SECTION
THE BATTALION
Tuesday, April 16, 2002
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Ags host Bearkats in non-conference tilt
By True Brown
THE BATTALION
As the Big 12 Conference bat
tle heats up, the Texas A&M base
ball team hosts non-conference
opponent Sam Houston State at
Olsen Field at 7 p.m.
After a 2-2 record last week
and a looming conference series
against Baylor this weekend,
Tuesday’s matchup has added
importance as No. 16 A&M
(28-13, 9-6 Big 12) needs a
strong season finish to earn a
regional host site.
The Aggies’ two wins last
week came in a conference series
over Kansas State and lifted the
Aggies into a tie for second place
in the conference.
“I think in our conference,
anytime you win a series you’ve
got to be happy,” said A&M
baseball head coach Mark
Johnson. “Sweeps are almost
becoming uncommon in our
conference. We had two one-run
ball games, and both had run
ners in scoring position (late in
the game). I think its going to
be that way every weekend.”
In fact, there have been just live
series sweeps in 26 Big 12 week
end series this year, leaving the
league with no team showing any
sign of running away with the con
ference title.
Oklahoma State currently
leads the league with a 7-4 confer
ence record with A&M and Texas
tied for second.
Baylor, the only team with 10
conference wins, is not far behind
the Longhorns and Aggies with a
10-7 record. In all, there are seven
teams within five games of each
other at the top of the league.
While Tuesday’s game will not
count for or against the Aggies’
conference record, it will serve as
an important momentum builder
for this weekend’s three-game set
with Baylor.
A&M has defeated Sam
Houston twice this season, record
ing wins in Huntsville and College
Station. The Aggies rolled past
Sam Houston on Feb. 20, 18-5,
and then won 5-2 last month in a
come-from-behind effort.
The Bearkats (18-23) were
swept last weekend in a Southland
Conference series by
Northwestern State.
While the Aggies claimed the
series win . over Kansas State last
weekend, Johnson is hoping for a
stronger showing from the plate
by the Aggies, who were out-hit
36-27 in the series.
“For us, we’re going to have
to hit the ball,” Johnson said.
“We've got to get that going. We
look flat when we’re not hitting
the ball. We’ve got to get more
guys trusting their bats and
going to the middle of the field
and the opposite side.”
Johnson will use sophomore
left-hander Kyle Parcus in
Tuesday’s matchup. Parcus owns
a 2-3 record in 10 appearances
with a 4.14 ERA.
Parcus took a loss in his most
recent outing, giving up five
earned runs in three innings
against Houston.
JOHN LIVAS • THE BATTALION
A&M junior outfielder David Evans slides into second base on Sunday during the Aggies’ 6-5 victory over
the Kansas State Wildcats at Olsen Field. The Ags take on Sam Houston State at 7 p.m. at Olsen Field.
KRT DIRECT
The Stars’ Derian Hatcher tussles with San Jqsc’s Bryan Marchment
luring a Stars~victory over the Sharks.
Offseason of decisions awaits Stars
DALLAS (AP) — After a rocky season
filled with disappointment and departures,
the Dallas Stars have their longest off-season
in six years to try straighten things out.
The Stars failed to make the playoffs for
only the second time since moving to Dallas
for the 1993-94 season. They had made the
postseason five straight years, winning the
division each time, plus advancing to the
conference finals three times and the Stanley
Cup finals twice. They got their names on the
Cup three years ago.
To get back to that level, owner Tom
Hicks and new general manager Doug
Armstrong must make some tough decisions.
Among the top ones are whether to re-sign
;<goalie Ed Belfour and what to do with inter
im coach Rick Wilson.
Those decisions, though, may hinge on
the answer to a much bigger question: How
soon do they expect to bounce back?
Management thought the team was still close
last summer after being swept from the play
offs in the second round, so the general man
ager Bob Gainey added offensive-minded
players. Their personalities and playing
styles did not fit coach Ken Hitchcock’s
defense-first system and by February practi
cally all of them were gone — Gainey,
Hitchcock and most of the newcomers. Team
president Jim Lites left soon after.
Dallas never won more than four games in
a row and often lacked the grit and desire that
had been the team’s hallmark. The Stars also
were not able to transfer their home-ice dom
inance from Reunion Arena to their new
home, the $420 million American Airlines
Center.
Nothing could get them rolling, not even
the trade-deadline deal that sent Joe
Nieuwendyk and Jamie Langenbrunner to
New Jersey. Of all the changes this season,
that was the first involving the team’s core
players and it showed the extent Armstrong
would go to shake things up.
The Stars sent a flicker of hope with a 3-1
victory over reigning champion Colorado
with five games left and the playoffs still
See Decisions on page 3B
CONGRATULATIONS!
Join the Celebration at the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center
Get involved! Volunteer
as a Student Director!
Director Positions Available
•Archery
•Baseball
•Cross Country/Track
Pick up an application at our office lo
cated in Suite 12 of The Zone (main entrance)
or download an application from our web site
www.12thmanfoundation.com/student/
APRIL 18TH RING DELIVERY
Tickets distributed throughout the day, beginning at 7:15 a.m.
You must have a numbered ticket to get your Ring.
FEsnvmES begin at 2 p.m.
Ring distribution starts at 3 p*m. and ends at 6 p.m.
Limited parking is available in the parking lot behind the
Alumni Center. We encourage you to take the Bonfire
or Replant bus routes that stop in front of the building.
Texas Aggie Artist, Benjamin Knox ’90, personalizing the Historic Aggie Ring
You must bring your pink receipt and drivers license
to pick up your Ring. If you do not have your pink receipt,
please bring your student ID and driver s license.
SPONSORED BY
The Association
OF FORMER STUDENTS
a/W' TltCy NetuJonJo!
•Swimming/Diving
•Equestrian
•Football
•Basketball
•Golf
•Tennis
•Soccer
•Softball
•Volleyball
Deadline to apply: Monday, April 22
Sign up for an interview time at the
front desk of the Zone.
Be involved in Aggie sports by j
■
planning activities for our i
■
members & assisting the :
■
coaches with sporting events, j
Questions?
Tricia 695-0352 tricias@neo.tamu.edu
Erin 676-0200 erin02@aggienetwork.com