Page 12 THE BATTALION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1981 Softball team tries for national title Stoll, McDonald back to spearhead efforts Photo by Lee Roy Leschper Jr. Nancy Sullivan, a member of the Texas A&M women’s softball team, concentrates as she swings in action in last year’s South west Regionals at Bee Creek Park in College Station. The Ags won the title over Texas Woman’s College. Texas A&M starts the spring schedule Feb. 27 against TWC at Bee Creek. By RICHARD OLIVER Sports Editor When one looks back over the last three years of Texas A&M University sports, many names crop up — David Beal, Curtis Dickey, Peggy Pope and Mike Hurdle to name a few. The average Aggie sports addict can tick off these players’ accomplishments in an instant. But when names such as Shan McDonald, Lori Stoll and Carrie Austgen are introduced, usually nothing will click. After this spring, however, these three members of the Texas A&M fast pitch women’s softball team and their teammates may be pretty popular. The Aggie women come back after a 26-1 fall campaign which saw them win the state championship to start a spring schedule that will hopefully end at the na tional championship in Norman, Okla. in May. In the last three years, the Aggies have compiled a 156-37 record, making them by far the most success ful team representing the University. Last year, after being ranked No. 1 nationally most of the year, the team was third in the nation behind Utah State and Indiana. It also won the regional championship, held last May in College Station. Yet, judging by fan turnout, the squad’s accom plishments go unnoticed by most Aggies. Last year at Bee Creek Park in College Station, the team per formed for an average of only 200 fans a game. This spring that may be different, as the Aggies return with essentially the same lineup as last year’s squad, and will undoubtedly be ranked high in na tional polls again. Because of that. Head Coach Bill Galloway has assembled the toughest schedule Texas A&M has ever had. The spring action includes home games against such powerhouses as UCLA, Arizona State, Cal State-Fullerton and Indiana. Galloway said the tough schedule is just his way of doing things. The coach has been behind the team’s success of the last three years, and he’s hoping this year will bring Texas A&M that long-awaited national cham pionship. “I’m a little apprehensive as the season begins,” he said. “The team is looking forward to facing many of these teams, especially teams like Arizona State and UCLA; both are known for their pitching and defen sive squads. If we beat them, we’ll have a shot at a possible at-large birth (in the national tournament) if we don’t win our region.” Galloway said conceivably half the teams the Aggies will be facing were ranked in the top 10 last year at one time or another. Texas A&M opens the season against Texas Woman’s College Feb. 27 for a doubleheader. TWC was the Ags’ main rival last season in the chase for the regional title. “Obviously, the way you begin the season will be a great indicator of how it will go,” said Galloway. “We start off with TWU, and then play the University of Texas at Arlington, which is not a bad ballteam at all. ” The Aggies are paced by 1980 Texas Player of the Year, pitcher Lori Stoll, who hurled a perfect game and three one-hitters on the way to a 15-0 record. Stoll’s lifetime record at Texas A&M is an incredible 50-6. Along with the left-handed Stoll is her right- handed counterpart on the mound, Shan McDonald, who had an 11-1 fall record. The Aggies have the same starting lineup that they had in the spring, which includes Shannon Murray at first base, Carrie Austgen at second, Maria Resendez at third, Nancy Sullivan at shortstop, Melody Pritch ard in left field, Mary Lou Wargo Youngblood in center, Patti Holthaus in right, Rhonda Reese catch ing, and McDonald and Stoll on the mound. Tennis tourney full of surprises Kilmer to head AFA United Press International WASHINGTON — Former Washington Redskins quarterback Billy Kilmer has been named the first commissioner of the American Football Association, AFA officials said Monday. Kilmer will begin his job immedi ately and be based in Dallas. The AFA has 10 teams in its east ern and western divisions, and be gins its season May 30. The Virginia Hunters in Roanoke is the newest team in the AFA. Other teams are in West Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Mas sachusetts, Louisiana, Texas and Illi- United Press International TORONTO — The $500,000 Tennis Challenge kept twisting exps tations until it came as no surprise that Vitas Gerulaitis upset Jot McEnroe and then announced he has decided to act the role gentleman on the courts. No surprise since that statement came moments after Bjorn Bn; defaulted with the flu from his consolation match with Jimmy Connu. and a few more moments after McEnroe stopped play 12 times ton at officials, kicked his racket, knocked a tennis ball 200 feet stands, and escaped with only a warning. In the interview arena after the match it was suggested these occurrences were fitting culmination to a special eight-ms event that was essentially exhibition tennis and did not count intt world rankings. “I don’t think of it as exhibition, I think of it as a big tournament^ big money at stake,” said Gerulaitis, who used an overhauled sem that netted eight aces and allowed but one break to dispatch an erri McEnroe 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. Money this event had. It had more than Wimbledon, more than4 U. S. Open, and only about $300,000 more than the purse at thisweeh Richmond Open — an official Grand Prix event which affected I rankings but did not otherwise impress the millionaires of tennis, The winner’s purse combined with the $15,000 bonus for them aces in the tournament — 30 — netted the seventh-ranked GeralaiS $190,000 or about $300 a minute for his efforts over the pastwei The tournament ended with a flourish of outrage from McEnrot indecision by officials, roars of catcall from the crowd of some who seemed to be booing almost everyone on court except Gemlaiti who remained stoic and determined. Gerulaitis said that after several years as one of the misbehavingsta in tennis he has decided to emulate longtime friend Bjorn Borg, “Discipline, I think that had a lot to do with me winning thisraatih' he said. “I felt that after Flushing Meadows (site of the U.S. Openb year) I was getting way out of control — just really teed off with benefit. “I know I’ve seen Bjorn when he just was on the verge of letting racket sail, but held back. When he plays tennis, he’s only thinlii about tennis. He doesn’t go to movies, he doesn’t go to parties- everything is tennis.” McEnroe’s angry serve into the stands came in the third gameoflli fourth set after a line call that was either too muted to be heard omen made at all.' McEnroe claimed that a linesman failed to make any call at all serve by Gerulaitis with the score tied 30-30. McEnroe got norespw to repeated requests for ruling from the linesman. Eventually tournament referee Ken Allard went onto thecourtiai initiated a discussion with both players and umpire. “I couldn’t believe it,” said Gerulaitis. “He asked me to playalet and I said, ‘No way’.” Eventually, the point was allowed to stand. McEnrpegaveuponli next point, allowing Gerulaitis to take the game. “I did that to make a point,” said McEnroe. “The officiating^ terrible, and after that I just couldn’t get back into the match Gerulaitis’ serve was challenged but once in the first set whe McEnroe stretched him to deuce, but then lost the game by driviti an easy forehand out of the backcourt. Both players fought out repeated cross-court rallies, but McEnroe! usually effective agression at the net broke down as he hit softdi shots into the net, pounded forehands into the net and clubbed put-aways out of bounds. 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