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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 1978)
Page 10 THE BATTALION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1978 team opens season By DERRICK GRUBBS The weather might not indicate it, but the 1978 baseball season be gins for Texas A&M this weekend when they travel to Baton Rouge to take on LSU in a pair of doub leheaders Friday and Saturday. The series was originally scheduled to be played at Olsen Field, A&M’s new $1.5 million baseball facility, but bad weather ROBERT BONNER has delayed construction so the se ries was moved to the Bengals home ground. “Our primary concern right now is conditioning,” says Aggie coach Tom Chandler. “We’ve only had three days of outdoor workouts until this week because of the weather. Our pitchers aren’t in top shape, but we've got a veteren staff so it shouldn’t take long for their arms to get loose.’’ The Aggies return seven starters from last year’s lineup, including the top four starting pitchers from the 1977 staff. The Ags finished 37-16 last season and copped the Southwest Conference cham pionship with an 18-4 league mark. “We’re returning a good nucleus from last year’s championship team,” says Chandler. “I know we will be picked high nationally in the pre-season rankings, but our players know that it’s where we end up that counts. We can’t rest on last year’s record.” In 1977, A&M set a team record for home runs with 41 and led the SWC with a .306 team average. Six of their top eight hitters return in ‘78. - — it 1 m \ MARK THURMOND The entire starting outfield is back, including sophomore center fielder Mike Hurdle, who paced the Ags with a .349 average last year as a freshman, and also broke the school record for total bases in a season with 99. Senior left fielder Robert Verde returns, having sat out the first half of the ‘77 season with a knee injury. Verde came through with several clutch hits for the Ags during the stretch drive for the SWC title last year and was voted the team captain at the end of the season. Junior Shelton McMath is back in right field after hitting .270 as a starter last year. Most of the starting infield from a year ago is back, with senior three- letterman Robert Bonner anchoring the shortstop position. Bonner led the Aggies in seven offensive catagories last year and was an all- SWC selection. In the major league draft last summer, he was picked in the ninth round by the Kansas City Royals, but decided to stay at Aggie- land for his senior year. Bonner hit .293 in ‘77 and holds or shares eight school records. At first base will be junior Kyie Hawthorne, who hit .328 and led the team in RBI s last year with 41. He also tied Hurdle for the team lead in home runs with eight. Freshman Rodney Hodde, an all- Stater from Burton, will also see duty at first base. Second base is the big question mark for Chandler right now At least four players are currently bat tling for the starting position left va cant by senior Buddy Grobe last year. The forerunner at present is JC transfer Steve Robinson. Backing him up are junior Tom Larsen and sophomores Randy Woodruff and Harry Francis. Larsen will also do time as a substitute at shortstop and third base. Third is another position vacated by a graduating senior, Winston Whiddon. The heir apparant is JC transfer Mark “Pop” Warriner, who comes to A&M after two years at San Jacinto JC. Ruben Coronado, another transfer from Paris JC, is currently backing up Warriner. The catching is solid as junior Buster Turner returns after a .280 year which included seven home runs. Hawthorne will also do some catching when he’s not playing first The designated hitter looks to be senior Tim Feickert, who was used extensively in that role last year and hit .281. ' , , r As already stated, the nucleus ot the pitching staff returns, led by all-SWC juniors Mark Thurmond and Mark Ross. Thurmond was also an all-American pick and pitched for the United States in the USA-Japan College All-Star Series last summer. Thurmond was the SWC s top hurler in ‘77 with a 0.64 ERA and finished the season with a 10-2 rec ord. He also led the staff in strike outs with 76. Ross saw the most action last year in finishing 11-3 with a 2.41 ERA over 112 innings on the mound. Thurmond, a lefthander, pos sesses a good curve and is described by Chandler as “sneaky fast,” while Ross, a righthander, is noted for his sharp sinker. The other returning pitchers are senior righthander David Piec- zynski and senior lefty Jim McWil liams. Pieczynski was 6-2 last yeai as a starter and has a good fast ball and hard curve. Perhaps the most im proved player on the Aggie staff, McWilliams was 4-2 as a part-time MARK ROSS storter in ‘77. He was plagued by control problems for a short time last year, but Chandler says he looked good through fall workouts and will battle Peiezynski for the third spot in the starting rotation. The Ags also return their ace re liver in junior John Pockrus, who turned in seven saves for A&M in 1977. Freshman Perry Swanson from Las Vegas is another name to re member. A lefty, Swanson was drafted in the seventh round by the Chicago White Soxc this past sum mer, but instead took the schol arship offered him by A&M. Al though he lacks experience. Chan dler says he is just turning the corner to becoming a “pitcher rather than a “thrower.” There are a number of other new faces that will likely get in some early-season playing time. Wayne Meason, a transfer from Paris JC, will see duty at first base. Gary Bryant, another transfer from Panola JC, had a good fall and will work some in the outfield, as could Bryan freshman Ronnie Greinert. Bryant will also share DH duties with Feickert. Two pitchers who will get a shot are junior Alan Buonasera, who had a good fall, and freshman Randy McDonald, an all-District hurler at Fort Worth Western Hills. Chandler, who begins his 20th year as head baseball coach at A&M, believes this year’s SWC race will be the best in many years. “The title is up for grabs and there will be a genuine battle be- I De cham SCnfllV —i MIKE HURDLE tween several teams. 