Cervenak chasing Ted Williams

You can bet Michigan third baseman Mike Cervenak is wearing his lucky socks today.

In the final game of the season, a 1 p.m. match at Indiana, the New Boston native is trying to etch his name into the Michigan record book. Cervenak is trying to become the 11th player in Michigan baseball history to bat .400 over the course of a season.

Three hits in three at-bats. Four hits in four at-bats. Four hits in five at-bats. And that's about all that will do it. A 3-for-3 day gives Cervenak a .401 average. Three-for-four? Just .399.

Cervenak is trying to put himself in pretty elite company. Of the 11 Wolverines to accomplish the feat - most recently Scott Weaver in 1995 - four have gone on to the major leagues and six have played in the minors. Only Steve Finkin, who batted .40

ADRIANA YUGOVICH/Daily Freshman catcher David Parrish has been hitting well lately, helping spark Michigan to wins in three of the past four games.

4 in 1988, did not play in the professional ranks.

The feat has not been accomplished in the majors since Ted Williams did it in 1941.

Cervenak has been the lone bright spot in a dismal season for the Wolverines, which saw the defending Big Ten champions fall to the second tier of the conference.

"It doesn't really mean much, considering the season we've had," Cervenak said. "I would much rather have won the Big Ten."

Besco's back: Brian Besco, who missed the last six games due to an ulcer, returned to the Wolverines' lineup Saturday.

Besco's bat, one of Michigan's major power sources this season, was sorely missed, as Michigan hit primarily singles over the stretch, losing five of the six games.

But Besco made up for lost time.

With Cervenak at first base in the top of the seventh inning in the first game of a doubleheader yesterday, Besco looked to pull the ball between first and second. When Indiana pitcher Chad Smith threw a first-pitch fastball high and away, Besco's eyes lit up.

"Coach told me to try to pull the ball," Besco said. "As soon as I hit it, I knew it was gone."

Besco drove the ball over the right-field fence, putting the Wolverines up, 6-3.

The home run capped a 2-for-3 game, including a two-run single, four RBI and two runs scored.

"Brian is swinging the bat better than he has in a long time," Michigan coach Geoff Zahn said. "We ran a tough drill Thursday that tires most guys out, but he felt fine after it, so I decided to play him this weekend."

Besco said his ulcer hasn't been bothering him much this weekend.

"It was just nice to finally be playing again," Besco said. "I played nine innings yesterday, and coach asked me if I could go two more games. I just said, 'Put me in the lineup.'"

05-11-98