Page 10- The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, April 3, 1991
CMU provides tough
softball foe for Blue
Theodore Cox
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by Ken Davidoff
Daily Sports Writer
When scheduling non-conference
games during the course of a tough
conference season, coaches often like
to schedule a "lesser" opponent in
order to give their team some rest
and a little more practice.
However, for the Michigan
softball team (2-2 Big Ten, 13-9
overall), today's opponent repre-
sents a tough non-conference oppon-
ent, in addition to an important in-
state rival. Central Michigan (4-0
Mid-American Conference, 18-9)
will host the Wolverines in double-
header action today.
Michigan has had a difficult time
with the Chippewas in the past,
dropping three of five games to
Central Michigan last season. CMU
also leads the all-time series (20-
14).
"They're one of our best rivals,"
Michigan coach Carol Hutchins
said. "We've had several recruiting
wars with them for players, so it's a
rivalry in that matter. It's a fun
rivalry, a good rivalry, and we're
always excited to play them."
As highly as both squads regard
the matchup, they acknowledge that
the ramifications of it are different,
since it is a non-conference game.
"We realize the intrastate
rivalry is important," said Chip-
pewa coach Margo Jonker. "But it's
the conference winner who makes
the post-season."
Jonker, whose players took on
Michigan State yesterday, said any
of five pitchers, including two first-
year players, might see action this
afternoon. Beth Osterland leads
Central Michigan with a 1.34 earned
run average, while Sherri Wright
paces the squad with six victories.
Junior center fielder Pam Stanley
anchors the offense with a team-
leading 20 runs scored, 31 hits, 24
stolen bases, and a .352 batting
average.
The Wolverines had trouble
scoring this past weekend against
Indiana, totalling only nine runs in
four games.
"We hit the ball well a lot
against Indiana," Hutchins said.
"The ball just went right at people.
We're not slumping. Our hitting
will come around."
Hutchins plans on using pitchers
Julie Clarkson, Kelly Forbis, and
Andrea Nelson, all of whom have at
least four wins and none of whom
have earned run averages over 2.20.
Sophomores Patti Benedict, with a
.343 batting average, and Karla
Kunnen, with ten runs batted in,
lead the offense.
Whether it's for conference
dominance or state pride, the Wol-
verines, who are ranked 14th in the
most recent NCAA Coaches' Poll,
credit themselves with keeping an
even mindset for every game.
"We're taking the same approach
as we would for a Big Ten game,"
shortstop Bonnie Tholl said. "A
win is a win and a loss is a loss. It
always matters within our overall
record."
"Every game is important,"
Hutchins-said. "This one is impor-
tant, and the next game will be as
important."
a . fiOd rm t
fr. m ... ..... . .. . . ..
PPIPA
Lessons in etiquette
from Plc ig
AUBURN HILLS - Last week, I awoke from a nightmare drenched
with sweat. In this dream I was lying on the basketball court at the
Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis. A sell-out crowd was cheering as UNLV
forward Larry Johnson stood over me dribbling a ball on my face.
That's it - I've been watching too much basketball. I needed a change
of pace. I tried studying, but at this point in the semester, it really
wouldn't make any lifference.
Just as my mind started to drift from my books, I happened to notice a
press release from the Palace announcing "The Kings of Tennis Classic."
Tennis anyone? Why not? I've never seen a professional tennis match
in person before. Besides, I suddenly had an unexplainable craving for
strawberries and cream.
As usual, I was slightly tardy to the match. My biggest concern was
finding my seat quickly so I wouldn't miss any more of the action. Now,
I knew from watching Wimbledon that tennis crowds were quiet during
play. But that small fact slipped my mind as I calmly walked around the
back of the court, ignoring the play to the side of me.
"Stop! Stay there! Don't go any further!" An usher was whispering as
loud as he could with a facial expression that made him look like he was
walking over a mine field.
I stopped in place, completely lost as to why. As I did, a tennis ball
went flying over my head followed by two girls of about ten years of
age chasing after it. I had this sudden feeling that all 7,000 eyes in atten-
dance were starring at me thinking, Would that idiot get out of the way.
As I looked toward the court, I realized the problem. Pete Sampras
was across the net from me, and he had just served Aaron Krickstein one
of his 18 aces on the night.
Eventually, the set ended and the Palace security guard motioned that
I could come forward. "People pay a lot of money for these boxes and
they don't want anyone walking in front of them," he said.
"Oh," I replied as I examined the "boxes," which consisted of noth-
ing more than folding chairs surrounded by a three-foot high piece of red
cloth.
"I can see why people pay a lot for those. Where's the press table?"
"Over there," he said while pointing over to the other side of the
arena. And before I had walked twenty yards, I heard again the whisper of
"Stop!"
It was my friend the security guard again. "Do you know anything
about tennis etiquette?" he said with a snarl.
"No." -
"You don't move during play."
What happened to a two-minute timeout. Breaks need to be longer in
tennis, as once again I was left standing still.
Finally, I made it to my seat. Then I saw something very strange.
There was a tablecloth on the table. This could mean only one thing. They
were serving strawberries and cream, but they didn't want the press ruin-
ing the furniture - you know how sloppy we are.
As I looked around the arena, to be honest, I thought this was all just
a little too ritzy for me. Several of the male patrons had suits and ties on.
There was red carpet around the court with flowers at the corners.
For the first time, I actually started concentrating on the play. And
for an exhibition, it was very intense. Krickstein, who is from Grosse
Pointe Woods, rarely gets a chance to play in front of his hometown fans,
and he wasn't about to waste the opportunity.
All of the sudden, during a Sampras serve, I hear a noise that sounds
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Former Wolverine tennis star Malavai Washington made an appearance
in last week's Kings of Tennis Classic at the Palace.
like a lawn mower. What the hell, don't they know this isn't a grass
court?
Then, I looked up, only to discover that it was the Palace scoreboard
rotating advertisements. I had been there many times, but I never knew
that thing made noise.
An hour later, things finished up with Krickstein prevailing, 6-4, 3-6,
7-6 (7-3). Finally, it was time for some strawberries.
Unfortunately, they decided to have the press conference first. This
was when I noticed another peculiarity about tennis. Both players an-
swered questions together. I suppose this was so when Sampras was
asked, "What do you think of the play of Krickstein?" he couldn't reply,
"I thought he played like crap."
As the pair finished up the interviews and headed for the showers, I
asked the Palace public relations director, "When do we get some straw-
berries and cream?"
"Who the hell are you?"
So my advice to any of you who are interested in seeing a tennis match
is: one, get there early so you so you can view things sitting down, and
two, bring your own strawberries and cream.
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