1 befe|| 0, [ s team that finishes afteadi can win the championship,« UT doesn’t have the veterei they have had in the Ft.,^ has just about everybody tetf and will he tough, as will ^Tlu’ 3 Aggies will leave Tin P b morning for Baton RougeaniJ pair of 1 p. m. doubleheaden LSU on Friday and Saturday, took three out of four game the Bayou Bengals there eal I year and LSU went onto; 17-27 season record. They! last in the Western Divison| Southeastern Conference. 4-15 league mark, but I seven starters and had a cruiting year. All the baseball gamed will be broadcast live onBryiK station KAGC (1510 AM n Rows Ms Ags host hot Horned Frofc iritn stall gameainllttpl' By MARK PATTERSON TCU is going to a great expense in M> • 1 j , . c.rr t/M- c^v^nth nnsitlOll. to tne ouu, ^ tn mv Sun Theatres 333 University 846-9808 The only movie in town Double-Feature Every Week Open 10 a.m.-2 a.m. Mon.-Sat. 12 Noon - 12 Midnight Sun No one under 18 Escorted Ladies Free BOOK STORE & 25c PEEP SHOWS AIR FORCE ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS ARE PROBLEM-SOLVERS Plus, they enjoy a worldwide reputation for excellence If you have vision, creativity, and a scientific or engineering degree, apply your talents with a modern sen/ice that's geared for the future. Completion of the Air Force's three-month Officer Training School earns you an officer's commission and starts you on the road to a future-oriented career, The Air Force also offers you an excellent salary, medical and dental care, 30 days of paid vacation a year, a $20,000 life insurance policy for about $4 a month, and mqny other benefits. Find out today what the Air Force has to offer by contacting Parent’s Day 1978 By MARK PATTERSON Battalion Sports Staff One of the many teams that beat the Aggies in the first half of the Southwest Conference season is coming to G. Rollie White Coliseum tonight. The TCU Horned Frogs, once the joke of the conference, are coming into tonight’s game fresh oft of a 57-54 victory over the Rice Owls Monday night for their second con ference victory of the season. And they’re looking for number three tonight. “I’m scared to death with them coming in here,” said coach Shelby Metcalf about TCU’s visit to A&M. “If they beat us, they’ll be in a tie with ns for seventh place in the con ference. “The main thing they have going for them is that they think they can Beat us. They did it once already.” TCU is going to a great expense in their quest for the seventh position. Breaking their usual routine, the Horned Frogs flew in to College Station Tuesday and held a workout in G. Rollie White last night. “They want to give their hoys all the rest they need for a victory, said Metcalf on the Frogs’ early ar rival. “We only travel a day early for a game when we re in contention for the title. “But I think it will help them get mentally ready for their game with us. Anil it sure can’t hurt their enthusiasm.” In their last meeting in Fort Worth, TCU broke out to a 12-0 lead over the Aggies and held on to the lead throughout the contest. But coach Metcalf has a different plan for tonight’s game. “If TCU gets a lead on you, they MSgt Bobby D. 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Come to Anything in the way of RENTAL office furniture for the student or businessman. Engineering & Office Supply 402 W. 25th Bryan 823-0939 their stall gamt'aiifc 1 - -»all.” said Metcalf. to get off to a fast start #11 put some points on we ll create a whole lot for ourselves against theniW L And problems seem totej^ Aggies this season. A&M lost to Texas leC 'fi night, the Red eial protest with the leagitr today because Kent WiHH the Tech forwards, hadnisj ken in the game. “]'ve never heard ol sorow ing an official protest wliti won the game,’ said Metal day. “But if they would Mel the game over again, wed! to. . “But I can’t believe there 1 filed. I’ve seen an Arkansas player killed in a game was no protest filed. A there’s one for a broken jaw “But 1 really can’t makei ment on the subject. We* the blow on our film; sol seen the play. Gerald (Ted Meyers) has a videotape! happened and he submitted of it to the league office. “I never condone violent basketball court I talked (Williams) after the game written him a letter about dent. And I'm happy tol» he’ll be able to play therei season." , But the season is wind® for the conference schools gies have only one morj (Tuesday at Rice) after tonif test against TCU. Andbotl ing contests will decide AW position in the standings, “This is a real Jhg game' said Metcalf about thelC “Our last two games will where we open up in theW of the post-season toumaiw' that’s a pretty important 1 just hope that our boys have sense to realize it.“ j Mon.-Fri. 11 til 2 5 til 10 FORT SRiloH Sat. & Sun. 11:30 til 2:30 5 til 10 Embrey’s Jew* We Specialize If Aggie Rings Diamonds Set- Reoxidizmg - All types watch/jetf Repair Aggie Charge AccC- STEAKHOUSE CHICKEN FRIED STEAK Covered with rich cream gravy, homemade rolls, one trip to our famous salad bar, choice of baked potato or french fries. OR OLD FASHIONED HAMBURGER STEAK Seasoned with lemon-butter sauce and onions, home made rolls, one trip to our famous salad bar, choice of baked potato or french fries. Lettuce ENTERS YOU' Radw kJfrN 846-7384 NOW ONLY $295 Reg. $3.50 Good noon or night For a light lunch, try our famous salad bar. 2508 TEXAS AVE. S. 693-1164 We Pick Up & D# BUD WARD VOLKSWAGEN INI 693-3311