14 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, May 28, 1997 'M' senior quintet leaves behind championship standard, B.J SiMura Daily Sports Writer OKLAHOMA CITY -They came to Michigan in the fail of 1993 with different backgrounds but the same goals. Each of the five seniors on this year's Michigan softball team was recruited by head coach Carol Hutchins to help bring the program to the next level - the national level. Two traveled from California while three came from Michigan to play the sport they loved. When the careers of Kelly Holmes, Jessica Lang, Jennifer Smith, Tracy Taylor and Mary Adams began four seasons ago, the Wolverines had just won two consecutive Big Ten titles, but had yet to take that next step - making it to the Women's College World Series. The 1994 season was a rebuilding year for the Wolverines, who struggled to replace leaders from the '93 squad. Michigan fell to third place in the conference and failed to qualify for the NCAA tour- nament. Holmes, Lang and Smith were all given the opportunity to play everyday as freshmen. Taylor platooned in the outfield, and Adams established herself as a reliable pinch runner. In their second year with the program, the five sophomores - three of them in starting roles - helped to take Michigan to that next level. After winning the Big Ten title for the third time in four years, Michigan swept its way through the regional and earned its first appearance in the WCWS. Lang started at second base and knocked in 41 runs. Smith started 52 games for the Wolverines and improved her batting average by 70 points from her freshman year. Although Holmes saw her duties decrease with Kelly Kovach and freshman Sara Griffin shoulder- ing the bulk of the load, Holmes managed to appear in 16 games, going I11-1. In their third year at Michigan, the juniors again played an important role in leading the team to its second-straight Big Ten title and repeat WCWS appearance. But despite their successes, the Wolverines once again failed to win any games at the World Series. This season held high expectations for the five seniors and the rest of their Michigan teammates. Despite failing to win a game at the previous WCWS, Michigan entered the '97 campaign ranked fifth in the nation. Lang was named the captain while Smith closed her career as a four-year starter at catcher. Holmes was expected to play an impor- tant backup role to staff ace Griffin. While Lang and Smith performed reliably throughout their senior seasons, Holmes' status changed dramatically following a season-ending injury to Griffin. As the No. I pitcher on the team, Holmes estab- lished herself as one of the premier pitchers in the nation. She won 36 games over the course of the season on her way to being named the Big Ten pitcher of the year. With a win over Central Michigan during NCAA regional round, Holmes broke the Michigan career record for victories, and led the Wolverines into the World Series for the third straight year. Despite losing their first game in the series to Iowa, the Wolverines finally won a game in the WCWS by defeating South Carolina, 1-0. "Someone on our staff said that we have gotten the monkey off our back," Hutchins said. "But we have been in the World Series the last three years, and I think we are playing at the level that we expect to." Although Michigan lost its next game to UCLA, it had taken the next step - winning a game at the World Series. This group of seniors led Michigan to a school-record 56 wins and its first victory in the championship round. The seniors not only con- tributed with offense and defense, but also helped to make the younger players important and influential members of the team. They can only hope that they have laid the groundwork for the Wolverines to take that next step - a national championship. Attendance at WCWS, Olympic gold, shows renewed interest in softball By Sharat Raju Daily Sports Editor OKLAHOMA CITY - In 1982, the Women's College World Series was held for the first time. Begun in Omaha, Neb., 14,433 tickets were sold for the championship tourna- ment hosted by Creighton. This past week- end men, women and children filede into Hall of Fame Stadium for the holiday weekend. F,:i ii: Although more than 9,000 people might not seem like a tremendous improvement, it is the most tickets sold in WCWS history, and more than twice the number sold in Columbus, Ga., last year. "There's becoming more and more parity in softball every year," Arizona coach Mike Candrea said. "The days of coming in here and blowing everyone away are over. "The state of softball throughout the country is better off because of that." The increased ticket sales may have been a result of the recent increase in popularity of the sport. After the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta - where the United States cap- tured the gold medal - more Americans are taking interest in amateur softball. Former UCLA standout and 1996 Olympic hero Dot Richardson was in attendance for a few of the games over the weekend, and wherever she went, the masses followed. Lines not unlike those for the re- release of the "Star Wars" movies were formed around the shortstop whose home run won the championship game for the United States in Atlanta. Another sign of the increased popular- ity of the sport is ESPN2's telecast of the title game between UCLA and Arizona. Unfortunately for ratings, the Wildcats won by the mercy rule in five innings, 10-2. FAB FRosH: Michigan third baseman Melissa Gentile put on an offensive clin- ic during the WCWS. The freshman blasted two home runs for the series - one short of the series record. For her efforts, she was named to the all-tournament team. Gentiles first round-tripper put the Wolverines up 2-0 against Iowa. Her sec- ond also gave the Wolverines an early I- 0 advantage over UCLA. Unfortunately for Michigan, the Wolverines dropped both contests. The O'Fallon, Mo. native was the only Wolverine selected to the all-tournament team. She went 3-for-7 in the series. BIG PAC ATTACK: The Pacific-10 con- ference has asserted its dominance ove the years in the WCWS. This years back-to-back national champion - Arizona - has participated in the past seven WCWS championship games. UCLA has won the most champi- onship contests - seven in 12 appear- ances. UCLA won the title in 1995, but had to vacate its championship due to illegal scholarship practices. This season, three of the four teams in the semifinals were from the Pac-10 Arizona, UCLA and Washington. Michigan senior Tracy Taylor beat this pickoff attempt at first base against South Carolina, and the Wolverines beat the Gamecocks, 1-0, for their only WCWS win. Title is next step for Hutch's team H H 'las '"of seniors. opportunity to become the first women But it's time that Michigan wins a team at Michigan to wina national titl Continued from Page 12 national title. Now is the time, this is the The softball program is the only one t Maybe it is. Sure, Michigan doesn't next program that needs to do so. The never have had a losing season. have the warm-weather advantage like football team might be a few years away The next step is obvious - a nation perennial contenders UCLA or Arizona. from another title. championship. But Washington -last season's WCWS The basketball team might not be The solution might not be as obviou runner-up and a semi-finalist this sea- around for the next few years. Hockey A new coach is definitely not the way 1 son - is only in its fourth year of exis- might be in contention for a title again, go - such a move would be akin to fit tence. but most likely will experience some ing Bo Schembechler in the 1980 The Huskies handed No. 2 seed South rebuilding after the departure of its sto- Maybe the recent appearances at th Carolina its first loss, sending the ried nine seniors. WCWS will bring widespread recogn Camecocks into the losers' bracket Men's swimming will probably con- tion for the Wolverines. before being shipped home by tinue its national dominance, and Maybe if Michigan star pitcher an Michigan. women's gy mastics will probably con- top hitter Sara Griffin hadn't gone dow The Wolverines have shown that they tinue to contend. with a season-ending arm injury, th can overcome the elements and have Now, it should be softball's turn to 1997 campaign would have been the his established themselves as clearly the best step to the front of the Michigan athletic toric one. team east of the Mississippi River and scene. Softball can be the next big But for now, the Wolverines will hav -north of the Mason-Dixon line. This is dynasty for Michigan. to say what they have been saying for th thanks inno smaH part to this graduating TheIsofbalteans. alsohas: the-best: past 20 seasons: "Wait 'til next year" 's e. to al s. to r- s. he li- ed vn is is- ve he Catcher Jennifer Smith, third baseman Melissa Gentile and shortstop Pam Kosanke, although congratulating each other here, lost to Iowa, 3-2. I--- -- -- .. .. ...... I --..