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). You wanttogo to medical school, you have your B.A., but the only science course you've taken has been Physics for Poets. We have a program for you. Columbia University's Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program is America's oldest and best. 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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."