The Battalion
Page 7
Monday • March 31, 1997
ady Aggies split two Big 12 doubleheaders
By Jamie Burch
The Battalion
[instead of spending Easter weekend looking
:eggs, the Texas A&M Softball Team (22-19, 2-
[spent the holiday searching for its first confer-
Ice win.
Playing a pair of doubleheaders at the Aggie
Rogge Heflin, The Batealion
- Senior outfielder Gina Perez checks her swing
uagainst Iowa State Saturday.
Softball Complex, the Lady Aggies opened its sec
ond season of Big 12 play against Iowa State Uni
versity (12,10, 1-1) Saturday, and the University of
Nebraska (13-15, 2-2) Sunday.
Leading the Cornhuskers 2-1 in the top of the
sixth inning of Game 2 yesterday, junior pitcher
Trina Solesbee walked the first two batters of the
inning. Following a conference on the mound
with Assistant Coach Joy Jack-
son, Solesbee settled down.
Nebraska first baseman Rachel
Dunham grounded to third
base, but reached on the field
ers’ choice when third base-
man Kami Tucker stepped on
third to retire the lead runner.
But a passed ball allowed the
runners to advance.
With two runners in scoring
position, Solesbee got out field
er Jennifer Williams to ground
out and struck out second base-
man Alice Brewer to end the
Cornhusker scoring threat.
Solesbee retired the side in
order, in the top of the seventh
inning, for the complete game.
Jackson said Solesbee redeemed herself from
Saturday’s loss to Iowa State with her performance.
“Trina did an outstanding job,” Jackson said.
“She came back and proved to herself and to
her teammates that she can play with the best
of them. When she walked the two batters with
no outs, I went out to talk to her. She said she
was okay.
“I could see the fire in her eyes and knew that she
was going to get the job done.”
Solesbee said the two walks forced her to focus.
“I was just missing (the plate) by a little bit,”
Solesbee said. “You just have to push yourself
that much harder. You have to get it done or we
could lose.”
The Aggies’ one-run victory in Game 2 resulted
in a series split with Nebraska. In Game 1, the Ag
gies fell behind 8-0 after the Cornhuskers posted
five runs in the top of the fourth inning. The Aggies
“I was really happy
with the second
win today (Sun
day). Seven innings
ago, I was very dis
appointed in where
we were.”
Joy Jackson
Assistant coach
managed to score just two runs in the bottom of
the fifth inning, losing 8-2.
Between Game 1 and 2, injured Head Coach Joe
Evans took the field to talk with her team. Jackson
said Evans’ speech aimed to motivate her frustrat
ed team.
“She told them they were a better team than
what happened in the first game,” Jackson
said. “She said they were letting
yesterday’s (Saturday) loss af
fect them. Coach Evans also
said they needed to focus, play
their game and stop hanging
their heads.
“She also reminded them
they have to come out ready to
play every inning,” Jackson said.
“And if the opponent scores, not
to get down on themselves.”
Saturday’s loss came in Game
2 of the doubleheader against the
Cyclones. After winning the
opener, 4-2, the Aggies took a
four-run lead into the sixth in
ning of the nightcap.
Solesbee, the starting pitcher,
surrendered four straight singles and two runs to
start the sixth. Senior pitcher Lori Gioco entered
in relief. A passed ball allowed another run to
cross the plate. Gioco then relinquished an RBI
single to junior designated hitter Jaime Kahler
and freshman shortstop Jessica Polo, to cap off
the five-run inning.
Splitting both doubleheaders, the Aggies stand
at .500 (2-2) in the Big 12. Jackson said she has
mixed feelings about this weekend.
“I was really pleased with the second win to
day (Sunday),” Jackson said. “Seven innings ago,
I was very disappointed in where we were. One
inning cost us the chance of being 3-1, which I
think played over into the first game today.
“Honestly I feel like we could have been 4-0.1
guess I’m not real happy, but I’m thrilled with the
second (conference) win. Our players know they
could be 4-1. With the Big 12 the way it is, it’s any
body’s to win.”
If"
iipp
■
Rogge Heflin, The Battalion
Sophomore third baseman Kami Tucker celebrates her home run
against Iowa State Saturday.
rdi
A&M tracksters pick up gold
Larry Wade turned in a NCAA qualifying time
Staff and Wire Report
m
",
Rogge Heflin, The Battalion
ior decathlete Kendall Madden throws the shot
t Saturday against Texas.
Despite placing second to the University of Texas
Saturday at the annual dual meet between the two
teams, the Texas A&M Men’s and Women’s Track and
Field teams had plenty to be proud of as they won eight
and 10 gold medals, respectively.
Although falling to the University of Texas 89-74,
the men’s team recorded several carreer-best times.
Leading the men’s team was Larry Wade, who
recorded a NCAA qualifying time of 13.61 in the 1 IO
meter hurdles in his first meet since his back injury
last season.
Other gold winners in the men’s track events in
clude the 1600-meter relay team, with a time of
3:11.05, and the 400-meter relay team (40.02). Also
claiming gold medals were Danny McCray in the 200-
meter dash (20.81), Travis McAshan in the 400-meter
hurdles (52.44), and Derrick Woods in the 400-meter
dash (52.44).
