Softball heads south for break

The No. 5 Michigan softball team will have to substitute its umbrella drinks and sandals for Gatorade and spikes this spring break.

Michigan heads down south to Georgia and Florida for a full ticket of games over the vacation.

The first challenge for the Wolverines will be in Columbus, Ga. where Michigan will compete in the prestigious NFCA Leadoff Classic.

The tournament, which regularly pits some of the best teams in college softball, will bring together six of the eight teams in last year's college world series. In addition to the Wolverines, the Classic will showcase defending national champion and No. 1 Fresno State, No. 4 Washington, No. 8 Nebraska, No. 10 Massachusetts, and No. 15 Oklahoma State.

The defending champion Wolverines won the tournament after defeating Oklahoma State, 8-1, in last year's championship. But don't tell them that.

"There are two words that I've told the team not to talk about," Hutchins said, "And they are 'last year.'"

Michigan's first opponent, Arizona State, will be a reunion of sorts. The Wolverines trounced the Sun Devils last year in the opening round of the Classic largely behind the pitching of All-American Sara Griffin. In this year's tournament, Griffin will once again look for a victory, only this time she'll be sitting across the diamond in the opposite dugout. Griffin now works as a graduate assistant coach for the Sun Devils.

After the NFCA the Wolverines will head further south for a March 2 meeting against a couple of Big East opponents in Tampa, Fla. Michigan will first face St. John's and then Providence - its first meeting against both schools.

Michigan will finish their Spring Break romp March 4-7 at the Speedline Invitational in Tampa, Fla. The Wolverines are scheduled to meet Florida Atlantic, Georgia, Mississippi State, Florida State and Hofstra before moving on to the later rounds.

The week could be cause for some extra celebration should the Wolverines have moderate success. Hutchins can reach the 600 win plateau with ten victories. She currently sits as the 26th winningest coach in NCAA history.

02-25-99