SPORTS
The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, June 1, 2004 - 15
WORLD SERIES
Continued from Page 13
there is nothing we could do."
Motycka pitched I1 and two-thirds
scoreless innings in the game, an incredi-
ble effort squandered errors in the 12th
and 13th innings.
That the Wolverines bounced back to
compete with a team of Stanford's caliber
was quite an achievement. Losing such a
close game against the Tigers was taxing
on their morale.
"I can't think of too many more devas-
tating things that can happen in a softball
game," Merchant said.
Hutchins was happy with her team's abil-
ity to bounce back after the shocking loss.
"I'm really proud of how we handled
that," Hutchins said. "That was a very dif-
ficult loss. When you have the game in
your hand like that, you really have no one
to blame but yourselves. I really thought
they handled themselves very well."
For the majority of the tournament,
Michigan was performing at its best, and
question marks from the Big Ten and
Regional Tournaments were erased.
Merchant, one of the team's leading hit-
ters throughout the regular season, went 1-
for-3 in the Wolverines' first-round loss to
Michigan State in the Big Ten tournament,
and 2-for-12 in the regional tournament. She
bounced back in time for the World Series,
going 4-for-7 with a double and a triple.
Merchant was more relaxed this weekend,
making for an easier time at the plate.
"I've never really felt bad at the plate,"
said Merchant of the Regional tournament.
"(Oregon State pitcher Monica Hoffman)
got in my head a little. This weekend I just
tried to make the best situation for
myself."
Motycka was bounced from the opening
game of the Big Ten tournament against
Michigan State after giving up five runs on
five hits but bounced back nicely in the
Regional Tournament and the World
Series.
The appearance in the Women's College
World Series was Michigan's seventh and
third in four seasons. Next spring Mer-
chant fully expects the team to contend for
another trip to Oklahoma City.
"I definitely think we have a chance (to
return to the Women's College World
Series) next spring," Merchant said. "We
have a lot of people willing to step up.
(Second Baseman Tiffany Haas) was an
All-American at second, (Grace Leutele) is
returning at third and (Rebekah Milian) is
back in left field."
LAL O enough to receive an individual bid
to the NCAA Championships.
4ontinued from Page 13 "I told her, 'use that pain to run
final in Baton Rouge, La. faster, and don't let that pain be an
Two weeks ago, Gallo won the excuse as you finish out your col-
800- and 1,500-meter races at the lege career,'" Henry said.
Big Ten Championships; an injury- Three other Wolverines earned
plagued McWilliams did the same at spots to the NCAA Championship.
the SEC Championships, setting a Seniors Lindsey Stephenson and
conference-record time of 4:09.19 Melissa Bickett will compete in the
in the 1,500. javelin and discus throw, respective-
McWilliams - who had not lost a ly, while sophomore Elizabeth
race the entire year - hurt her foot
against Ole Miss four weeks ago
and was told by Mississippi State Ellerton captures
*oach Al Schmidt to hold back in at NCAA Midi
the 1,500 regional final.
But Gallo's accomplishment will Sophomore Andrew Ellerto cloca
always be remembered. the 800-meter race and qualify foi
"That's probably the best running Championjhips.
performance that I've seen from a
young lady on my team in my (19) The 4x4 relay team f junior SC
years as a coach," Henry said. "It Warihe, junior Dar Nell Talbert ani
was a breakout performance for her." ished in tenth-place with - seson
Before the race, Associate Coach
ike McGuire told Henry that Frchin Mi celI Whitehed fin i
Gallo had the confidence to com- triple ump with a totaL of ;o 10"
pete with the best, but she never ha
the chance to compete at such a b rh nly at to
high level - either she was going to the NCA T ck adi
run a great heat or "pack it up." 2 A t T
Gallo will pack the socks she
wore on Saturday - a must for the
superstitious runner - for the
NCAA Championships in two
weeks.
After Gallo's improbable win, the
first question she asked Henry was
tow her teammates had fared.
"She didn't want to hear about
(herself)," Henry said. Sp
Gallo learned she wasn't the only
Wolverine capable of heroics.
Michigan sprinter Carly Knazze -
saved her best for last. :'$.00 OFF
Well, sort of.
Every time her feet hit the track Your Lunch Entrees
during the 200-meter-dash, worsen- ce 11a -3 pm
Ong a nagging injury, Knazze kept With Coupon One Coupon per Table
repeating in her head, 'This is the King of Queens- Expires 8/31/04
last race I'll ever run in my life.'
She was wrong. ; ' ;. -
Knazze's determination earned
her a fifth-place finish,, good.
Boyle competes as a pole vaulter.
Even if all five women win their
respective events, their combined
score would not be good enough for
a team national championship.
But, for James, trying your best is
all that matters.
"I always tell (the team), 'Do your
best and I'll be happy. Do your per-
sonal best, and I will be satisfied. If
you do either one, you can't go
wrong.' "
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