University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

Page 337 text:

I o Senior pitcher Kelly Forbis comments on compiling an impressive 26-4 record inciting a perfect game versus Santa Clara: It feels pretty good, but I ' m always shooting higher. Photo courtesy of Sports Information. Scoreboard ) RKOI i add IBS ; Attain! Kari Kunnen, Patti Benedict, Kelly Forbis, Karla Kunnen. Tim Dryer, mgr., Michelle Silver, Kim Clark, Mary Kovach, Tina Martin, Lesa Arvia, Kathryn Gleason, atheltic trainer. BACK: Carol Bruggmen, asst. z, Cheryl Pearcy, Renee Swincicki, Tracy Carr, Kathleen Berrigan, Erin Martino, Kate Haliada, athletic trainer, Carol iutchins, head coach, Cathy Wylie,asst. coach. Photo courtesy of Sports Information. rhough squarring up to bunt here, senior Patti Benedict was a feared titter leading the team with a .421 batting average and 47 runs batted Along with Big JO Player-of-the-Year honors, she also was a first i All- American selection. Photo courtesy of Sports Information. Softb al I 46-13 overall 21-5 Big 10 (1st) Cal St. Poly-Pomona 0-2, 5-0 Arizona 1-4, 0-12 Washington 7-0, 0-4 San Diego State 3-1 flbna State 2-3 SamHouston St. 9-6, 5-0, 4-2 Illh ris-Chicago 2-1 Ok homa4-0 Wiilhrop 15-0 Eas Carolina 7-3 Perl State 10-0 San a Clara 8-0 Nebraska 1-3 Utah State 1-0 Bowling Green 2-0 Minnesota 8-0,1-0 Northwestern 1-0, 4-1, 1-3, 0-1 Michigan State 3-1,8-3 Western Michigan 2-1, 7-4 Indiana 3-0, 1-7,6-2, 7-5 Central Michigan 3-0, 5-3 Penn State 8-2, 7-0, 3-0, 1-0 Detroit Mercy 4-2, 3-1 Eastern Michigan 6-1, 3-0 Ohio State 3- 1,9-3, 4-2 Michigan State 6-0, 6-3 Toledo 11 -2, 3-0 Iowa 3-1, 1-0, 4-1,0-2 NCAA Region 8 Tournament Bowling Green 8-2 Southwest Louisiana 5-6, 1-2 I I I -J Sports 335 .

Page 336 text:

Catcher Karla Kunnen readies herself for a play at the plate. For her performance on the field, Kunnen was selected to the All-BiglO First-Tea Photo co of Sports SfL UGGINQ FOR A TITLE e Softball team came up short in its national title quest but by no meani s it a season not to be proud of. by Adam Hundley w, clinckjd it HutcnWi c achieveme hen the Michigan Softball team its second straight Big Ten title Coach Carol i could not decide what was the highlight of the achievement. Winning a back-to-back Big Ten con- ference titl is Michigan Softball ' s greatest moment, she said first K hen she considered Michigan ' s first- ever hosting of theA AA regional tournament, though, she had to reconsicHw ' This i Michigan Softball ' s greatest moment to hosfflM B gional. In- deed, although the season endedl Ert of the goal of a national championship, the team earned honors throughout the year and had many great achievements to remember. During the first two months of the season team leaders said they learned that a veteran team needed to adapt to many different circumstances and difficulties to be victorious. By mid-season they had already heeded this lesson in nearly twenty wins, per- haps most characteristically in a double-header sweep of Minnesota. In game one Michigan won easily 8-0, scoring five runs in the first two innings and benefitting from senior pitcher Kelly Forbis ' complete game shut- out. Being relaxed and playing the game the way it ' s supposed to be played is the key to victory, Forbis said. Game two was a much different story, though, as the teams were scoreless into the thirteenth inning. Senior 334 Sports pitcher Kelly Kovach had given up only one hit in the first nine innings, but with no run support she had to pitch out of four consecutive innings with runners on third. The closest call came in the eleventh inning when Minnesota had runners on second and third with no outs, but Kovach quickly induced a strikeout and two easy groundouts to end the threat. Michigan ' s Michelle Silver finally ended the game with a drive off the outfield fence which led to an inside-the-park home run and a 1-0 win. By the last month of the season the team had perfected its skills as team records and opponents fell with equal ease. In the span of one week Kovach and Forbis became only the fourth and fifth Michigan pitch- ers to strike out 200 batters during their careers. In doing so, Forbis became the third Michigan pitcher to earn 20 victories in a season, and even as she secured Michigan ' s thirty-third win in forty-two games she had her sights set on more. It feels pretty good, she said, But I ' m always shooting higher. Perhaps the highlight of the month came with an easy double-header sweep of rival Michigan State. Senior left-fielder Patti Benedict, who was Big Ten Player of the Year and All- American, lead the 6-0, 6-0 humiliation with a 5 for 6 performance and three runs batted in. The victories secured a number 1 7 national ranking and an impressive 18-game winning streak. A few days later the team ended its seaso: with a 46-13 overall record, easily the best in t conference, and Mumber 10 seed in the NCAA chai pionship tournaJint. Players hoped that by hosti the regional tourn jnent the home-field advantage woul carry them past s Ac stronger teams, but after an easy 81 2 win over Bowl Green the team was edged out 6 and 2-1 by 51-5 mwerhouse Southwestern Louisiana. I thought our teaBplayed their guts out, said Hutchinsj We just didn ' t gBthat timely hit when we needed it. Indeed, MichiganJnad a late two-out rally in the firs: game and a runn Apn third with no outs in the seven inning of game t |, but it could not get the tying run either game. by the losses, they were proud of the effort they hac given all year. We just said we would never give up, ' said senior shortstop Mary Campana, and we didn ' give up. Indeed, from blow-out wins to extra-innin] marathons the team found ways to win in all situation and against all obstacles. Although they fell short of th :, national title, they certainly earned the name of cr pions.