In men’s field events, Russell Nuti continued his
quest to break 200 by winning gold in the discus with
a throw of 193-9, while freshman Travis Grasha placed
first in the javelin with a freshman record throw of
217-1. John Nance vaulted 16-3.25, almost a foot
higher than his nearest competitor, taking first place
in the pole vault.
Despite losing 79-65, several Lady Aggies had big
days. In women’s competition, Kelli Schrader and An-
janette Kirkland led the Lady Aggies by accumulating
five gold medals.
Schrader led the Lady Aggies with three golds by
placing first in the hammer throw (118-9), the discus
(161-2), and the shot put with a throw of 40-10.5. Kirk
land took first in the both the 200-and 400-meter hur
dles (59.72).
Rounding out the Lady Aggie winners was Chimika
Carter in the triple jump (40-10.25), Vanessa Garcia in
the high jump (5-8), and Milli Ondras in the 300-meter.
The Aggie tracksters return to competition Thursday
at the Texas Relays in Austin.
Rangers make another run at title
TEXAS RANGERS
The Rangers got a
dose of reality in their
first-round playoff loss
to the eventual World Se
ries champion New York
Yankees last season.
They needed some help
in the bullpen — bad. So
what did they do? Noth
ing else but sign the best
closer in baseball and
last year’s World .Series
MVP, John Wetteland.
Wetteland will take the spot of
Mike Henneman, who had more
than his share of problems closing
games last season. The rest of the
bullpen is juiced-up too. Rookie Dan
ny Patterson, who has had a stellar
spring, and Xavier Hernandez, will
share the role of set-up man. Julio
Santana, Ed Vosberg and Jose Alber-
ro will round out the middle relief.
The starting rotation is one of
the most solid one-through-five
staffs in the league. Ken Hill, John
Burkett, Darren Oliver, Roger Pavlik
and Bobby Witt are all returning
from last year’s rotation that led
baseball in victories. Manager
Johnny Oates’ philosophy calls for
a staff full of No. 3 starters, and with
the exception of Hill and Burkett,
he has just what he asked for.
1996 AL MVP Juan Gonzalez will
lead the deadly Texas offense onto
the field, when he returns from lig
ament damage in his thumb. Until
then, Mike Devereaux and Warren
Newson will fill in for the slugger.
Damon Buford takes over in cen
ter after showing exceptional defen
sive skills in the spring and Rusty
Sportswriter
Jeremy Furtick
Senior journalism
major
Greer will patrol left.
Dean Palmer returns to
third base and Mark
McLemore to second.
Will Clark should have a
huge year after having
close to 20 bone chips
removed from his el
bow. Benji Gil will step in
at short. And as always,
the best catcher in base
ball, Ivan Rodriguez, will
be behind the
plate and
Mickey Tettleton will
do the DH’ing.
The Rangers
proved last year
they weren’t af
fected by the
pressure of the
playoff drive,
even with Seattle
hot on their trail.
A healthy Clark
will more than ^ y
make up for the drop
off in power numbers
from Kevin Elster to Gil and the
bullpen will shut opponents down.
Look for Dean Palmer to challenge
for the home run crown.
Projected Record: 97-65
Key Series: July 10-13 @ Seattle
Mariners. Texas suffered a four-
game sweep at the end of last sea
son in Seattle that almost cost
them the division title. That series
ran the Rangers’ record in Seattle to
3-20 since 1994. This series kicks off
the second half of the season and is
Texas’ last trip to Seattle for the
year. No late-season sweeps in
Seattle for the M’s this year.
Sc. ^
SEATTLE MARINERS
Seattle is clearly the best offensive
team in baseball. The question for this
team lies in their pitching staff, espe
cially in the arm of Randy Johnson.
The only surprise going into the
season is Jose Cruz, Jr., who didn’t
make the team. Instead, Rich Ama
ral will start 1997 in left field with
Ken Griffey, Jr. in center and Jay
Buhner in right. The best designat
ed hitter in basebali, Edgar Mar
tinez, will anchor the rest
of the lineup which in
cludes Russ Davis at
third base, Alex
Rodriguez at
• short and Paul
Sorrento at first.
Dan Wilson will
do the catching.
Without
Johnson, this
team is not going
to the postseason,
^ _ as evident by last
year’s absence from
the playoffs. With the Big
Unit headlining the rotation, the
combination of Jeff Fassero, Scott
Sanders, Jamie Moyer and Solomon
Torres doesn’t look that bad. But
without him, Bob Wolcott gets the
call and Fassero is the ace. The loss
of Mike Jackson from the bullpen
will hurt this team. They are left
with Bobby Ayala, Rafael Carmona,
Bob Wells and Tim Davis to fill the
middle relief role. Norm Charlton
will return as the closer, but the
Mariners are concerned with his
lack-luster 1996 performance.
See Furtick, Page 10
Tickets Available April 1, 1997
for: Karaoke kick-off @ Bullwinkle’s Bar and Grill, Senior Bash, Senior Banquet, Ring Dance,
Photographs and t-shirts. Call 845-1234 for tickets.
Student Counseling
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responsible and committed person?
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to begin service in the Summer '97 or Fail '97 Semester.
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Application DEADLINE for Summer Training is May 9.
ALL MAJORS are welcome to apply.
Applications available in Room 104 Henderson Hall.
For further information call Susan Vavra at 845-4427 ext. 133.