SPORTS
The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, July 6, 2004 -15
Former Michigan tricaptain and shortstop Scott Tousa had a chance to play a game at the Pittsburgh Pirate's PNC park last month.
Tousa gets a look atPNC
MONTOYA
Continued from Page 14
World Junior Championships and was
named the tournament's Most Outstand-
ing Goaltender.
One important factor in Montoya's
decision is whether he can develop as
much at Michigan as he could in the
Rangers' system.
Before the draft, teams told Montoya
that he needed to leave Michigan so he
could play more games. But it is not
clear whether playing for Hartford, the
Rangers' American Hockey League
affiliate, would accomplish that. The
Rangers have two other highly touted
prospects in Dan Blackburn and Henrik
Lundqvist, and if Montoya was in Hart-
ford along with one of the other two,
they could split time at goal.
And while the competition in the
AHL may be better than in college,
Michigan assistant coach Billy Powers
believes there are other invaluable bene-
fits to playing at Michigan.
"Could the quality of shots he'd face
be better in the American League?
Maybe," Powers said. "But the pressure
of that position at Michigan and the
expectations of the program at Michi-
gan wouldn't be there. There's a ton of
pressure on the kid here, and we play a
good schedule. We think he would get
everything development-wise at the
American League for another year at
Michigan."
Montoya has had a hectic week since
the draft, which was held in Raleigh,
N.C. Montoya and his family first set-
tled down for a vacation in Hilton Head,
S.C., but it didn't last long. The Rangers
whisked him away to New York, where
he got a brief taste of the Big Apple. At
Carnegie Deli he had a sandwich
named after him, and he met Jose Con-
treras, a Cuban pitcher on the Yankees
(Montoya's mother is from Cuba).
The Wolverines already appear
resigned to the fact that, if Montoya
does not sign with the Rangers now, he
will next year.
PJ'S
RECORDS &
USED CDS
By Ryan Sosin
Daily Sports Editor
PITTSBURGH - Scott Tousa and
Jack Hannahan spent four seasons as
bitter rivals battling on the Big Ten
baseball diamond. For most of the last
two years, they have been teammates on
Detroit's double-A affiliate in Erie.
Then on a night late in June, the pair
made their debut at a big league stadi-
um, if not in the big leagues.
Tousa, a former Wolverine second
baseman, and Hannahan, an ex-Golden
Gopher third baseman, were poised to
turn pro after their college careers ended,
and it just so happened that the Detroit
Tigers were scouting each of them.
Both got a glimpse of life on a big
league stage when the Erie Seawolves
played the Altoona Curve on a sunny
evening at PNC Park, home of the
National League Pittsburgh Pirates.
Hannahan, relegated to designated hitter
duties due to a back injury, and Tousa,
playing at third base, got a taste of what
life in the Major Leagues is really like.
Even though it wasn't the real show,
players seemed to be soaking in the big
league atmosphere from the smiles dur-
ing the national anthem to the high
fives at the end of the night.
"It was an awesome experience,"
Tousa said. "It's not something you
get to do everyday, so you have to
take advantage."
The Seawolves earned the win over
their divisional foe on an impressive
two-hit shutout from Wilfredo Ledez-
ma. The 6,497 paid attendance was
more than twice the amount that came
to see Erie's home opener.
In their last two seasons in collegiate
baseball, Hannahan truly dominated
Tousa's Wolverines with the Golden
Gophers, hitting .438 with an extra base
hit in all but two of the pairs nine con-
tests, giving his team eight wins.
"It's funny how it works. During col-
lege you can play against a guy and
actually hate his guts" Hannahan said.
"But then all the sudden, bam we get
(signed) by the Detroit Tigers and play
with each other for a few years and now
(Tousa's) my best buddy on the team."
"It's funny to see how much you
don't like guys when you're on differ-
ent teams," Tousa said. "Then when
you're on the same team you get
along real well."
Old habits die hard, even though the
two are teammates now. Hannahan said
the pair still follow their former schools
in the newspaper and on the Internet,
placing friendly wagers complemented
by the occasional victory gloat.
