It's Opening Day for Michigan baseball - again

By Raphael Goodstein

Daily Sports Writer

The last time the Michigan baseball team was seen in Big Ten country was this past May in Columbus, when it was celebrating its Big Ten Tournament title and the automatic-NCAA Tournament bid that accompanied it.

The Wolverines then lost to Cal State-Fullerton in the NCAA Tournament regional finals - and 14 seniors to graduation.

Nine months later, the Michigan Nine lost its ace, Bryce Ralston - one of its three co-captains - to Tommy John surgery.

Two weeks later, the Wolverines (6-8-1) were preparing for their home opener against Eastern Michigan.

But a problem with the infield dirt pushed the Wolverines' Opening Day back to today at 3 p.m.

Now, instead of playing the Eagles - a team Michigan likely would've beaten - the Wolverines are playing Minnesota (7-9), a Big Ten title contender.

But none of this is deterring Michigan from the excitement of a new season of Big Ten baseball.

"It's disappointing considering the kind of day that it was," captain Rob Bobeda said about Wednesday's postponement. "But with the weather in Michigan, you get used to it."

So newfound ace Vince Pistilli will start the Wolverines home opener against the Golden Gophers - assuming the weather permits.

Starting the home opener is "an honor," Pistilli said. "With Bryce out - who would have been our No. 1 - it's important for me to go out and have a good outing because it sets the tone for the whole series."

Don't expect Pistilli to crack from the pressure of a home opener.

Last year, in the NCAA Tournament second round game against Notre Dame - an elimination game - Pistilli pitched 7 2/3 innings and allowed just three runs in Michigan's win.

The pitchers' goals this weekend are "getting ahead of the batters and throwing strikes. We've been falling behind more than we should." junior catcher David Parrish said. "For the hitters, it's not striking out as much. We've been getting better at that."

This year's Wolverines are striking out nine times per game, while scoring just six runs per game.

If the Wolverines are to repeat last year's feats, they will need that number to go up - the runs, not the strikeouts.

But there is reason for hope. At this point last season, the Wolverines were averaging just four runs per game, they finished the season averaging seven.

"It's a matter of guys maturing and how fast we come together as a team," head coach Geoff Zahn said. "We'll keep improving every day."

401k: Only three numbers have had their jerseys retired at Ray Fisher stadium: Moby Benedict's 1, Bill Freehan's 11, and Don Lund's 33 - which was retired last year.

Benedict played shortstop for three year at Michigan and was head coach from 1963-79.

Freehan was an All-American catcher who hit .446 for his career which set a single-season record.

Lund took over for Michigan legend Ray Fisher - for whom the stadium is now named - and took the Wolverines to the 1962 national title.

Ray Fisher Stadium

This weekend

Who: Michigan (6-8-1) vs. Minnesota (7-9)

When: 3 p.m. today, 1 p.m. doubleheader tomorrow, 1 p.m. Sunday.

Latest: This will be the home opener for the Michigan Nine. Both teams will likely finish in the top half of the Big Ten standings. Michigan was supposed to open its home schedule this past Wednesday against Eastern Michigan, but unplayable ground conditions forced postponement of the game until a later date.