Spofte Pkg6 2B

Sizzling 65 looking toward Hotlanta Softball continues winning Justin Cherot University of Georgia Bulldog team. tains two of the feel-good stories of the Prediction; Maryland over UConn. year in the University of Alabama Columnist ways in weekend’s toumey M idw est R egion Crimson Tide and the University of Oh, big deal. So the University of Pittsbuigh Panthers. Neither was ex­ Phoenix fend off weather to grab three straight You think the madness is just be­ Kansas Jayhawks lost in the Big 12 pected to be seeded this high, but make ginning? In actuality, the madness is championship. Boohoo, they’ve lost no mistake: they both belong. This Erik Furlan rector and Elon head coach, along over. could be one of the better Sweet 16 with assistant directors Dwayne once in their last 17 games. They still Reporter Fm sick of all this talk of RPIs, have to be considered the favorites to matchups, as both teams love to play Turner and Erik Furlan and the City who’s in, who’s not, who beat whom win it aU. Of course, that isn’t to say the up and down game. Park staff, revamped the Sunday in a neutral-sited venue, etc., etc. To all they can show up and win games in Prediction: DukeoverPittinablow- Crimson was the color of choice schedule to allow teams to play as this, I say whatever. Sorry if I sound a this bracket. A second round matchup out. for teams competing in the inau­ many games as possible, abandon­ gural Phoenix Classic Softball little grouchy, that’s just the frustration with talented big man Chris Marcus and W est R egional ing the original toumament fonnai. Tournament March 8-10 at of waiting since Midnight Madness for Western Kentucky University could be Basketball pundits all around the Every attempt to accommodate Burlington City Park. The Phoenix Selection Sunday. So let’s just play. a problem, especially if his supporting country basically knew that this region teams, many of whom were either and Harvard University Crimson The thing I love most about the cast decides to start draining threes. was going to be the most stacked. The on spring break or needed to go were the only two teams to escape NCAA tournament, which begins In the Sweet 16, they will most Cincinatti University Bearcats could home for classes on Monday left the modified schedule undefeated. Tuesday with the unnecessaiy play-in likely see one of two severely under­ potentially have the toughest one-eight six teams out of the original 16 Division I softball teams from game, is the intriguing sub-plots. Can seeded teams (in terms of talent in the game in the tournament if the UCLA playing the final games at 5 p.m. 15 different institutions in 10 states the Duke University Blue Devils cap­ University of Illinois Fightin’ Dlini or Bruins can avoid a first round bum-out. Elon played their only game of joined the Phoenix for two and a ture their second straight champion­ the University of Florida Gators. The Bruins have been wildly inconsis­ the day against the University of half days of softball. Mother Na­ ship? Which bubble team will prove The other half of the bracket has tent all year, but they do own a nice Dayton, After downing Rutgers ture had other plans. that they really belong and make a se­ potential surprises looming at every collection of quality wins, including one University and Mount St. Mary’s Friday afternoon saw the start rious run? Who is the next player to turn. However, if you’re the casual fan against No. 1 Kansas. For all you upset College to extend their win streak of an annual tradition, with the first see their stock rise through the tourna­ looking for upsets that will crash your fans, you simply can’t ignore the Mis­ to three games, the Phoenix made pitch in the history of the Phoenix ment? office pool, you have to start with the souri University Tigers’ low seeding. it four in a row with a 3-1 win over Classic being thrown just ahead of It’s like an episode of “ER” when Pepperdine University Waves. The The University of Miami Hurricanes the Dayton Flyers. the scheduled 1 p.m. start time. At Geoige Clooney was still holding the team has quality wins over the Univer­ are definitely a solid team, but Pitts­ Elon was led by freshman left the end of the day, no team stood scalpel. Simply put, the drama is thick. sity of Southern California, University buigh showed in the Big East tourna­ fielder Diuii Concepcion, who had out from the field of 16, setting the So without further ado, let’s analyze of California at Lx)s Angeles and con­ ment that if Hurricanes’ star Darius Rice a 4-for4 day at the plate, sopho­ stage for a meaningful Saturday the four regions. ference rival Gonzaga University, any is