Page 14/The Battalion/Friday, September 19, 1986 Ag softball hopes to continue success By Danny Myers Sports Writer The Texas A&M softball team, which finished last season as the No. 2 team in the nation, begins its 1986- 87 campaign today at the Fall Mav erick Invitational in Arlington’s Ran- dol Mill Park. A&M, playing in a four-team pool today, will face Oklahoma City Uni versity at 4 p.m., Baylor University at 5:30, and Ranger Junior College at 8:45. The other pool in the tourney is made up the University of Texas at Arlington, Southwest Texas State, Northeast Louisiana and the Univer sity of Oklahoma. The standings af ter Friday’s pool play will determine the seedings for Saturday’s single elimination tournament. A&M lost to (California State-Ful- lerton, 3-0, in the championship game of the College Softball World Series in May. This year’s team re turns All-America second baseman Judy Trussell, two-time All-America pitcher Shawn Andaya and short stop Liz Mizera, who had a .371 bat ting average and led the NCAA with 18 home runs last season. Head Coach Bob Brock said his team is quick. “It’s probably one of the fastest teams in the nation — faster than we’ve ever had,†Brock said. But the Aggies’ biggest problem this season is experience, he said. A&M loses four starters from last season: All-America third baseman Cindy Cooper, first baseman Mary Schwind, right fielder Debbie Roll- man and outfielder Cindy Foster. Brock said the open spots on the roster will be filled with freshmen, but he’s not concerned about the abundance of youth. “We’ve been able to recruit some of the top players in the nation be cause of our past record,†he said. “When (a team) keeps winning all the time and you end up on the team, you seem to end up a little bet ter ball player — with the combina tion of a lot of hard work.†Another change the Aggies face this year is that the pitching mound has been moved back from 40 to 43 feet. “It looks like it might add a little bit more offense and it looks like it might enhance the running game a little more, too,†Brock said. “I’m excited about the new chal lenge.†Even though the Aggies have a Softball Coach Bob Brock young team (two seniors, two ju niors, five sophomores and four freshmen), Brock is still looking for a good year. “We’ve got a lot of quality players on the team now,†he said. “Everybody on the team plavs at least two positions, sometimes three. “I’m very comfortable with then ability to fill in (at other positions)." A&M could play as many as six games in the two-day tournament, yet only has been working out as a team since Sept. 1. “That’s OK," Brock said. “That's the way we play this game. “It’s not unusual in a tournament. That’s why we re lucky to have two pitchers the caliber we've got (An daya and sophomore Julie Car penter). “The more (the players) work, the more they like it, so it works out [He tty well. “They’ll be in good condition. We’ve been working hard,†Brook said. Yanks’ Mattingly pursues second batting title NEW YORK (AP) — After winning a bat ting title in 1984 and a most valuable player award in 1985, first baseman Don Mattingly of the New York Yankees seems only mildly interested in topping this year’s American League hitting list — or any of the other six categories he ranks among the top five. “We’ve still got a long way to go,†Mattingly said. “I don’t look at the boxscores much. I usually don’t know what (Boston’s Wade) Boggs did unless someone tells me.†Mattingly, last year’s AL MVP, has hit safely in 17 consecutive games and raised his average from .335 to .350, bringing him within a point of the Red Sox’ third baseman, who led the American League in hitting be fore Thursday’s games. In the streak, the 25-year-old left-handed hitter was 33-for-70 with three home runs, 13 runs batted in and 16 doubles, while scoring 14) runs. “I won the batting title in 1984 (with a .343 average) and I had a good year last year,†Mattingly said. “This is as good as I’ve felt at the plate as far as knowing myself and what I’m doing. I feel very relaxed. I feel like I’m approaching the pitchers the right way looking for the right pitches. I’m seeing the ball as good as I have in a long time.†His 214 hits, .568 slugging percentage and 48 doubles ranked him first in those catego ries, while he was fifth in RBI (102), third in runs scored (106), and fifth in on-base per centage (.592). No Yankees’ player has had as many hits since Joe DiMaggio had 215 in 1937, and this is the third straight season Mattingh h.ix .u cumulated more than 100 RBI. With New York far behind East Division leading Boston, the batting race between Mattingly and Boggs was commanding much attention. “It’s on your mind. Irecause you ionic to the park and you're asked questions about it,†Mattingly said. "But I don't think alMtut it in a major way. You’re never really in a batting race with another player. You’re in it with yourself and the pitcher. You’re using to beat the pitcher.