had hoped, but the Michigan Wolverines wrapped up yet another Big Ten baseball title Sunday in Min- neapolis. The Maize and Blue came back to beat Northwestern, 8-3, after dropping Sunday's first game to the Wildcats by a count of 6-2. HEROES IN the victory included pit- chers Casey Close and Scott Kamieniecki, shortstop Barry Larkin and tournament MVP Kurt Zimmer- man. Larkin and Zimmerman each hit two- run homers, while Close kept the Wild- cats at bay until Kamieniecki could come on to slam the door. "The key to the game was the middle innings when we were struggling," said Kamieniecki. "Casey held them to two runs until we came back in the fifth." In that fifth inning, pinch-hitter Dan Disher got things started with a one-out single to right off Northwestern ace.Bob Miller. Larkin then connected for his third homer of the year. "I HIT AN inside fastball," said Larkin describing his homer. "It was a pitch I had been getting jammed on all week. Coach told-me to go up there and look for it." After Larkin's blast, Ken Hayward singled and leftfielder Kurt Zimmer- man drove a Miller pitch far over the right field wall giving the Wolverines a 5-2 lead. Close gave up an unearned run in the sixth, and yielded to Kamieniecki in the seventh with the score 5-3-and two men on base. Kamieniecki needed only two pitches to get an inning-ending double play. MIDDAUGH WAS pleased with Close's outing, but was concerned with Michigan's pitching depth. "Our pitching is thin. We are for- tunate that we got the two good games out of Kamieniecki and (Gary) Wayne. Neither of our third and fourth starters (Bill Shuta and Dave Karasinski), threw very well." Middaugh is considering starting Close and possibly reliever Ken Hayward in the upcoming Mideast regional. Both were impressive in Min- neapolis. "When you get into these tournamen- ts it comes down to pitching," said Middaugh. "Casey looks like I could give him the ball and Hayward may end up in a situation where he would start a game we had to win, and then I could bring Kamieniecki in." Wolverine pitchers gave up only 13 runs in four tournament games. Another performance like that might just lead the Wolverines a trip to the College World Series in Omaha. DOUG McMAHON/Daily Big Ten Most Valuable Player Barry Larkin shows some of his defensive skills in action earlier this season. Friday, Larkin and the rest of the Michigan baseball team will compete in the NCAA Mideast regional at Mount Pleasant. Middaugh bafled by site By ROB POLLARD highest bid got to host the regional. figure anywhere close to our bid," said At the conclusion of the season, when Middaugh feels this may not be the the Michigan mentor. "It's supposed to Michigan baseball coach Bud Mid- case. be a financial situation. I know what daugh decides to go on vacation, it's "I'd be willing to bet that there's no we bid. If they give me the figures and unlikely he'll choose Mt. Pleasant as way that they could come up with a it's (Central Michigan's bid) the spot. reasonablyclose to the rest of the bids The NCAA Mideast region selection then I'll go along with it. committee chose Mt. Pleasant as the "IT'S ABSOLUTELY ridiculous that site for the Mideast regional. Middaugh they can bypass the Big Ten conference was somewhat less than elated with the w when we can show financially that we choice. can make more money for the NCAA "THEY'VE GOT two hotels in the than any Mid-American Conference whole town and they're running a tour- team could. I think it's something that nament. Where do the parents stay? ought to be looked into." Where do your fans stay? In Mt. Middaugh is more upset with the Pleasant - nowhere. There's nowhere, lack of lodging facilities in Mt. Pleasant there's nothing, there's absolutely than he is about not having the home zilch." field. He feels Ann Arbor is a better site An influencing factor on the commit- tee's decision to select Mt. Pleasant because of its abundance of hotels, and may have been the presence of Dave because there's more to do in between Keilitz as the chairman for the commit- days of the tournament. tee. Keilitz also happens to be the "(A site) has to provide some type of baseball coach at Central Michigan. service to make it a first class tour- Keilitz is retiring at the end of the nament, which it is," said Middaugh season to become the athletic director whose Wolverines will be making their at CMU. He is also resigning as chair- third regional appearance in four man of the committee. It's possible that years. "You have only eight regionals the committee gave the tournament to in the U.S. You don't put them ina place CMU asa favor for Keilitz. where you can't attend them." "I DON'T blame them for wanting Of the four teams to compete at Mt. the tournament, but I want to know why Pleasant - CMU, Michigan, Indiana they chose the site early. They could State and Temple, the 'Wolverines have waited, they didn't know who was figure to bring the most fans to Mt. going to win this tournament." Pleasant. However, as of today the Each of the schools that had a chance three hotels in the area are booked solid. to play in the Mideast regional put in a One of these "hotels" has only nine bid for the tournament. Since the pur- rooms. pose of these regionals is to make Nine rooms is about enough to house money for the NCAA, it would make Middaugh Middaugh's pitchers and catchers, if he sense if the school which submitted the ... needs more rooms chooses to segregate by position.