shut down, Miami is extremely vul­ more catcher Lori Notaro, who morning of pool play to determine went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI, and se­ E astt R egion team in their way needs to watch out. nerable. bracket seeding for the afternoon. nior first baseman Pam Brock, who To put it as bluntly as possible, tliis I personally see a tidal wave com­ The other half of the bracket has Saturday morning began under had a 2-for-4 performance and is by farthe weakest of the four regions. ing. Wake Forest University can’t experts scratching their heads. Last time threatening skies that never im­ scored a run. On paper, the University of Maryland match their athleticism, and you have I checked, Gonzaga was ranked sixth proved. The rains came before the Freshman pitcher Megan Terrapins have the easiest road to the to figure that if Pepperdine can beat in the country. So, how are they the sixth 9 a.m. games got started and con­ Borgaard snagged her third victory Final Four out of the four top seeds. u s e and UCLA, they can beat an over­ seed in the West region? What’s even tinued throughout the morning. in as miiny appeiwances, pitching Ah, but paper is deceiving. achieving University of Oregon team. more befuddling is that for all their hard Tournament organizers wanted to a complete game, Borgaard al­ A second round matchup with the Prediction: Kansas over the up and woric in getting that 29-3 record, they begin play later in the jiftemoon, lowed only five hits and one ejuiied winner of the University of Wiscon- coming Pepperdine Waves in the re­ have a potential second round matchup leaving teams and fims to wait and run while striking out two and sin/St. John’s University slug fest may gional final. with the Pac-10 tournament champion see with touraament management. walking two. prove to be somewhat of a test for them. S outh R egional University of Arizona Wildcats. Go fig­ The efforts of toumament vol~ The Phoenix took on CleveliUid And then there’s the intriguing team The Duke Blue Devils begin their ure. That second round game may be unteers and staff from Burlington State University at East Field from Lexington, Kentucky. quest for the first repeat in college bas­ one of the more intriguing matchups in Recreation and Parks had two March 13, followed today by a The Wildcats of the University of ketball since—^well, the Duke Blue the whole toumey. fields almost ready for play, but double-header against Eiist Tennes­ Kentucky have been up and down all Devils did it in ’91 and ’92. Given their It’s hard to say that you’re under- hours of work would be in vain. see State University rescheduled year, but they’re definitely a force to generous placement, odds are that appreciated as a No. 2 seed (especially An early evening downpour from earlier in the season. The be reckoned with when they’re at their they’ll get back to the title game. Of when Gonzaga got slighted), but the washed out any possibility of play. games against ETSU begin at 2:30 best. If you’re looking for an early course, nothing is set in stone, and there University of Oklahoma should be a Patti Raduenz, toumament di­ p.m. on East Field. round bracket-buster, look for an over­ are sixteen teams in this region who No. 1. Not only did they beat Kansas rated Marquette University team to lose want to spoil the Dukies’ dreams. Apo- to win the Big 12 tournament, but they to No. 12 seed University of Tulsa. tential Sweet 16 matchup with USC also have an impressive mid-season On the other side of that bracket, might be a slight cause for worry, sim­ win over Maryland. Southwick Golf Course Prediction: Call me nuts, but UCLA the University of Connecticut Huskies ’ ply because Sam Clancy is the best big 336,227,2582 biggest obstacle to a regional final with man in the game nof named Drew over Oklahoma. Maryland might be those pesky Hamp­ Gooden. So who wins it all? It’s actually Stuaent Speciats ton University Pirates. Wipe that smile In this portion of the bracket, keep pointless to make a prediction since off your face. Ask Jamaal Tinsley if an eye on the University of Indiana- there are sure to be all sorts of twists MONDAY-FRIDAY: they should ever be overlooked. University of Utah matchup. The Hoo- and turns in this 2002 NCAA tourna­ Ride 18 - $20.00 Talent-wise, I don’t think any team siers go as Jared Jeffries, and the Utes’ ment. That’s the beauty of March Mad­ Walk 18 - $12.00 in UConn’s half of the bracket can give Britton Johnsen might cancel him out. ness; once you’re invited, anything can Valid with Student or Faculty I.D. them a tme scare, minus an athletic The other half of the bracket con­ happen. wvs^.SouthwickGolf.Gom