Page 15
The Record
April 16, 1998
Blazer softball has roller coaster week, ready for home opener
By Eric Brever ¦ Editorial Staff Writer
From the warm Florida sands to the forests of Minnesota there is a world of difference, as the CSB softball team is finding out. Despite starting out strong, the Blazers went through a wild ride at St. Mary's before settling down season." to defeat Carleton in Northfield last week. The
road ahead ----------------- ££ ------------
promises noth- ccrrrl , , t , r
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twelve games at home, which includes some key matchups if CSB wants to make the NCAA tournament in May.
"There's nobody left we can't beat," said Johnson. "We dictate our season from here ... we could be in one of the top spots in the conference at the end of the
the MIAC and >, i
ncaa's are a we can t beat.
free-for-all.
"It's typical softball in Minnesota," said coach
Denny Johnson, whose win at Carleton was the 250th of his career. "The weather has forced us to switch games and fields ... it's hard to get any continuity."
The weather caused the one-day postponement of CSB's game against St. Mary's to April 9. Though early in the MIAC season, the Cardinals took two from the Blazers after the delay. Not only was it CSB's first time being swept this year, the losses were tough, 3-1 in the first game and 11-5 in the second. The Blazers returned to action April 13 to sweep Carleton in Northfield 13-3 and 8-3.
"St. Mary's is a solid team,** said Johnson. "I take nothing away from them."
Currently 12-4-1, the Blazers are optimistic about their upcoming schedule. After traveling to Mankato to take on Gustavus today, CSB will host their first home game Saturday as they take on Augsburg. From there the Blazers will play six of their final
Fortunately for CSB, both St. Olaf and St. Thomas must travel through St. Joseph
before anyone
— coach Denny Johnson can claim the
MIAC champi-
_______ aa _____________ onship. Both
" the Oles and
the Tommies
swept the Blazers last year and have some of the best pitching in the conference.
"Both St. Olaf and St. Thomas are tough," said Johnson. "Still, if we play ball, we'll be ok."
Perhaps the most amazing aspect of this Blazer team is its youth. With no seniors and only two juniors, the lack of upper-classmen has not hurt the Blazers yet, since sophomores and first-year players have stepped up to fill the void. CSB has been led by the outstanding arms of their pitching staff. Sophomore Angie Erickson has been phenomenal on the mound, allowing only four runs in 56 innings DTtchea, leaving her with a .50'ERA.\ Junior fireballer Angie Fischer h^s complemented Erickson well, racking up a mere 2.48 ERA.
On the other side of the plate, the three and four spots of the Blazer batting order have pound-
The Record
SCOREBOARD
CCCN^
SJU Baseball (13-6)
April 4: at SJU 4-4, Hamline 3-1 April 7: SJU 5, at Minnesota 8 April 9: at SJU 5-9, Concordia 6-4 April 11: at SJU 5-10, St. Olaf 4-0 April 14: at SJU 7-14, UM-Morris 6-2 April 15: SJU 14, at St. Cloud St. 10
CSB Softball (12-4-1)
April 4: at CSB 1-15, Concordia 2-3
' April 8: CSB 1-5, at St. Mary's 3-11
April 13: at CSB 13-8, Carleton 3-3
SJU Track & Field April 11: Carleton Triangular, SJU first place
CSB Tennis (10-2)
April 5: at CSB 9, Hamline 0 April 5: at CSB 9, St. Kate's 0 April 8: CSB 2, at Concordia 7 April 14: at CSB 5, Macalester 4
SJU Tennis (4-8)
April 4: at SJU 0, Carleton 9 April 7: at SJU 9, Minn.-Morris 0 April 8: at SJU v. Concordia, ppd. April 14: SJU 0, at Macalester 9
CSB Track & Field April 4: Carleton Invitational, 7th place
Quote of the week:
"The 3-point line is soooooo far"
—SJU senior Matt Griffith, commenting on the Target Center court.
I See Softball Pace 16
¦From Tennis Page 14
trips to St. Cloud for practice can wear down a weak team. Still, the Blazers remain optimistic about the end of the season.
Another team who knows obstacles is the SJU tennis team. The Johnnies have also had to overcome inexperience and settle into a new groove with a new coach.
"It is kind of a tough transition, but [coach] is doing a good job," said junior captain Mike Kennedy of first year head coach Jack Bowe. Bowe was CSB head tennis coach before accepting the job at SJU.
In addition to a new coach, this year's team is very young. There are five first year students and no seniors on the roster, but every match brings improvement.
"We have improved a lot over the season. The freshmen have all picked up their games," explained Kennedy.
The Johnnies, 4-8 overall, 1-3 MIAC, showed both potential and inexperience as they Dosted a convincing win and suffered a tough loss in recent action. On April 7, the team handed Minnesota-Morris a humbling 9-0 loss. A week later, the same netsters took a 9-0 loss of their own to
Macalester. The SJU loss was hardly a humbling one, though, as three matches took three sets to decide the winners. The first and second doubles teams fought for three sets as did first singles player Andy Wubbels, a junior.
