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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 9, 1999)
b Battalion Sports Page 5 • Tuesday, March 9, 1999 Joe DiMaggio dead at age 84 MIKE FUENTES/Thk Baitauon freshman Neal Stephenson slides safely into second base during the Aggies’ 6-1 victory over the Isiting Iowa State University Cyclones Saturday at Olsen Field. DIMAGGIO gs travel to face Cougars &M Baseball Team looks to move to .500 in road games BY AARON COHAN The Battalion I One of the hardest problems a Baseball team has is winning on the mad. Despite a perfect 13-0 record at jttlsen Field, the Texas A&M Baseball jf- Beam has produced only a 2-3 record pletj In the road, but has now moved up givi to No. 3 in the nation thanks to a ?el. sweep of the Iowa State University wymydones this past weekend. hotiH “j was really happy with the per- i gi'fcrmance of the team as a whole this te. Beekend,” A&M coach Mark John- lon said. “I was impressed with our ott Bitchers because each one gave us a lhance to win.” i The Aggies improved their over- 1 record to 15-3 and have not been linked this high in three years. A&M las posted some impressive wins fJjj.s season, winning 12 of its last 13 pntests. f-J Thesday will be one of the Aggies’ ^Biggest road tests of the year as they travel to the confines of Cougar Field to face the University of Houston at 7 p.m. The Cougars are in a rebuild ing process this year but have man aged to post an 8-8 overall record. Preseason favorites to win Con ference USA, the Cougars have had a tough schedule in the early part of the season. The Cougars have lost four straight, but have played the likes of No. 19 Baylor University and No. 16 Cal. State-Fullerton. Houston is led by junior Brandon Caraway, who boasts a .403 batting average and has helped the Cougars to an overall team average of .271. The defensive side has not been quite as strong for UH, as the Cougar pitching staff holds a 4.25 ERA. Despite the stats, the Aggies know how hard it will be to win at Cougar Field. “We have to be mentally pre pared to play at their place,” sopho more Daylan Holt said. “They are a real tough team to play at home.” A&M will look to exploit the Cougar pitching with a heavy bar rage of hitting. The Aggies are boast ing a team batting average of over .350, headed by preseason All- American Daylan Holt. The right fielder leads the Aggies in nine offensive categories, includ ing home runs (9), RBIs (33), and runs (23). A&M is averaging over 9.5 runs per game, which has given their pitching staff leeway to work with this season. The probable starter for A&M will be sophomore Chris Scarcella. The righthander has seen limited action this year but has been effective in his appearances, with a 1.80 ERA and four K’s in five innings of work. Holt said the Aggies know these Thesday games are just as important as the conference games to be able to host a regional series again. “We just need to go over there with our guns loaded because it’s a win we need to have,” Holt said. HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (AP) — He was simply and forever the Yankee Clipper, amazing America with The Streak, captivating it with his class and inspiring wistful lines in litera ture and song. Joe DiMaggio died at home Mon day, surrounded by family and friends, following a five-month bat tle with lung cancer. At age 84, “Joltin’ Joe” has left and gone away. But his legend lingers, shoulder- to-shoulder with the likes of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, his fellow Yankees. Very few others could mea sure up to them on the sports scene this century. DiMaggio un derwent surgery in October, bat tling complications for weeks after ward and even falling into a coma briefly during his 99-day hospitaliza tion. But he also astounded his doc tors by repeatedly bouncing back. DiMaggio left the hospital Jan. 19 to recuperate at home, where his bed was decorated with a sign that said, “April 9. Yankee Stadium or Bust.” He died shortly after midnight, said Morris Engelberg, his longtime friend and attorney. At his bedside were brother Dominick, a former major league outfielder; two grand children; Engelberg; and Joe Nac- chio, his friend of 59 years. Tributes poured in from base ball’s past and present. Ted Williams, who shared the spotlight with DiMaggio in 1941 by batting .406 for Boston, the last time anyone batted .400, said: “There is no one Ted Williams admired, respected and envied more than Joe DiMaggio. Because of my close relationship with the DiMaggio family, I feel a very deep personal loss. ” Major League Baseball commis sioner Bud Selig said he idolized DiMaggio: “I never saw a player who was as graceful. There was an aura about him that was amazing. ” The Hall of Fame flag in Cooper- stown, N.Y, was lowered to half- staff, and a wreath was placed around DiMaggio’s plaque. U.S. flags at Yankee Stadium, including the one in left field’s hallowed Mon (btf i Pr. Now Taking Orders £^Scfw(astk Recognition STnnouncements, Caps & Qozons ROTHER'S BOOKSTORES 340 O. BUSH OR. * 007 HARVEY ROAO 303 S. COLLEGE AVE. Christ inga ndsp» : Lovi'd ig this 1 ' ■ tolhfr 307, f| ises c" 1 H IfljtP BDl mm POiMP oiyr Riowf! K A U JM A BA THE NEXT BEST THING TO NAKED” Graduating Seniors Texas A&M Graduation Announcements Aggieland Printing can get you ready to mail announcements in less than one week We have our own