12 PORTS APRIL 13, 2007 TULANE HULLABALOO Field expected to be done in June the basement Ｇ ｔ ｩ ｧ ｨ Ａ ｭ ｾ Ａ Ｎ ｲ Ｚ ｾ schedule' coupled with poor-weather delays opening of Turchin stadi- T urchin

staffwriter

Turchin Stadium, home of Green Wave , will not be completed before the end of this season. The stadium was originally scheduled to be finished by April. setbacks "It was on a tight time sched- ule," associate athletic director Suhas Subramanyam and manager of the project Vmce sports editor Granito said. "Weather delays in December slowed progress down." "There's no place like home," the title of the The Green Wave will play the official Tulane baseball Web site's 2007 outlook remainder of its games at Zephyr proclaimed. "After a year away from home, the Field where it has played since the Green Wave will return to Turchin Stadium in beginning ofthe 2006 season. 2007." Tulane was scheduled to host But with last week's announcement that this season's Conference USA tour- Turchin will not be ready in time to open its nament, but now will host the 2008 doors this season, "home" will still remain a tournament instead. The change in cavernous minor league park miles away from conference tournament sites means campus for the rest of this season. that the Green Wave will not en- The reason for the long delay, according to joy home field advantage, which is athletic director Rick Dickson. was mostly in- considerable during the post sea- clement weather. Sounds familiar. doesn't it? son. C-USA announced that East Dickson told the Times-Picayune that the con- Carolina will host the 2007 tourna- struction crew, '"ho he claims has worked hard ment in Tulane's place. and diligently over the past couple of months. At this point in the construction faced more than 30 days of rain, which delayed process the stadium has seating, the drying of concrete and other materials. This. bathrooms and concession stands, coupled with the effects ofHurricane Katrina set- but it lacks amenities fans are used LEE SAXONIPHOTOGRAJ'UY EDITOR ting the project back almost a year, slowed con- to having in a stadium. Bleachers, bathrooms and concession stands are now in place at Turchin Field, but the stadium still lacks typical amenities. struction and resulted in the contractors telling SEE TURCHIN: PAGE 11 Constructions delays mean this season's Green Wave will not play in the stadium this season. SEE BASEMENT: PAGE 11 Memphis takes Wave Alumnus makes ｾ ｯ ｮ ｦ ･ ｲ ･ ｮ ｣ ･ USA rival wins two out of three in series at Zephyr Field last weekend, team is now Ｒ ｾ Ｑ Ｐ on season his majors debut Marisa Belaidi was a disappointing night for us.,, Yet Tulane's offensive drive ultimately assistant sports editor Saturday's ballgame proved to be a could not stop Memphis' enthusiasm and closer contest, as the Green Wave only determination. Micah Owings pitches five innings Jor Ariz. Despite numerous efforts by the Green dropped a handful of runs in its 5-3 sub- '1 thought the biggest thing was that Wave, Conference USA rival Memphis mission to Memphis. Sophomore we didn't match their energy level over pulled through to win two out of three Shooter Hunt was handed the loss after the first four or five innings," Jones noted. Diamondbacks in win over Wash. Nationals games last weekend in Zephyr Field. allowing four runs on six hits and three "That was our biggest disappointment to- Friday's 14-5 loss proved to be the walks in four innings. Hunt did, how- day besides the loss." Ben Eisenberg losses last year and hitting over .300 - is not beginning of a disappoint- ever. strike out five However. the players did receive the senior 5taff writer surprising at all· Jones said. "Of all the play- ing series for Tulane. as the and is now 6-3 on "pportunity to redeem themselves .in the ers that rve been around. Micah Owings is at Less than two years after leading the Tigers simply out-played the the season. Fresh- final series game on Sunday, and they the highest level when you combine ability ''/thought the big- · Green Wave to the . Green Wave. Memphis start- man Aaron Loup al- definitely stepped up to the plate with a with desire, commitment and work ethic ... two-way standout Micah Owings won his er Ben Grisham held Tulane gest thing was that lowed just one home 9-5 win at Zephyr Field. Owings hasn"t slowed do\.\n his tor- major league debut April 11 as the fifth hitters to three runs on seven run in three innings Senior right-hander Brandon Gomes rid pace since reaching the majors, either. we didn't match their starter for the . The hits and only allowed four of play and fresh- solidly held command of the mound, Wednesday night in his second start. Owings 6'5" lefty pitched five shutout innings, strik- walks during 4.1 innings. energyleveloverthe man Preston Clai- striking out four Tiger batters in seven in- gave up just two runs to the Cincinnati Red ing out six in a 7-1 win over the Washington Unfortunately, Tulane's borne closed out nings of play. Though he did allow four in 6.1 innings but was tagged with the hard- Nationals. pitching staff did not fare first four or five in- • the last two innings runs of six hits in the top of the fourth, luck loss despite striking out five. "I've coached a lot of great players, and so well. Junior starter Sean • n without trouble. Gomes rallied back and maintained Tu- O\ltings may become one ofthe best-hitting nmgs. I've said this many times - Micah had the Morgan was tagged with the Thoughthe Tigers lane's lead. Senior right-hander Daniel in the league if his past nwnbers are greatest single season of any player I've loss after allowing 10 runs out-hit the Green Latham closed out the match, allowing any indication. Last season in the minors. O\lt·- ever coached," head coach Rick Jones said. on nine hits and four walks, -RidcJones Wave 11-9, Tulane just one run on three hits in the last two ings hit .356 with a and 13 RBis. "That's no disrespect to anybody else, but he striking out two in four in- head coach, Green Wave baseball faced several oppor- frames of the night. Scouts have maneled at his poise on the had a N ationaJ Player of the Year type ofyear nings. With the loss, Mor- tunities to even the Tulane's offensive efforts were also mound despite not having overpo'"ering [in 2005]. In the last six games of junior gan fell to 6-2 on the season. score throughout the positive for the night, as the Green Wave his pitches. Owings· demeanor. of which Tulane year, he just threw on his back as far as Freshman right-hander Tay- game. Sophomore used their 11 earned walks and one hit us was the beneficiary in 2005. may lead to a pitching is concerned." lor Rogers gave up four runs right fielder Warren baseman to their advantage, pulling in long-lasting major league career. Owings' per- on six hits in the next four innings before McFadden went 3- for- 4, stealing a base five runs. Junior shortstop Cat Everett formance in 2005 sophomore Peter Connick closed out the and earning a run in the process. Sopho- also hit an RBI single to further advance earned him the Con- ninth. more Aja Barto also hit Tulane's lead over Memphis. ference USA Player "Memphis pitched well and took us well, blasting a leadoff in the bot- With the much- needed win over the of the Year award. out of some innings early," head coach tom of the sixth that eventually earned Tigers, the Green Wave improved to 24- He led the Green Rick Jones said. "They just outplayed us. him a run, while also hitting a single in 10 on the season and 6-3 within Confer- Wave to an NCAA They played very well and we did not. It the bottom of the seventh. ence USA. regional champi- onship as well as a super regional title before the team was bounced by Baylor Spring practice begins in the College World series at Omaha. ｯ ｪ ｦ ｾ ｳ ･ ｡ ｳ ｯ ｮ Owings also led Two weeks into workouts, Coach Toledo is 'excited' the Green Wave as a batter, finishing with and impressed with his starting quarterback contenders team-highs in bat- ting average (.359), Chaitanya Nadipati So far, it's been a healthy comp.etition to help us win. They've been practicing home runs (18) and staff writer with all three helping one another out. hard and getting better every day," Toledo RBis (65). Elliott, the most experienced player ofthe said. He found his A lot of changes are taking place on trio, believes any one can be named the With the progress each quarterback niche as a pitcher the gridiron this spring with a new coach, ·starter come fall. is making, Toledo said it's important to in the Diamond- a new starting quarterback and a new of- "Right now we're all fairly even," El- keep the competition going. backs minor league fense. With new head football coach Bob liott said. "We're still trying to learn the "We've made a decision not to name system, where he Toledo installing an entirely new scheme, offense, and we've been able to learn a starter until we get into fall. camp," To- quickly ascended one would expect some occasional bumps from each other's mistakes." ledo said. ''Right now it's been real com- to Triple-A Tuscon. in the road. Through two weeks of spring The only upper hand that Elliott may petitive, and I'd like to keep it that way so He was named Dia- practice there have been many bumps, but have on his teammates is his game expe- that they'll continue to work hard through mondbacks minor significant strides are also being made. rience. the summer." league player of the The departure of senior quarterback "I think the experience I have will Aside from the quarterback position, year after going 10-0 Lester Ricard has left the starting quar- definitely help because I know what to there have been plenty of other changes with a 3.70 ERA and terback job open and three players, junior expect when I go out there on the field," Toledo and his staff have made. New of- 61 . Scott Elliott, sophomore Anthony Scelfo, Elliott said. fensive and defensive schemes have been "For him to go and redshirt-freshman Kevin Moore, are Toledo says he's been impressed with installed, and Toledo has been moving his into pro ball and do fighting for the job. As of now, it's still all three of his quarterbacks thus far. players around and trying them at new what he did in such a cm RITSY OFTI LA.'iE \THLETIC'S too early to tell who will come out on "I'm excited about all three of them positions. short period of time top. Micah Owings pitched for Tulane in their 2005 College World because they all have the physical ability SEE PRACTICE: PAGE 10 -16 wins and [two] Series win; he now plays for the Arizona Diamondbacks.