1
The Battalion
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Page 5
Tuesday • March 25, 1997
i
est pitching staff will
)uoy Dodgers to top
LOSANGELES
ere an DODGERS
When you combine
lebest complete
|itching staff in the
ague with four for-
er Rookies of the Year
otto mention two of
is year’s leading can-
dates), you should at
ast win the division, if
t the whole thing.
That’s the situation
rLos Angeles and
ere’s no reason they shouldn’t
mtend with Atlanta for the NL’s
Opposition this season. Los An-
les should make the playoffs, ei-
ier by winning the division or as
leNLWild Card.
The pitching staff has no holes,
non Martinez and Hideo Nomo
e good enough to be the ace on
aost teams and Ismael Valdes has
tie stuff to overtake those two as
tie Dodgers’ No. 1 pitcher. Chan
lo Park will probably be No. 4 in
lie rotation with Tom Candiot-
rounding it out. The
liddle relief will in-
lude Scott Radin-
|ky, Mark Guthrie
nd Antonio Os-
na, among oth-
rs, who will al-
nost surely
eplace Candiotti
the rotation by
; uly. Todd Worrell
.ailed down 44
aves last season and '
shack as the closer.
■ The Rookie of the Year
parade has yet another chance to
run through Los Angeles again
Ihis season with Wilton Guerrero
pt second and Roger Cedeno
pepping in for Brett Butler in
enter. One of those two could
Mow Eric Karros (first), Mike Pi
azza (catcher), Raul Mondesi
(right), Nomo and Todd Hol-
'lanclsworth (left) as LA’s sixth
onsecutive rookie award winner,
he left side of the infield will
aveTodd Zeile at third and Greg
Gagne at shortstop.
It’s tough to pick anyone but
the Dodgers in this division. Tom
my Lasorda may be gone, but Bill
Russell will “bleed Dodger blue”
Sportswriter
Jeremy Furtick
Senior journalism
major
V
all the way to October
in his first full season.
Projected Record: 90-72
Key Series: Aug. 28-
29 vs. Oakland Athletics;
Aug. 30-31 vs. Seattle
Mariners; Sept. 2-3 @
Texas Rangers: The
Dodgers should be in a
tight division race down
to the wire. It will be in
teresting to see how this
late-season interleague
play affects them. They
can’t afford to overlook
these three series against American
League teams or they could fall out
of the playoff’mix.
SAN DIEGO PADRES
Last year’s joy ride is over. Ken
Caminiti isn’t good enough to re
peat last year’s fluke, and guys like
Steve Finley have no business hit
ting 30 home runs. Their pitching
isn’t good enough to carry them
and the bats won’t be on fire like last
year. But with the perpetually
underachieving Los An
geles and road-inept
Golorado in their di
vision, the Padres
might just pull it
out again.
The lineup
will look the
same as last Oc
tober’s. Tony
Gwynn, Finley
~ and Greg Vaughn
will be in the outfield,
with Caminiti, Chris
Gomez, Quilvio Veras and Wally
Joyner (third to first) in the in
field. John Flaherty will return as
catcher. This team is full of peo
ple who could have good years,
but most of them had career-
years last season. Veras is un
proven at second, Caminiti may
never recover his Gold Glove
form after rotator cuff surgery
and Joyner is too weak at the
plate for a NL first baseman.
The rotation is in the same
boat as the lineup — potential big
years that must occur for the
Padres to win.
See Furtick, Page 6
-J'j
av ■ HIIf '
'The hick'
Tucker continues to adjust to A&M
Tim Moog, The Battalion
Sophomore third baseman Kami Tucker rounds the
bases at practice Monday.
By Nicki Smith
The Battalion
long with being known as a gifted atlilete
on the Texas A&M Softball Team, sopho-
nore third baseman KaiTii Tucker has also
earned a title that distinguishes her from the oth
er members of the team— “the hick."
One would not have to wonder very long
how she got the name after finding out she
graduated from Ooltewah High School in the
small town of Ooltewah, Tenn.
Although many people take offense to be
ing called a hick, Tucker said she does not
mind the nickname.
“Of course, being from Tennessee, I have an
accent,” Tucker said. “I think it is funny be-
cause^&st year my teammates couldn’t pro-
nouncefOoltewah,’ but they Finally got it right
this year, frlon’t mind the nickname because
l have 4 mouth and will definitely be heard
when 1 want to.”
The 5-foot-7 standout established a name for
herself in Ooltewah by leading her high school
team to four consecutive district champi
onships and a 137-24 record during her career.
She was a two-time All-American, an all-
state selection and on a summer league team
that played in the top 10 in the nation five
times between 1987 and 1993.
Senior pitcher Lori Gioco said the secret to
Tucker’s exceptional athleticism is her ability
to maintain her concentration.
“She is one of the most focused athletes on
the field,” Gioco said. “If you look at her on de
fense, you will see her talking to herself and re
minding herself what she needs to do to im
prove. She is always concerned about her
hitting and has really improved her defense.”
If raw talent does not account for Tucker’s
softball ability, genetics do.
Tucker’s dad played for the Miami Dol
phins, while her brother played football for
the United States Air Force Academy. Her old
er sister plays softball for 18th-ranked
Louisiana Tech University.
Last year, Tucker saw limited playing time
after breaking her hand when she was hit by a
pitch in the middle of the season. However, she
still was able to rack up a .234 overall batting
average while starting and playing in 39 games.
Assistant Head Coach Joy Jackson said
Tucker is more confident on the field now than
she was at the start of the year.
See Tucker, Page 7
Catcher overcomes pressure to lead Lady Ags
By Lara L. Zuehlke
The Battalion
S ome people say life goes in
full circle. For junior Amy
Schmaltz, a catcher on the
Texas A&M Softball Team, this def
initely holds true. Schmaltz has
faced many obstacles during her
career as a Lady Aggie, most of all,
the pressure she places on herself.
Schmaltz was a standout play
er at Alvin High School and
thrived on her accomplishments,
including being named a three
time all-district selection, Most
Valuable Player and an all-greater
Houston first-team selection.
When A&M began recruiting
Schmaltz, she immediately ac
cepted the offer because she had
dreamed of becoming a Lady Ag
gie as a young girl.
Schmaltz saw limited playing time
her freshman year, sharing catching
duties with junior Marianne McGuire.
Schmaltz said after coming to
A&M, she realized college softball
was more competitive, and over
time she began losing confidence
in herself.
“There was a lot of outside pres
sure my first two years, and I also
put a lot of pressure on myself,”
Schmaltz said. “I’m more confi
dent now. My ability has always
been there, but I lacked confi
dence in myself.”
Schmaltz credits the Lady Aggie
coaching staff for helping her
change her game.
“The coaches helped me a lot,”
Schmaltz said. “Coach Evans is a
very positive person. She under
stands the players, and she’s come
in and made a great impact on a
lot of people.”
A&M Head Coach Jo Evans said
she is pleased Schmaltz overcame
her struggles, because her play has
Mflll
Tim Moog, The Battalion
junior catcher Amy Schmaltz bats at practice Monday.
stepped up a notch. herself, and that’s changed her lev-
“In the fall, she struggled with el of play,” Evans said,
her confidence, but now she has all
of the confidence in the world in See SCHMALTZ, Page 7
NO MATTER HOW HARD TOO GRADE.
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