FRIDAY | APRIL 18, 2003
Sports Editor / Matt Goldberg / sports@studlife.com
STUDENT LIFE | SPORTS
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Sports Calendar Saturday 19 Men始s Tennis vs. Rochester 7 p.m. Field house Women始s Tennis vs. Denison 3 p.m.
Sunday 20 Men始s Tennis vs. Rochester 7 p.m. Field house Softball vs. Blackburn Col. 3 p.m. Home
Monday 21 Track & Field Millikin Field 7 a.m. Decautr, Ill. Baseball vs. Case Western 4 p.m. Cleveland, Oh.
SPORTS STAT OF THE DAY 23,000 fans attended Cardinal stadium last night for the opening day of the season.
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10 STUDENT LIFE | SPORTS
Sports Editor / Matt Goldberg / sports@studlife.com
SPORTS “All good things . . . ”
FRIDAY | APRIL 18, 2003
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BASEBALL
WOMEN’S TENNIS
Loss dashes hopes for tournament
Y
ou seniors out there know exactly what I am talking about. Since 1999, American society has transformed from an optimistic bunch of tech-savvy Silicon Valley millionaires into a collection of post-post-modern cynical naysayers, disillusioned with the current status of the world. Perhaps that’s taking things a bit too far, but we have undoubtedly become more jaded than anyone could have imag-
DAN PETERSON
THE FRIENDLY CONFINES
ined just four short years ago. When did the bubble burst? We may never know the exact date. Who can we trust anymore? It seems to change from day to day. So how did we get to where we are? Oh, the troubles that these eyes have seen. We’ve seen Bill Gates roll doubles one too many times and be declared a monopoly… he must have had a ‘Get out of Jail Free’ card. We’ve downloaded our way through the rise and fall (and attempted rising from the dead) of free online fi le sharing. Who can forget Napster’s ascension to prominence in the fi rst semester of freshman year? It was almost too good to be legal… We saw our President be impeached for lying about a sex scandal, and we found out that sex really is all this country cares about. Well, I guess that depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is… We voted in one of the strangest presi-
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Members of the WU community stood together as classes started without them. dential elections ever, and we’re still not entirely sure who won the darn thing. We saw the single-most horrific terrorist act ever carried out on American soil on Sept. 11. Then we sleep-walked through our waking hours, glued to CNN… We witnessed fi rst-hand the effects of corporate greed when Enron abruptly and unexpectedly crumbled. We saw thousands of innocent people lose their life savings in an afternoon. Suddenly no big corporation could be trusted. Suddenly the Catholic Church couldn’t be trusted. Suddenly we were at war with Iraq, and our own government couldn’t be trusted. So maybe we have some pretty good reasons for becoming so cynical. The world just isn’t the same happy-go-lucky, E-trade-wasting-two-million-dollars-on-achimpanzee-commercial place that it used to be. Over the last four years, we’ve learned more about ourselves than anyone thought possible. We’ve been oversaturated by the uses and excuses that technology affords us. We’ve been spoon-fed lies, violence, scandal and greed. We’ve seen unprecedented pain and suffering. But I wouldn’t trade in those years for anything. These are the stories we will share with our children someday, much the way our parents rehash the late sixties to us at seemingly any chance they get. The breakdowns I mention above deal mainly with the loss of fame and fortune, with institutions and organizations behaving badly. I can accept this; I have even come to expect this. However, lost somewhere among the front-page headlines are the stories of human interaction—relationships. I believe that relationships still matter. And I’ll s for my suitemate who passed away during sophomore year away during sophomore year. And I’ll never forget the time that I shared a cold Pointer’s pizza with Chancellor Wrighton in the press box at a football game. No matter what happens in this world, we will always have each other. No matter how bad things look, you will always be a part of a community. Take full advantage of the good communities when you are lucky enough to be a part of them. q Dan is a senior majoring in Political Science, Anthropology and Physics. He can be reached via e-mail at dp@studlife.com.
Bears lose heartbreaker to Illinois Wesleyan University
By Aaron Wolfson q Staff Reporter
PAM BUZZETTA
Rathi Mani smacks a volley during a game against another team. The Womenʼs Tennis team, after their victory over a bad team, now has a record of 1-17.