"Me and Jack always go at it,"
Tousa said. "We've got that Big Ten
rivalry going."
As Tousa pursues his budding base-
ball career, he hasn't strayed too far
from Ann Arbor. After his first pro sea-
son in Oneonta, Tousa returned to
Michigan to complete his degree in
communications. He and his wife
recently purchased a home in town and
plan on staying for a while.
The Tigers took Hannahan in the
third round of the 2001 First Year Player
Draft, while Tousa's name went
uncalled. The Tigers decided to wait on
Tousa, hoping he would be available to
sign undrafted. As planned, an hour
after the last name was called, Tousa
had agreed to terms with Detroit and
headed for low-A Oneonta.
"It's neat that I got to sign with the
Tigers," Tousa told The Michigan Daily
shortly after he signed in 2001. "I've
been living here for four years watching
those guys. But I am just glad that
someone gave me a chance to play."
Last season, Tousa spent most of his
time playing shortstop for the the Tigers
double-A team in Erie, right next to
Hannahan stationed at third. It was the
best year of Tousa's short professional
career. He hit .245 with five home runs
and 51 RBIs.
In 2004, Tousa's role changed to pla-
tooning between second base, third base
and first base, where he made his pro
debut at this season, to go along with his
familiar spot at shortstop. Tousa has
struggled at the plate this year, hitting
just .182 through Sunday but has shown
signs of turning his season around, hit-
ting a clutch home run on Saturday. The
same work ethic that made him a tri-cap-
tain at Michigan has earned him the
respect of his current teammates.
"Scott's a great guy, a great competi-
tor," Hannahan said. "He plays the game
how the game is supposed to be played."
Though Tousa went 0-for-3 in the
game at PNC Park, he has since
added six-points to his average
while substituting at third base as
his former foe turned friend nurses
a back injury.
"We may have to have a different
conversation at the end of his junior
year because he's that good and it's time
to move on, but I don't think we've
quite reached that stage yet," Powers
said. "He's on the cusp, but I think
there's more for him to get done here."
Montoya believes that regardless of
his decision this week, he is two or three
years away from being an NHL-caliber
goaltender.
"The way I look at it, either way I go,
I'll be making the right decision," Mon-
toya said.
FOUR OTHERS SELECTED: On the sec-
ond day of the draft, two current
Wolverines and two incoming freshman
were selected by teams.
Forward Mike Brown, who scored
eight goals his freshman year, was cho-
sen in the fifth round (159th overall) by
the Vancouver Canucks. Defenseman
Matt Hunwick, who, as a freshman, lead
the team with a plus/minus rating of
plus-12, was drafted by the Boston Bru-
ins in the seventh round (224th overall).
Forwards Kevin Porter and Chad
Kolarik were both drafted by the
Phoenix Coyotes. Porter was drafted in
the fourth round (119th overall), while
Kolarik went in the seventh round
(199th overall).
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VANDERKAAY
Continued from Page 14
team, that has become his number one goal.
"I would love to make an individual event, but if I make it
onto the relay (team), I would be just as happy," Vanderkaay
said. "I can't be mad if I put up good times and don't make it.
As long as I improve, I guess I can't complain."
Since the NCAA Championships in March, Van-
derkaay has been training hard with other Wolverine
Olympic hopefuls - sophomores Chris Dejong and
Davis Tarwater, senior Dan Ketchum and senior Jason
Coben will compete for spots on the U.S. team while jun-
iors Andrew Hurd and Chuck Sayao will attempt to make
the Canadian team - under the supervision of the Michi-
gan coaching staff.
"I've just been training very hard," Vanderkaay said.
"Everyone has a goal and we're all just training and sup-
porting each other."
Vanderkaay's preparation has also included a three-week
trip to the U.S. Olympic training center in Colorado
Springs for intensive training.
Now that his training has risen to meet his newfound lofty
goals and expectations, Vanderkaay remains humble about the
opportunity to be an Olympian.
"I would really be honored if I made the team to represent
Michigan, my family, myself as best as I can. It would be a
great honor to represent the country aswell."