†A&M wore golfers heat for Oklahoit 1 he Texas A&Mwon:d team, coming uil adiuii. B sixth-place finish last begin pla\ this morningi All-C College Llassic Golf ment in l.dmntnl.Olda. The 12-team tournev. co-hosted l)\ Oklahoma lahoma State, is being; the K u kingbird Golf Con w ill Iasi tluniigli Sunday. Despite the team's poo mg at last week’s SMUQ Dallas, A&M Coach Kitty is hoping her team uilht', its 1985 form when it Southwest Conferencet seat, the Aggies slump lout th-place finish. 1 raveling with the te weekend are senior Fiot nor, juniors Kelli \lurp I loilie Frizzell and sopt Mat iana Osangumiand Penucla. Ft izzell led A&M ind at the SMI Classic with tound total ’JT), gixydfa the toutnunietu. Othet SWC schools at ties ini hide SMI’ and well as teams front Floi dp IS SfitextauuneHt Over 45 FREE MEALS with this coupon *9.95 $3.00 off regular price Send check ot money order to 2402 Broadmoor, Bldg, A, Suite 104 Bry«n, Texas 77802 mb- ^ Ofdcrjr 776-1388 1V x 7* Loft Package WICKES LUMBER 101 West Loop (just South of A&M on Wellborn Road) WE CUT KEYS Hollow Cinder Blocks $1. 1# ea. 8x8x16 693-1300 Store Hours Monday-Friday 8-6 Saturday 8-4 W Wickas Dinner $ 2.99 Three plump, premium, hand-cut cod fillets batter-fried to a golden, crispy, tasty crunch outside. . . served up tender and flaky inside With all the fixin’s: thick-cut fryes, fresh cole slaw and two hushpuppies. Try it — the great taste will bring you back for more! Only at: 1808 Texas Avenue, College Station and 3224 South Texas Avenue, Bryan LongJohn Silvers. SEAFOOD SHOPPES Let’s keep an Aggie repre senting A&M in Congress. It’s worked for forty years. Since World War II, Texas A&M University has been represented in Congress by someone with a close, per sonal relationship with A&M. There was Congressman "Tiger†Teague, A&M ’32. Then there was Congressman Phil Gramm, an A&M professor. Now there’s Congressman Joe Barton, A&M ’72. It’s helped A&M to have one of its own representing the 6th District in Congress. Working with A&M officials to bring companies to the Texas A&M Research Park has been a priority for Joe Barton, a member of the Science and Technology Committee. This could help make A&M an international center for scientific research and bring hundreds of millions in grants to A&M. While Joe’s been in Con gress, A&M was selected as the only Texas university to receive a special Federal grant to purchase half a mil lion dollars’ worth of scien tific equipment for energy research. Joe’s worked with Texas A&M’s Forest Service on getting pine beetle research funds and with the Oceanography Department for grant monies. Joe introduced a “Space Grant Bill†that would strengthen A&M’s research into space colonization and industrial potential. It’s Worked for Brazos County. To make certain he’s available to the people in Brazos County, Joe Barton opened a District Office here. He’s held 5 town meetings here, made 47 speeches in Brazos County, and worked closely with local officials and A&M to get our fair share of Federal programs. Joe worked to improve Easterwood Airport, so important to the economic growth of this area. Easterwood has re ceived $1.7 million from the Federal Aviation Administration to extend the runway. Joe attended Fish Camp, was a member ofSCONA, and helped build Aggie Bonfires. He won a four-year Gifford Hill Opportunity Award Scholarship, was voted Outstanding Senior In dustrial Engineering Student and worked his way through A&M to make ends meet. ■KW VO I Helen, Gar) ■New Yot foe Barton is the only Aggie in the race for Congress andm> only two Aggies in the House of Representatives. And the Department of Housing and Urban Development made a $754,000 grant to the City of College Station forlod) programs. Brazos County received $148,661,682 in Federal last year. kton New York )r< nto [troit veland pimore roukee Jlifornia Texas It’s workedfoiBK 1 " ^ Chicago Texas and ittle mesota America. It will work for the future, too. Congressman Joe Bari is a respected new conser „ Th F or > 7 Milwaul P'cagoatSeat Jisas City aT Cc games sche Congressman Bartons Dad and Unde are Aggies and his own son, Brad, plans to be an Aggie Class of'97. vative leader in the Representatives, strengthen our nation's eel omy, create jobs, and c(» trol government spending He was a floor leader in the battle to pass Rudman. He’s co-sponsor of the Balanced Budget and oftl* Voluntary School Prayer Constitutional Amendments. He’s the only Texan on the important Interior Commit!# where his work won Texas schools an immediate $' and hundreds of millions more in the future from offshoreoJ royalties. Joe is chairman of the Republican Task Force on Energy and the Environment and he was awarded “The Watchdog the Treasury†award for his fiscal responsibility and cons# vative voting record. Let’s keep Joe Barton in Congress because . . . Joe Barton listens to us in Texas. He works for us in Washington. Let’s re-elect Congressman Joe Barton. d r< our rec curiou: abou ad Paid for by The Congressman Joe Barton Committee, Henry Brooks, Treasurer.