Reid makes debut on mound for 'M'

Michigan point guard makes transition to hardwood to diamond; pitches for first time in two years and strikes out three, gets first hit as Wolverine

As it has been many times this season, the ball was once again in Robbie Reid's hands yesterday.

Only this time, Crisler Arena sat quietly beyond the centerfield fence, and Reid was standing on the pitcher's mound at Ray Fisher Stadium.

And rather than launching 3-pointers, the junior was throwing fastballs.

Reid, who was playing point guard on the Michigan basketball team no more than two-and-a-half weeks ago, made his pitching debut yesterday, throwing two scoreless innings in Michigan's 7-0 victory over Detroit.

After joining the team as a pitcher and an outfielder following the conclusion of the basketball season, Reid saw his first action on the hill in two years yesterday.

Reid played two seasons of baseball at BYU, his previous school, and was named all-state four times as a pitcher at Spanish Fork High School in Utah.

Yet, after serving a two-year Mormon mission and transferring to Michigan before this year, it had been a long time since he had taken the mound in a game situation. But Reid wasn't worried about the layoff.

Michigan "coach (Geoff) Zahn told me I had the next inning, and I got loose pretty quick," Reid said. "It's like riding a bike. I got up there and I felt pretty good." Reid looked pretty good, too.

Entering the game on the heels of a marvelous five-inning, no-hit performance by Bryan Cranson, Reid struck out three of the eight batters he faced in his two-inning outing.

And while Reid gave up two hits in the sixth, and had runners at first and third before retiring the side, it was a productive showing for the team's newest member.

"I was a little rusty, but it was nice to have those first innings under my belt," Reid said.

Continuing his week of firsts, Reid got his first hit as a Wolverine this week as well, knocking a single in Tuesday's victory over Western Michigan. He went one-for-two on the day.

"My stroke feels pretty good, and I felt like I was seeing the ball well," Reid said. "Hopefully, I can keep improving."

Some of the credit for Reid's improvement, which is expected to continue steadily as the season goes on, goes to the rest of the Wolverines.

Joining the team midway through the year is tough, and the team's newest addition is still learning from his new teammates.

"These guys have been playing for four or five months straight," Reid said. "And baseball is such a timing sport that you need repetition, so it's a little tough to get back into the swing of things."

But the team has made sure that Reid's adjustment is a smooth one.

"The guys on the team are great, and they're really supportive," Reid said. "They're great guys to be around, so that makes it fun. It's a comfortable transition."

Reid is not the only two-sport athlete that will join the maize and blue midway through the baseball season.

Michigan hockey player Matt Herr, who is playing in the NCAA hockey final four this week, will join the team after the weekend.

Herr has lettered in both sports since he was a freshman.

04-02-98