14 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, June 5, 2006 * BASEBALL/SOFTBALL Facility upgrades upcoming for Blue -SPORTS- By Scott Bell Daily Sports Editor Michigan Stadium isn't the only venue on campus that will look unfamiliar in the next decade. Upgrades to two other sporting venues were also approved at the May 19 Board of Regents meeting. Though likely lost in the hysteria that came along with the approval of the football stadium renovation plans, two of the University's more outdated acilities, Ray Fisher Stadium and Alumni Field, can also be expecting a facelift after the regents approved $14.5 million for facility upgrades. "We are looking forward to having a first-class facility for our softball program here at Michigan," Michi- gan softball coach Carol Hutchins said through the athletic department. "The new stadium will offer a better experience for our players, spectators and the media." Five and a half million dollars will be spent on Alumni Field, home of the Michigan women's softball team. Due to the ever-grow- ing popularity and following of the team - which won the program's first national championship in 2005 - the field's capacity will double to a total of 3,150 people. A new 1,800- person grandstand will be erected once construction begins, along with outfield bleachers that are expected to hold 1,350 fans. Other changes include new public restrooms, new concession areas and a new media facility. "Improved seating and fan-friend- ly amenities will make the softball experience that much better for our fans, while the atmosphere in the new stadium will be on par with the best facilities in the country," Hutchins said through the athletic department. "New press facilities will also make it easier to host nationally televised events, while an indoor hitting facil- ity and renovated dugouts will give our athletes a stadium worthy of national champions." The 80-year-old- seating bowl at Ray Fisher Stadium - the home of the 2006 Big Ten Champion Michi- gan baseball team - is also going to receive a massive upgrade. A two- story addition of barrier-free seating is also planned, as well as new rest- rooms and concession areas for the fans. A new clubhouse and hitting facility will also be erected during the construction process. "This will help us continue the great tradition that was established for this institution's oldest sport," Michigan baseball coach Rich Malo- ney said through the athletic depart- ment. "It will also provide us with one of the better facilities in college baseball." One of the more interesting plans is to bring in the rightfield fence and erect a Blue Monster, a home- run-friendly structure similar to the Green Monster at Fenway Park for the Major League's Boston Red Sox. Both projects are expected to be completed within two years. The construction will take place in phases that will not interfere with the com- petitive seasons of either team. 0 0 AMY DRUMM/Daily Freshman Doug Pickens' two-run blast in the sixth wasn't enough to secure a win for Michigan on Sunday. VANDY Continued from Page 13 away attempting to complete a 5-4- 3 double play. Then, in the bottom of the ninth inning, Recknagel doubled over the centerfielder's head and repre- sented the tying run on second with just one out. But the final two Wol- verines popped out to end the game and the season. Michigan fell into the loser's bracket when it lost to Vanderbilt 5-2 Friday afternoon. Freshman Zach Putnam - reliable all season long - battled through one and 1/3 innings before being taken out of the game due to injury. But by then the damage had already been done - the Commodores notched three earned runs off of two hits while drawing four walks. The Wolverines were able to pull themselves within one run after senior A.J. Scheidt doubled in freshman Adam Abraham from first base with two outs in the fourth, but failed to drive in anyone else for the remainder of the game. "It was frustrating," Michigan coach Rich Maloney said after Friday's game. "I really felt there was an opportunity for us to score some runs. We just were not able to get it done." Michigan staved off elimina- tion once on Saturday when it defeated Stetson, 11-1. Senior Paul Hammond shined in his final per- formance as a Wolverine. In nine innings, he scattered six hits and struck out six while allowing only one earned run. "Paul pitched an outstanding game (Saturday)," Maloney said after the Stetson win. "It gave us a huge lift to keep us in this tour- nament. He showed why he is one of the best pitchers in our league today." Maloney was also impressed with the resiliency of the team after the tough loss on Friday. "The kids bounced back like they have all year," Maloney said. "We have had a couple situations this championship season that the boys had to respond and perform not to their liking. Our team has responded well each time." Notes: Putnam's injury in the second inning of Friday's game was unknown at the time, but according to Maloney, the Ann Arbor native felt a pop while he was pitching. "He will probably need an MRI," Maloney said on Friday. "We are obviously concerned and hope it's not bad for his sake and the program's." Michigan ends the season with a total of 43 wins - the most since the team won 49 games in 1989. ... Even though the Wolverines never faced regional host Georgia Tech, the Yellow Jackets' head coach does have a Michigan connection. Danny Hall worked as an assis- tant coach for the Wolverines from 1980-87 under then-coach Bud Middaugh. 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