Michigan
Georgia Tech
Storm Washes Out Saturday Action; Two on Tap Sunday
2/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Thunderstorms with heavy winds swept into legendary Grayson Stadium Saturday (Feb. 22) and postponed action in the Health Memorial Diamond Classic baseball tournament featuring Michigan, Rider, Georgia Tech and host Armstrong Atlantic State.
The first game of the second round featuring Michigan (0-1) and undefeated Georgia Tech (4-0), ranked No. 3 by Sports Weekly/ESPN and No. 1 by Baseball America, was originally delayed from its 11:30 a.m. start on Saturday (Feb. 22) and has been postponed until Sunday (Feb. 23).
The Wolverines, under first-year head coach Rich Maloney, will play a doubleheader (two nine-innings games) on Sunday, facing Rider (0-1) in the opener at 10 a.m. The game vs. Georgia Tech will start approximately 25 minutes after the completion of the Michigan-Rider game.
The second game will have a time limit due to Michigan's flight connections between Savannah, Atlanta and Orlando, Fla. Georgia Tech and host Armstrong Atlantic will close out tournament action in Sunday's third game.
The Wolverines continue spring break action in Florida following the weekend action in Georgia. Michigan will face Saint Leo on Tuesday (Feb. 25, 7 p.m.) in Saint Leo, Fla.
Junior RHP Bobby Garza (Southgate, Mich./Anderson HS) is slated to start the game
against Rider.
Sophomore LHP Drew Taylor (Toronto, Ontario/Upper Canada College), a transfer from Georgia Tech, is slated to start against his former teammates when the Wolverines face the Yellow Jackets, who are coached by former Wolverine assistant coach Danny Hall.
N O T E S
Several Wolverines made their collegiate debuts in the tournament-opening loss to host Armstrong Atlantic State including freshman SS Jeremy Goldschmeding (Martin, Mich./Allegan HS), sophomore/freshman catcher Jeff Kunkel (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest HS), freshman RHP Craig Murray (Park Ridge, Ill./Maine South HS), sophomore RHP Michael Penn (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Christian HS) and freshman OF Mike Schmidt (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage HS).
Wolverines with "carryover" hit streaks from last season that were extended in the season opener on Friday (Feb. 21) include: junior catcher Jake Fox (Greenfield, Ind./Indianapolis Cathedral HS) now at seven games, fifth-year senior 1B Nate Wright (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew HS) at six games and junior RF Brandon Roberts (Arlington, Texas/Martin HS) at four games. Sophomore OF Matt Butler (Lombard, Ill./Driscoll Catholic HS), who did not play against AASU, has a two-game streak on hold from last year.
Former Detroit Associated Press sports editor Harry Atkins, now retired and living in Savannah, was a press box visitor in Friday's (Feb. 21) season opener for the Wolverines.
Michigan's hitting leaders after one game include: senior OF Gino Lollio (Cape Coral, Fla./Mariner HS) at .600 (3-for5), junior catcher Jake Fox at .500 (2-for-4), junior RF Brandon Roberts (.400, 2-for-5), senior 3B Brock Koman (Pueblo, Colo./South HS) at .333 (1-for-3) and senior 1B Nate Wright (.250, 1-for-4).
Contact: Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