Page 338 text:

A TALE OF TWO SEASONS The baseball team came in like a lamb with one of its slowest starts ever but came out like a lion with a 20-7 record, by Michael McCants Hi ill JL he story of the 1993 Wolverine baseball team was a tale of two seasons. The team went 5-23 in the first half of the season but 20-7 in the second, playing the toughest schedule possible. Head Coach Bill Freehan said this was by design, in order to give the players the experience of top-notch competition and also to set their sights on playing and beating the best teams But there. As Freehan said, The Miaows, Florida ' s, Missouri ' s, and LSU ' s are t e best, and we intentionally scheduled Bese teams to challenge our young team onpt besatisfiedwith riak- ing the squaciDut competing best. Big 10 Freshman of the Year SJ Weaver said, We always lost the close ones. The one and two run games seed to always get away from us. Either TOC pitching wq ypc | BB aq HK t Htaft- ting, or vic versa. Yet, finally we began laying withBonfidence and got the breaks in those games. Other key players in the WolverineBne-up, like Ron Hollis, Brian Simmons, JbttCopp, and Heath Murray, figured he ily into the success of the team. As FBehan asserted, Their success on the fieldwill be key to that of the teams as a whole-BUfolggige l H fs dj ggm|| through with offensive support, for as a team they led the Big 10 in hitting per- centage with four of five players near the top. Weaver led the team in hitting, runs batted in, and slugging percentage, as well as ranking first or second in nearly all of the team ' s offensive categories. Freehan emphasized the team ' s need to focus on the second half of the season and build off that. A better pitch- ing staff headed by players like Heath Murray and Todd Marion can prove the difference in this being a good team or an excellent one. Murray believed that inconsistency in the pitching staff and overall team defense was one of the rea- sons for the up and down season. How- ever, he highlighted the Penn State series, where the Wolver- ines took 3 out of 4 games, as the turning point in the season. As Murray said, Guys began playing with more confidence and we experienced better consistency in pitching and overall team defense. The results were obvious of playing against top teams as well asl rebounding from a slow start will payl dividends in future seasons. Yet, even! before the season ended, the effect had! begun to emerge. As Freehan said, Thel guys have already shown greater determi-| nation. strong finish. Freehan was confident in his team ' S commitment to winning and hoped that the experience Often b rought in when the game was on the line in the late innings, senior co-captain Todd Marion ended his UM career as both the Michigan and Big 10 career save leader with 32 saves. His achievements as a relief pitcher earned him the distinction of being selected to both the First-Team All-Big 1 and Third-Team All- American teams. Photo courtesy of Sports Information. 336 Sports lissouri Auburn