unique design Licensed by A&M Don't miss it - see them on the web www.aggielandprinting.com We sell • Graduation Announcements • Thank You Notes Graduation Remembrance Displays Personalized Graduate Notepads Call or come see us: www.aggielandprinting.com Aggieland Printing • 1801 Holleman • College Station 693-8621 M-F 8:30-5:30 INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS in 154 EUzzgU Hall W&st -Monday MAR 8 5:3 OPM-d: OOJPM - Tuesday MA R 9 JO: 3 OA M-11: O OA M -Wednesday MAR JO 9: OOAM-9: 30A M -Thursday MAR 11 1:3()PM-2: OOPM Pick up an application at the meeting or drop by the Study Abroad Program Office. Study Abroad Program Office, 1<>I Bbczcli Hail West, 845-0544 President, others praise Yankee star (AP) In mid-century, when baseball stood above all American sports, Joe DiMaggio symbolized what fans loved about the game. Fifty years later, he had lost little of his star quality. To those who knew him and to those who merely admired him, DiMaggio was the quin tessential American hero. “This son of Italian immi grants gave every American something to believe in,’’ Presi dent Clinton said. “He became the very symbol of American grace, power and skill. I have no doubt that when future generations look back at the best of America in the 20th century, they will think of the Yan kee Clipper and all that he achieved.” “In this century, there have been three baseball players who transcended their sport to be come part of American legend,” Vice President Al Gore said. “Where Babe Ruth was known for his power and Jackie Robin son was known for his courage, Joe DiMaggio was known for dignity and grace.” ument Park, were also at half-staff. DiMaggio roamed center field and ran the basepaths for 13 years, playing for 10 pennant winners and nine World Series champions de spite missing three years because of service in World War II. He batted .325 lifetime with 361 home runs. He won three American League Most Valuable Player awards, appeared in 11 All-Star games, and entered the Hall of Fame in 1955. For 50 years, he was intro duced as “the greatest living player.” Only twice did DiMaggio bat less than .300. He accumulated 3,948 to tal bases and drove in 1,537 runs. He finished his career with 2,214 hits. DiMaggio served briefly as a vice president and coach for the Oakland A’s and as a member of the board of directors of the Baltimore Orioles. When he was not traveling, DiMag gio lived alone in his home on ex clusive Harbour Island, Fla. SPORTS IN BRIEF A&M golf recruit wins Mexico title Texas A&M Women’s Golf Team recruit Lorena Ochoa of Guadala jara, Mexico, captured the Mexican Women’s Amateur Championships Friday. Ochoa, who signed a letter of in tent with the Aggies in November, recorded a three-over-par 291 to win the four-round tournament by nine strokes. ‘T’m really proud of Lorena for winning the tournament,” A&M coach Jeanne Sutherland said. “Winning a tournament of this cal iber shows the potential she has to be an outstanding player.” Aggie sophomore Marta Ostos, who captured the Big 12 Fall Preview title in October, placed sixth with a score of 76-76-73-79=304. Baseball America ranks Aggies third The Texas A&M Baseball Team moved up to third in the weekly Baseball America poll following a three-game sweep of the Iowa State University Cyclones this weekend. The Aggies (15-3) currently trail No. 1 Rice University (20-3) and No. 2 Florida State University (16- 3). A&M jumped ahead of the Uni versity of Miami, which was ranked third last week but fell to seventh in the latest poll. The Aggies are one of four Big 12 teams in the Baseball America Top 25. The University of Texas (15-6) moved up two spots to No. 10. Texas Tech University (16-5) and Baylor University (15-5) also moved up to 18th and 19th, re spectively. Doubles pair named February’s top duo Texas A&M sophomores Shuon Madden and Dumitru Caradima were named National Doubles Team of the Month Monday by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. The Aggie duo, who have recorded a 13-1 overall record and a 4-1 dual-match record, are ranked No. 1 in the nation. The pair is the first A&M doubles tan dem to earn the top national rank ing. The Texas A&M Men’s Tennis Team, which leads the Big 12 with 3-0 conference record, boasts a 6- 0 record and is ranked 14th na tionally. JJU Asian Cultures Education Committee Jackie Chan will be there....Will yOU? GENERAL MEETING Date: Wednesday, March 10,1999 Time: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Location: Rudder 707 Refreshments will be served for your enjoyment!HI!! FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT CHRIS @ CWC2324@LABS.TAMU.EDU ^Ince resweek.tamu.edu Breakaway By The Tree on Campus ' in Concert Now Hiring Part-Time Openings UCS Inc. seeks candidates for the following open positions at our College Station office. All majors are encouraged to apply and training is provided. • Customer Service • PC/Tech Support • Inventory • Building Maintenance • Marketing We offer flexible hours between 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. with a minimum of 4-hour shifts daily and real world work experience with opportunity for full time after graduation. To apply, please call our Personnel headquarters or visit our website. UCS Inc. 409-862-5155 www.universalcomputersys.com E.O.E. UCS hires non-tobacco users only. PROFITABLE NUMBER! 845-0569 THE BATTALION CLASSIFIEDS