Tuesday, May 26, 1998 - The Michigan Daily -l5
Griffin walks 15 as World Series struggles continue
Michigan pitcher Sara Griffin's specialty has been pitching out of jams. But 15 walks in three games in
te College World Series created jams a little too tough to pitch out of, and Griffin lost two of three.
Seniors' leave legacy
for Michigan sotball
By T.J. Berka
Baily Sports Editor
q OKLAHOMA CITY - At the
eginning of the year, every softball
program craves a national title.
Michigan was no different.
In fact, the Wolverines went way
beyond craving this year's title.
Lust and expectation were the
words that most accurately described
Michigan's desire for the national
crown.
"The senior class has really put
Michigan on the map," Michigan
coach Carol Hutchins said. "They
have raised the expectations of the
program, and the expectations are
really high."
Due to these high expectations,
the mood was somber Saturday
evening after the Wolverines were
eliminated by Oklahoma State, 3-1,
just one day after being no-hit by
Fresno State.
Michigan, the No.2 team in the
lion for the majority of the sea-
son, saw its fourth-consecutive
World Series berth end in disap-
pointment.
While defeat is hard to swallow,
the senior class of Sara Griffin,
Kellyn Tate, Lisa Kelley and
Jennifer McKittrick have a lot to be
proud of.
Before they set foot in Ann Arbor
the fall of 1994, the Wolverines
ad never been to the College World
Series.
This year's graduating class has
never missed a World Series.
"These four have left Michigan
softball in a lot better place than they
found it," Hutchins said.
That place is where the four-time
Big Ten Tournament champions,
three-time Big Ten regular season
champions and the perennial top ten
finisher can be found.
Although these Wolverines don't
have championship rings, the four-
some helped install a championship
spirit.
"This team has all the heart in the
world," Hutchins said.
This year's 56-7 record suggests
that a little bit of talent is combined
with heart in Michigan's formula for
success.
The 56 victories ties the Michigan
single-season mark set in 1996. The
Wolverines also went to the World
Series that year.
During the record-tying season,
the Wolverines went 22-1 in the Big
Ten, winning the conference regular-
season title by 7-1/2 games over sec-
ond-place Northwestern.
Along with the No. 2 ranking, this
season saw catcher Melissa Gentile
hit 13 home runs - more than dou-
bling the previous single-season
record - and Griffin stay undefeat-
ed in the pitching circle until the Big
Ten Tournament.
"I think we are so much better than
what we showed here," Griffin said
about the team's performance this
past weekend.
"We didn't come through, but
there are seven teams that won't
come through, and only one who
will. I wish we were that one, but
By TJ. Brka "I really didn't think I was struggling. I felt good
Daty Sports Editor out there," Griffin said. "It's just hard to explin
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Michigan softball fans right now."
know it. The opposition knows it. Even she knows While Griffin's pitching style often sees her bat-
it. tle back from tough situations, this weekend the
During the regular season, there was a feeling walks caused situations that were tougher than any
that any game Sara Griffin pitched would be a vic- she had faced all year.
tory. "I think Sara is a better pitcher than that'"
Barring a loss to Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament, Hutchins said.
Griffin had been automatic all year. Coming into With 106 career wins and just 19 losses, Griffin
this weekend's College World Series, Griffin boast- has proven her mettle as a pitcher. But in the three
ed a 34-1 record with an 0.86 earned run average. World Series she participated in, Griffin has a 1-5
With her nearly flawless record, it seemed as if record and an ERA well above 3, a far cry from htr
she could break - or at least tie - her Michigan career regular-season ERA of 1.10.
single-season victory record of 36 which she set in Griffin's only win came in the Texs rout, but she
1996, was also far from sharp in that game, either, giving
The 1996 record stil stands. up four walks and battling out of numerous jams.
Instead, this past weekend saw Griffin triple her Battling out of jams is Griffin's speciality, but
season loss total, as she was the losing pitcher in there is much less room for error during the cham-
Friday's 8-0 merciless loss to Fresno State and pionship weekend.
Saturday's 3-1 tournament-ending loss to Oklahoma "I don't really think the batters are more fero-
State. Only a 7-2 victory over Texas in Thursday's cious," Griffin said after the Fresno State loss.
first-round contest kept the weekend from being a Ferocious or not, Griffin has only had one victo-
total disaster for Griffin and the Wolverines. ry in World Series competition compared to five
The main difference between Griffin's World losses, indicating that a different pitching style may
Series performance and her performance through- be more effective when the pressure is on.
out the rest of the season was her control. Griffin "We faced a high-pressure situation and we did-
never found her groove, walking 15 batters in three n't deliver," Griffin said.
games, an average of five per game. In Saturday's During the regular season, Griffin has delivered
loss to the Cowboys, Griffin walked seven batters, efficiently the past four years.
prompting Michigan coach Carol Hutchins to con- But in the post season, the deliveries haven't
front her in the pitching circle in the third inning. arrived on time.
EXPERIENCE
Continued from Page 16
Umpires weren't the only thing that
caused Hutchins stress. Her team's play
in the field and in the pitching circle
v - drew her ire. In the first couple of
innings alone, Hutchins met with the
whole infield twice and had a one-on-
one meeting with Griffin after Griffin
gave up her fifth walk.
And Hutchins wasn't asking Griffin
about going out to a postgame meal
either.
Even with Hutchins on edge, it
would be wrong to blame her intensity
for Michigan's performance this week-
end. It seemed as if each Wolverine
was trying too hard to be the star and
pull the team out of its downward spi-
ra.
"A lot of us were trying too hard" at
the plate, Michigan rightfielder Kellyn
Tate said. "We were out in front of the
pitches, which is a product of trying too
hard. We never could get our timing,"
The pressure of he World Series was
felt in the field as wel. Are old softball
MARGARET MYERS/Daily axiom says that if you take time to
Melissa Taylor tags an Oklahoma State baserunner in think while fielding, you're taking too
as the Cowboys crushed the Wolverines high expectations much time. If that's the case, the
Wolverines were doing their best imita-
home from Oklahoma City with a 1- tion of Socrates. Even on routine
aren't the champi- 2 record, Michigan saw the trip as a grounders and easy forceouts, the
built a foundation success. Michigan infielders hesitated before
hampion in the The fact that, after just one year, throwing.
the same outcome brings disappoint- The Michigan batters seemed to be
nsecutive World ment shows just how far this team trying to get the winning hit, while the
s, both opponents has come. infielders seemed to be trying not to
w that Michigan "I think we realize that we had a screw up. Until this weekend, the
duct with staying great season," first baseman Traci Michigan hitters played within their
Conrad said of the past season. means and the fielders invited 'the
xpectations lent to "We aren't going to judge the sea- opposition to hit the ball to them.
:ment Saturday, as son because of what happened this , How do the Wolverines solve what
were in tears after week. ails them? Well, a little Southern cook-
"We didn't quite do what we want- ing and a few lazy days in the warm
o, the Wolverines ed to, but that happens. We just need Oklahoma air wasn't enough to do it,
er College World to realize what a great team we are, so maybe a hot Ann Arbor summer will
, despite coming and that we had a great season." help.
Michigan freshman F
Saturday's 3-1loss,
things happen."
The Wolverines,
ons, but they have
for a possible c
future.
With four co
Series appearance.
and recruits kno
softball is a proi
power.
The newfound e
a lot of disappoint
some WolverinesN
being eliminated.
Just one year ag
won their first-ev
Series game, and