Page 6-,The Michigan Daily- Sports Monday- March 25,1991 Blue softball team finishes in top six 'M' Sluggers split series with Eastern by Jason Bank Daily Sports Writer The Michigan Softball team played in its version of "March Madness" over the weekend at the Bud Light National Invitational Softball Tournament at Sunnyvale, California. The Wolverines (11-7) were one of only six ballclubs left in the 20-team tournament when rain halted play on Saturday. Pitching was the difference in almost every game the Wolverines played in over the weekend. Frosh Julie Clarkson had a strong week- end, pitching 11 and a third innings of no-hit ball while compiling a 1-1 record (3-2 for the season). On Thursday, Julie Clarkson and Andrea Nelson combined to hurl a no-hitter in a 3-0 defeat of No. 18 New Mexico. Sophomore Karla Kunnen and junior Heather Lyke paced the Wolverines with clutch hits in the fifth. After winning their opener on Thursday against No. 18 New Mexico 3-0, the Wolverines dropped a 3-0 contest to Missouri on Friday. Michigan was stymied by the Tigers' Karen Snelgrove and Rachelle Johnson, who combined for the shutout. Michigan's loss was a result of a lack of timely hitting. In the fifth inning, the Wolverines had runners on second and third with one out, but failed to garner any runs. In the sixth, they left a runner on third as sbnior Julie Cooper and sophomore Kari Kunnen both popped out to the third base. Good defense was also absent in the Missouri game, as Michigan committed three errors. Senior Andrea Nelson (3-2) took the loss. Friday night, Michigan bounced back in yet another pitching duel by defeating San Jose State in its own back yard, 2-1. Wolverine senior shortstop Bonnie Tholl broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth with a clutch two- out single to center, which scored frosh Tina Martin. Kelly Forbis threw for six in- nings and picked up the victory, while Andrea Nelson notched her second save of the weekend (four for the season). The Wolverines opened play in the championship, double-elimina- tion round Friday night with a heartbreaking, 1-0 loss to eighth- ranked Iowa. In the bottom of the eighth, Iowa won the game when Pam Palmore singled to left, advanced to second on a ground out, stole third, and then scored when Kim Davis singled deep into the hole at short for the winning run. Only one loss away from a trip back to Ann Arbor, the Wolverines responded with a 7-0 thrashing of Nebraska in the team's best perfor- mance of the weekend. Michigan was tied 1-1 with Arizona State when rain postponed play on Saturday night. by David Schechter Daily Baseball Reporter The Wolverines (10-6) split Saturday's doubleheader with Eastern Michigan (12-1), winning the first game, 3-2, and losing the second, 2-1. As the second game began, the wind started to blow strait in from center field. And it never stopped. The harsh winds dictated the slow pace of the game. "This is not an of- fensive day... This is Ray L. Fisher stadium and you hit into the wind here," Freehan said. Both Eastern and the Wolverines scored one run in the first inning. But with a little help from the wind, the pitching from both sides silenced opposing bats as neither team could produce another during the regulation seven innings of play. The game was pushed into extra in- nings to force a decision. Russell Brock held the mound for Michigan the entire game. His mastery of Eastern's batters unrav- eled in the eighth inning. Eastern's catcher Jim Kraut, who had struck out twice previously, hit a ball into left field over Bubba Wyngarden' s head for a double. "Wynagarden turned the wrongdway to catch the ball," Freehan said.. Then after striking out one bat- ter and intentionally walking an- other, Brock balked, advancing both runners to second and third. Relief pitcher Steve Waite of Eastern then bunted to send in what would be the winning run from third. Waite then iced the win from the mound where he ended the inning, and Michigan's chance of winning, with some hard pitching. He struck out one and forced two others to be thrown out. Freehan was still pleased with Brock's performance on the mound. "Russell Brock pitched a very good game," he said. Although no errors appeared oR the scoreboard for the WolverinA in the second game, that didn't mean anything to Freehan. "Just becau6 there are no errors on the board doesn't mean we didn't make any er rors," Freehan said. "Does a balk show up on the board? Does a runner not advancing at the right time show up on the board? They still count toward winning and losing, and if you're gonna be a good baseball team, you just can't afford to do those things," he added. Michigan employed an aggres- sive base stealing attack against Eastern. The Wolverines attempted to steal four times, but the strategy did not pay off as all four were caught. The first game of the series was* characterized by powerful pitching from both teams, and missed oppor= tunity for Eastern. On the mound for Michigan was staff ace Jason Pfaff who pitched the entire sevefl inning game, giving up six hits and two walks. "Jason Pfaff was not strongi his last outing but was very strong today," Michigan coach BUI*f Freehan said. Pfaff faced Easterp' Jim Martin who also pitched the ew tire game, allowing eight hits ap4 one walk. Eastern had an opportunity ;to take control of the first game with the bases loaded in the sixth inning They were only able to knock in ono° run as they stranded two runners. o Freehan insisted that he is not the type of coach to make a speech* after such a lackluster day. "I'm from a background where you don't give speeches after every game, or. before every game, because I played: 162 games a year," Freehan said. Timmerman's eleven game hits ting streak came to end Saturday, as he failed to get a hit in three at bats Michigan lefthander Jason Pfaff lets one fly against Eastern