Regionals up next for Bears By Jeffrey Novack q Staff Reporter The Washington University women’s tennis team fi nished third in the Midwest Invitational last weekend behind champion DePauw and runner-up Gustavus Adolphus College. In its fi rst match of the tournament, the team defeated #23 Kenyon College 8-1. At fi rst singles, Kenyon’s Christina Reimers prevented a WU sweep by defeating Jenny Stein 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 for WU’s only loss of the match. The team won the rest of its singles matches in straight sets and won all three doubles matches. With the win, WU advanced to face #14 Gustavus Adolphus in the tournament’s semifi nals. In a match closer than the fi nal score would indicate, WU was upset 7-2 by Gustavus. While WU won at fi rst singles and third doubles, the team lost four singles matches in tightly played three set matches. Two of those matches ended in third set tiebreakers. In a consolation match for third place, WU rebounded to defeat #15 Dennison 8-1 losing only at the second singles position. While the team was disappointed that they did not advance further in the tournament or get an opportunity to avenge an earlier loss to DePauw, the team is still optimistic that it will be successful in the upcoming Regional tournament. “We all played really hard,” Senior Jenny Stein said, “And though we didn’t do as well as we hoped, we are ready to prove ourselves at Regionals” The Regionals, held on May 3 and 4, will determine the teams that will be invited to the Nationals. Each region has two tourna-
ment sites with the winner of each site advancing to play in the Nationals. If WU had won or placed second in the Invitational, it probably would have been selected as one of the two sites. After its third place fi nish in the Invitational, WU returned home to defeat Principia 8-1 in a regular season match losing only at fi rst doubles and running its record to 13-3. In the match, WU rested several of its regulars giving alternates Sara Kabakoff and Meera Damle a chance to play. WU’s depth, especially apparent in victories like against Dennison where they are able to rest several regulars and still post a convincing victory, has the team confident as it prepares for Regionals. “Our team’s strength is in our depth,” Sophomore 2nd player Kacie Cook said. “We’re strong from top to bottom and I think that presents a tough match up for other teams which I think will help us to be successful in the Regionals.” Before WU competes in the Regionals, however, it has a regular season meeting with Mckendree College on Tuesday at home and will then host the University Athletic Association tournament held on April 25-27. WU is currently ranked #2 behind Emory in the UAA. No matter the team’s performance in upcoming post-season play, it has already been a great season as the team posted an excellent record while facing a very competitive schedule full of highly ranked opponents. Just as impressive as the team’s on the court success though, has been the camaraderie the team has enjoyed off it in a sport of primarily individual play. “We’re lucky that we’ve not only been successful,” Junior 4th singles player Laura Greenberg said, “but we really enjoy playing
The Washington University baseball team dropped two out of three games this weekend, including a hardfought 2-1 defeat on the road to Illinois Wesleyan. The Bears have had trouble beating Illinois Wesleyan in the past and looked poised to fi nally break through in the Apr. 17 contest. With the score tied 1-1 heading into the ninth inning, Bears ace Damien Janet was on the hill trying to fi nish a complete game. In contrast, Illinois Wesleyan was using an intriguing strategy with their pitchers. Rob Blumberg, who came in to pitch the ninth inning, was the ninth pitcher that the Titans used during the game. Seven of them pitched exactly one inning apiece; starter Rich Berthold went two innings, while reliever Pat Poston Recent Results failed to record an out. In v April 9: Westminster addition, only three of the College, W, 10-3 Wesleyan pitchers faced more than three batters. v April 17: Illinois Wesleyan Blumberg retired the University, L, 1-2 side against the Bears in v April 20: DePauw University, the ninth and Janet came W, 9-1, L, 6-13 on to try to send the game into extra innings. The fi rst two batters hit into outs and with two outs and no runners on base, Janet tried to fi nish off Jeremy Hunt. Hunt managed to draw a walk, however, and put himself in scoring position by stealing second base. Backup shortstop Pat Cinquegrani, who had not faced Janet all day, laced an RBI single and the Bears were dealt a stunning loss. Wesleyan’s unorthodox pitching strategy worked, as the Bears were held to just one run on five hits and three walks. On Apr. 20, the Bears traveled to DePauw University for a doubleheader. In the fi rst game, Steve Schmidt continued his impressive showing on the mound by tossing a complete game against the Tigers en route to a 9-1 victory. He allowed just six hits and did not walk a single batter while striking out four. Schmidt received help at the plate from fi rst baseman Ryan Argo, who contributed four hits. Right fielder Joe Kelly, who went 2-for-2, hit his fourth home run of the season and was also hit by two pitches. The nightcap did not go quite as well for the Bears, as the pitching staff reverted to the inconsistency that had plagued it earlier in the season. Starter Josh Dietch, coming off an impressive 2-1 victory over Thomas More, failed to retire a single batter, giving up two walks, a home run, and a double before being pulled. New pitcher and usual starter Trevor Young-Hyman did not fare much better, getting tagged for six hits and five runs in just two innings. In all, the Bears yielded