Although back in the pack in the MIAC, the Johnnies have two conference match-ups this week which can help them. Two wins would move the team up in the conference and give them a better seed for the end of season MIAC tournament. Both matches will be held at St. John's at 3:30 p.m. with Bethel coming here on Aprill6 and St. Mary's on Aprill7.
More gym renovations? Old floor retired as Claire Lynch Hall receives repairs
57U to dedicate athletic facilities; CSB/SJU golfers tee off; SJU's Schneider honored
Compiled by Eric Brever Editorial Staff Writer
The layup in Claire Lynch Hall isn't an easy make anymore.
Especially since there's no "ground" to shoot from, as the gym floor is being renovated. Although the Blazers have called Claire Lynch home for only thir-
teen years, the old floor developed many dead spots, requiring the installation of a new floor.
"The floor was getting progressively bad," said CSB basketball coach Mike Durbin. "It was really becoming a sub-par floor by collegiate standards . . . we're just happy St. Ben's decided to do something about it."
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The old floor was installed when the building opened in 1985, but due to the heat and humidity of Minnesota summers, the floor began to buckle (thus creating "dead spots" where the ball would not bounce as high) within the first two years. Though the installation of air conditioning helped correct the problem, it was not a permanent answer. With the nor-
___mal wear and tear
"1 of activity and the | humidity wreaking | havoc on the floor,
¦ the numerous : patches and mends I over the past few I years could only | marginally fix the I floor. Fortunately . this spring, after ' two years of plan-I ning, a new floor is | being installed.
I The new floor | will be similar to | the one installed
¦ last summer in the Warner Palaestra
I at SJU. The floor, I complete with | buffers, is an all-
¦ around high quali-I ty product, accord-* ing to Durbin.
In
other sports after a year
1 news
I of construction I SIU can finally cel-| ebrate the comple-¦ tion of the athletic J facilities renewal I project tomorrow I with the dedica-| tion of the struc-1 tures beginning at
the Spectrum. The
project renovated
'3:45 p.m.
the Warner Palaestra, updated and renamed the Clemens Stadium, and built a magnificent fieldhouse in the McNeely Spectrum. The Spectrum is attached to the Palaestra by McKendrick hall, the glass entrance to both buildings. On hand for the dedication will oe Abbot Timothy Kelly, OSB, SJU President Dietrich Reinhart, OSB, ' and SJU athletic director Jim Smith. A reception will follow the dedication.
After finishing fourth in the MIAC last fall, the SJU golf team will begin their spring season this weekend at the Gustie Invitational tournament in St. Peter. The tournament, hosted by MIAC champ Gustavus, should be a good test for the Johnnies.
"We're very optimistic about our season," said coach Bob Alpers. "We still have a chance of going to nationals, but that means we'll have to play well every weekend."
The challenge is stiffened by the loss of Aaron Shmuckcr, who graduated in December. Still, SJU will be in prime position to make a run for the tournament if senior Brian Sinotte, junior Eric Strey, and first-year golfers Robert Cliff and Matt McGovern play to their potential. Following this weekend, the Johnnies travel to Iowa to compete in the Buena Vista Invitational. Five of the nation's top twenty-five teams will be present at that meet.
The CSB golf team also begins the spring season this weekend at the UW-Eau Claire tournament. After finishing second in the MIAC last fall, the Blazer golfers are ranked 11th in the country and number five in the West district. CSB is led by sophomore Heather Schmidt, who is ranked 14th in the
country and sixth in the district. Schmidt has the opportunity to become the first Blazer golfer to compete at the NCAA championships later this spring.
SJU sophomore Andy Schneider earned a gem and was awarded the MIAC pitcher of the week for it. Striking out six and walking only one, Schneider hurled a no-hitter against St. Olaf on April 10, when the Johnnies pounded the Oles 10-0. The news came out April 14 that Schneider was awarded one of two MIAC players of the week, the other being first-year first baseman Dan Richards of Bethel.
On the hardwood, CSB sophomores Molly Mark and Laura Wendorff were awarded high honors for their play during the NCAA tournament. Both Mark and Wendorff were named to the Columbus Multimedia All-West Region team for their performances in leading the Blazers through the playoffs before being upset by Mount Union College of Ohio in the sweet sixteen. Averaging 11 points per game, Marie was listed on the first-team while Wendorff, who scored nearly 17 points per game, was selected for secona-team honors.
Also in basketball news, SJU seniors Matt Griffith and Paul LeTcndre, with their teammates Chris Carda and Tom Carda hit the shot when it counted in winning the Johnnie Tommy three on three tournament last weekend. Though they played the championship game before a near-sellout crowd at the Target Center, they managed to put off the pressure in taking home first prize with a 22-20 win over their purple and silver foes.