Michigar Saturday. The Wolverines split a doubleheader with the Hurons. Michigan won the opener, 3-2, but lost the finale, 2-1. Cagers hold by Rod Loewenthal The wily Basketball Writer Player a The Michigan women's basket- ball program held their version of the Grammy's at the Center of Champions last evening and it was senior guard Carol Szczechowski who took center stage under the spotlight. Running off with two out of the four major awards given Sunday night, Szczechowski was honored for her role as team captain and as the veteran influence on a young team experiencing a painful rebuild- ing year following last year's ,NCAA tournament appearance. Although the team finished the season 11-17 overall and 4-14 in the Big Ten, Coach Bud VanDeWege Still found many positives to em- phasize at last night's banquet. He cited the work ethic of the team as never waning through a long and tortuous season, the individual and ;eam improvement, and the loyal support of family members at home pnd away games. . Before the introduction of the four major awards VanDeWege pre- ,sented awards for the team's own free throw tournament held before the season for charity. Garnering the Prick Award given for scoring the least amount of free throws during 4he contest was team manager Cheryl Stevens. A TTTEN TION post-season Outstanding Defensive } award went to forward Char . The junior was chosen over )cking threat and All-Big onorable mention Trish% v. The coaches credited with not only producing of- ly during the second-half of ;on but also for guarding the opposing scorers. Outstanding Hustler Award Szczechowski as did the aluable Player Award. The iosen Most Valuable Player was nearly unanimous ac- to VanDeWege who consid- second-team All-Big Ten s one of the premier players he Maize and Blue. "She is a' hlete with a great attitude' al competitor," VanDeWege banquet Young linksters are sets for the spring season "Of course there are goods and bads to everything in life and some people only accentuate the nega- tives," Szczechowski said later. "But I've had four of the best years of my life here because I've focused . on the positives." .7 On the lighter side, "I want to..." .: thank my mom," Szczechowski said. W; f "For standing up for me when that women at Ohio State called me a JOSE JUAREZfoaiy horse, and dad for keeping mom un- Michigan captain Carol Szczechowski cuts up court in a game early this derCashn in on the Most year. She was named as the Wolverines' MVP on Sunday. Improved Player Award were LaTara Jones and Nikki Beaudry, as provement throughout the season VanDeWege and his coaching staff and sophomore Beaudry was chosen decided to make it a co-award. First- because of the progress she had made (Z A fTE A TiA Tyear Jones was selected for her im- from last season to this season. by Adam Lutz Daily Sports Writer With the sun shinning bright in Ann Arbor this past week, the men's varsity golf coach, Jim Carras, could finally send his team onto the University course to begin their daily practices. Entering his 9th season as the head coach, Carras beams with ex- ceitement as he discusses his current expectations. "My feeling is that we have the foundation to being and becoming a very competitive team." Last season, the team was incon- sistent, displaying promise by fin- ishing in the top half of four of the eleven tournaments, but finishing miserably in several others. However, this season rings with the sense of encouragement. Carras's en- thusiasm stems from the fact that this year's team consists of players full of immense potential and all with eligibility of junior or younger status. Carras plans to use this season as a stepping stone, with two goals in mind for each tournament. "Our No. 1 goal is to shoot a combined 300 with the top four scores, which will help us to achieve our second goal, finishing in the top half of every tournament." Starting next season, Carras will be offering scholarships to athletes for the first time since he arrived. With the change, he hopes to recruit talent, which should help Michigan climb the competition ladder. In deciding who will make each tournament trip, Carras holds a two round competition in practice While only five of the 12 man squad competes in each tournament, theO weekly intersquad competition helps to keep the players at their best. The weekend of March 15-18, the team travelled to the South Florida Invitational. The five participants included Dean Kobane, Bob Henighan, Carl Condon, James Carson, and Denny Sikkila. Without the ability to practice outdoors prior to the tournament, the team finished 12th out of a 17 team field with a combined top four scores for each round of 306, 306, and 305. Kobane led the team in the first two rounds posting a 74, whil'' Siklia finished with the same score on the final day. "I was extremely encourage4 following the tournament, consid- ering we had never practiced of regular basis," Carras said. The teams' schedule contains eight more tournaments, including the Big Ten Championship and the NCAA Central Regionals, which Michigan is one of forty teams. This upcoming weekend, tI$ team will travel to Lexington td compete in the Johnny Owenr Invitational, which is sponsored by the University of Kentucky. The 2 * team tournament includes six of the Big Ten teams and will provide an opportunity to give the team a sense of what level it can expect to play at against top competition. The travel team for the tourna- ment has yet to be announced, pend- ing the individual performances this week in practice. STUDENTS!!! Rackham Student Government elections are held March 26 & 27 Be sure to VOTE and elect your representatives. Rackham Student Government Elections are held concurrently with MSA elections. If you are a Rackham graduate student, ask your poll worker for the "Rackham" ballot. 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