Please see TOURNAMENT, page 9
Bears and Cubs allows WU athletes to give back By Renee Hires q Staff Reporter “We all played really hard,” Senior Jenny Stein said, “And though we didn’t do as well as we hoped, we are ready to prove ourselves at Regionals” Through Washington University’s “Bears and Cubs” program, a diverse group of varsity athletes from the shortest soccer or softball players to the tallest basketball or volleyball players have become role models worth looking up to. In addition to being student-athletes, those involved in Bears and Cubs tutor, mentor and inspire, as well as have fun alongside dozens of local children. The program originated a few years ago
when a group of former fall sport athletes decided to use their extra time during the off-season for volunteering. Several seniors on the men’s soccer team were the most involved in developing the program. Last year, Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities, T.J. Shelton became an advisor for the program, and this year sophomore Nichole Wylie has taken over the organizational responsibilities left by the soccer players who graduated. “The center was started to keep kids off the streets,” Wylie said. “A lot of their parents work until six or so, but they care about their kids. This is a safe place for them.” Normally, a handful of Bears meet every weekday at 4 p.m. to go to the Make a Difference Center. The MADC, located in University City, is
an after-school center open to children in the community who attend kindergarten through eighth grade. “I feel like I was one of those Upcoming kids back in the day growing up Games in Dallas,” senior Chris Jeffries v Sept. 2 vs. X said. “I know I had a handful of options. Those kids are at the v Sept. 6 vs. Y same crossroads. Somebody came and helped me Somebody cme and helped me Somebody v Sept. 9 vs. Z came and helwhen I waas their age, so now it’s my time. I think I could help influence them
Please see CHARITY, page 9
WU sweep Maryville to extend record to 26-5 By Matthew Goldberg q Staff Reporter Pitching brings home two more wins Bears sweep Maryville University to extend school-best record to 26-5 By Krystin Kopen and Matt Goldberg Another weekend, another sweep for the Washington University softball team as they trounced Maryville University, stretching their winning streak to eight games and their overall record to 26-5. The Bears turned in Jekyl and Hyde performances, barely squeaking past the Saints 2-1 in the fi rst game, but rolling to a 9-1 victory in the second contest. Pitching was the theme of the afternoon for WU as sophomore Victoria Ramsey and senior Liz Smith hurled back-to-back masterpieces, holding Maryville to a measly two runs over two games. Yet the fi rst game was extremely tight. Maryville got off to an early 1-0 lead after Christina Daggert singled home Jennifer Krypta. The Bears roared right back when Jennifer Burgdorf scored on an error by Maryville shortstop Megan Porter in the bottom of the second inning. That’s where the scoring stayed until WU freshman Dianna Little singled in Lexie Kuznick,
the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Then Ramsey, after loading the bases, got Maryville third baseman Amanda Nuyt to fly out to end the game. While the fi rst game was a cliffhanger, WU walked all over Maryville in the second game, scoring seven runs over the fi rst two innings en route to a 9-1 blowout win. With a large number of wins and only a few losses under their belt, the team is looking good as it prepares to go into the playoffs. WU remains focused on the task at hand. “We started off really well and have continued to build,” Ramsey said. “Each game we get a little closer to peaking and we’re defi nitely improving with each game. Right now we’re still looking one game at a time and not thinking of playoffs too much.” By stepping up their play, the Bears are continuing to improve upon their game. “There are still a few areas that we need to improve,” Ramsey said. “One day our offense will be good but our defense will be shaky. The next day our defense will be strong but our offense will be shaky. We just need to concentrate on having a day where every aspect of our play is up to par.” Head coach Cindy Zelinsky is happy with her team’s performance. “Overall we’ve done pretty well with the young
group mixed in with an awesome class of veterans,” Zelinsky said. “We’re still working on coming out and hitting aggressively.” Zelinsky instills a positive attitude in the team. While they set high goals for their season, they do not lose sight of the basics of the sport and the importance of each individual game. “We always work on fundamentals,” Zelinsky said. “Our goals stay the same and we are constantly working on the basics. We take one game at a time.” With their dedication and persistence, the Bears look to end this season on a high note. Although this is only the fourth year of the program, the team has taken shape and improved by leaps and bounds. Seniors Eissa Backm graduating class of the program. “[The seniors] are the foundation of the program,” Zelinsky said. “They are the ones who have implemented the work ethic and the pride that we have in the program. Without their leadership and conviction we wouldn’t be where we are.” The Bears have eight games left before playoffs. However, only two gamer against Webster University.
mgoldberg@studlife.com