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Show WGE T8 THE THUNDERBIRD MONDAY MARCH 28, 1988 Baseballers open home slate Tuesday against Mavericks An old rival will be in town Tuesday when the SUSC baseball team attempts to open its home season. SUSC will host Mesa College in a doubleheader scheduled to begin at noon at Thunderbird Park. The Thunderbirds and Mavericks have met 95 times over the years, and Mesa leads the series 50 wins; the 'Birds have won 45 times. "We know that Mesa traditionally has a very good baseball team and that we will have our hands full," Bill Groves, SUSC's head coach, says. "We are expecting Coach Byron Whehe to g team." have his usual Groves is encouraged about the recent play of his Thunderbirds who headed south to Phoenix last week record. After with a discouraging winning five of seven games against respectable opponents, SUSC improved its mark to 1 1 One of the five wins in Phoenix was over University of Minnesota, a Division regional team last year. "We are starting to hit the ball much better," Groves says. "Our team batting average jumped from .227 to .314 in the Phoenix games. We are also starting to get some extra base hits, and we have been driving in mns when we needed them. I'm much more optimistic now that we have had some time to put things together." Groves has not announced his starting pitchers for the two Mesa games. He has used a starting rotation of all lefthanders: senior Ron Barrus, hard-hittin- 6-- Track and field is among the sports thousands will compete in during the third annual Utah Summer Games to be held here in June. Regional competition has now been added and applications for the competition are now available. For more information , call ecension 7776. . Ladies host So Cal College today The SUSC women's softball team will attempt to get a pair of home games sandwiched between road trips Monday at the Thunderbird softball diamond. Game times are set for 1 and 3 p.m. at the field located just east of Thunderbird Stadium. Southern California College will provide the opposition. SUSC has bolstered its squad with the addition of third baseman Staci Sargent and shortstop Luann Weston, who just joined the team after completing the basketball season for the "We are starting to hit better, and the strength of our pitching has been a pleasant surprise," Joy Peterson, veteran SUSC softball coach, says. "We should improve both our hitting and our defense with the addition of Luann and Staci." Both Weston and Sargent were regular starters last season. The Lady 'Birds' eight-da- y swing through California saw Peterson's charges run their record to 5 through Saturday as they battled in the Cal State Northridge tournament. Weston, Sargent, Sondra Reese and Trina Packard were among the hitting stars for the week while Donna Pay shined on the mound. After the home games Monday, the Lady 'Birds will hit the road again for games Friday and Saturday at Metropolitan State College in Denver, Colo. 8-- senior Blaine Reber, junior Kirk Jenson, and junior Rich Empey. Jenson is the only pitcher on the roster with more than one victory; he has two wins to go with a single loss. Recent strong performances by freshman Jay Hinton, a freshman righthander from Hurricane, could give him a starting chance against the Mavericks. Outfielder Bill Robertson and infielder Jeff Nelson have been key hitters for the 'Birds. Robertson boasts a .396 batting average. He has two home runs for the season and has cracked five doubles. Nelson also has five doubles and a triple to go with three home runs and a .345 batting average. Tim Chambers, another outfielder, has smashed two this homers and five season; his batting average is a respectable .333. Outfielder Bob Sonju (.348) and infielder Tim Crossman (.346) have been hitting well also. "Our fielding is more consistent now," Groves smiles. "We jumped out fielding average by 10 points Co .93) durin our Phoenix games Cve'Ml ,b just starting to come together better If we could take a couple from Mesa, think we could really get some two-bagge- rs I momentum going." The Thunderbirds will stay home after the Tuesday Mesa games for a single game Friday (April 1) and a double header Saturday (April 2) against University of LaVerne. 'Bird linksters in midst of Phoenix tournament Continued improvement expected from the SUSC is golf team in the Thunderbird Grand Canyon Classic in Phoenix, now under way through tomorrow. The tournament includes 14 schools, many of them NCAA Division I. Grand College hosts the tournament, which includes, 54-ho- le among others, Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach State, United States International University, and Washington State. "We are starting to improve. Better weather and more experience for our inexperienced players are helping us," Tom Kingsford, SUSC golf coach, says. convenient trip to The Thunderbird the bottom of the library) is a small (located price to pay to let your adorins public know what is on your mind. 50 and a in |