Senior centerfielder Brian Bush breaks the Michigan single-season hits record. PagW STPORTS Tuesday 99 June 1, 19994 Cal State-Fullerton ends Series hopes for Blue i i 'M' eliminates Notre Dame, Creighton before playoff exit By Raphael Goodstein Daily Sports Writer NOTRE DAME - Former Michigan Athletic Director and football coach Bo Schembechler once said, "Those that stay, will be champions." Even though the Michigan baseball team (34-30 overall) ended its season on a losing note, there will be anoth- er baosatl4 game, and another NCAA tournament, and there will even be some more College World Series titles for the Wolverines somewhere down the road. "This is what I believe Michigan is about, this is what college athletics is about. These young men have determined that they will be successful in whatever they may do, coach Geoff Zahn said. The fact that this team did not advance out of the NCAA Regional does not deter from its surprising late-season surge. Even though the clock struck mid- night for the Wolverines' Cinderella run in the post- season, their performance sent a message about Michigan baseball nationwide. "Styles (of baseball) change from region to region, but it seems to me that some of the cold-belt states are playing more like we play out there (on the west coast)' Cal-State Fullerton coach George Horton said. "I do have a lot of respect for all of the teams in this region, especially Michigan" "They fought hard on the field. They played like champions and that's what it's all about. We played like champions and thats how everyone of these seniors should remember this day and this tourna- ment" The senior-led Wolverines did have their opportuni- ties to advance in the tournament. The double-elimi- nation tournament was unkind to the Maize and Blue. "You look at our team that no one expected us to do Zahn, seniors put Wolverines back on baseball map By Chris Grandstaff Daily Sports Editor NOTRE DAME - No one expected it, and when the Michigan baseball teat got on the bus after Saturday night's 1 5 romp of Notre Dame to advance to Sunday's regional championship, no one could really believe it - that is, no one except the Wolverines themselves. But the Wolverines (34-30 overall) have been making people believers all season long. Few believed a team that had gone 21-27-1, and who had finished sixth in the conference the previous sease could make the Big Ten Tournament - but they did. Few thought a team that had lost five of its last seven games going into the Big Ten Tournament would have a chance to win at arch-rival Ohio State - but they did. And this weekend, as the fourth seed, no one could have foreseen the Wolverines near-upset of third-ranked Cal State-Fullerton and complete domi- nation of third-seeded Creighton at& regional host Notre Dame - but the, did it, and its been a long time in com- ing. Four years ago, the Michigan base- ball team was a wreck. The Wolverines had failed to compose a winning season during the 1990s, and Third baseman Mike Cervenak slides in safely against Creighton en route to a 13-5 Michigan victory. The Wolverines advanced to the Regional championship on Sunday from the loser's bracket with back to back victories over the Jays and Fighting Irish. anything at the Big Ten Tournament. No one expected Maybe they were trying to avenge last year'sc us to do anything here as the No. 4 seed," Zahn said. pointing sixth-place Big Ten finish - a year that In the opening game on Friday, the Wolverines were ed with Top 10 expectations. Or maybe they wet leading 5-3 going to the bottom of the ninth, belore trying to finally have the breakthrough seaso Luke Bonner gave up three runs, leaving the team they haven't had since last going to the NCAA with no room for error. nament in 1989. However, the Wolverines were not about to let their But, Saturday, playing in the back-draw, Mic season end - not without putting up a fight. Just as beat No. 3 seed Creighton 13-5, and then facing' they wouldn't allow their season to end last weekend at the Big Ten tournament in Columbus. See FULLERTON, Pa disap- start- re just a that tour- chigan No. 2 ge 14 See REGIONALS, Page 14 Crew equals best finish at NCAAs By Emily Achenbaum Daily Sports Writer When Virginia earned the central region's slot at the NCAA Rowing Championships, the Michigan women's rowing team was not alarmed - - they knew their stellar record made them a top choice for receiving an at-large bid. Sure enough, the Wolverines caught the NCAA's eye and sent their full team to Sacramento, Calif, last weekend. The three days of championship races were a tough elimination process that culminated in a seventh-place finish for the first varsity eight boat, third for the second varsity eight and fourth for the varsity four boat. Last year, Michigan finished fifth in team competition behind repeat cham- pion Washington and perennial power- c -c ' O. 25 BEERS ON TAP ON DRAFT THIS MONTH YOUNG'S OATMEAL STOUT NEW CASTLE BROWN ALE BELL'S AMBER ALE DETROIT MACKINAC BLACK SAM ADAMS CHERRY WHEAT PAULANER HEFE- WEIZEN GOOSE ISLAND- HONKERS ALE JOHN COURAGE --AMBER SPATEN OPITMATOR & MANY OTHERS NO COVfR CHARGE 31 0 MAYNARD 995.0100 (Ut o M CENTRAL CAMPUS 21 &OVERP r 1 Campus Quarters / C O N L AU ND R Y 'New Owners, Modern Machines, and Sparkling Clean 14695 Washtenaw I between Goliside & Hogback across the street rom Spketree Apts., in the Kroger/Rite Aid Strip house Virginia, with both the first varsi- ty eight and second varsity eight finish- ing fifth in their respective races and the varsity four boat finishing seventh. "The racing was unbelievable - like nothing (we've seen) before," said coach Mark Rothstein. He added that several schools are picking up on row- ing and fielding young, yet highly con petitive teams - not unlike Michigan. In possibly the closest and most dis- appointing race of the weekend, Michigan's first varsity eight boat missed qualifying for Sunday's Grande Final by a mere three-tenths of a second in a photo finish. "I thought we rowed a great race" said Rothstein, "They poured every- thing they had into the race, but can up short by six inches." Rothstein described the first varsity eight boat's race as one that will stick See CHAMPIONSHIP, Page 15