WEDNESDAY,MAY7.2003
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 3B
Cal softball seniors walk out on game
By Alexandra May
By Alexandra May
Daily Californian via U-wire
University of California-Barkeley
BERKELEY, Calif. — Five seniors on the No. 9 Cal football team walked away from the final home game of their college careers Monday to protest a "coaching decision" made by coach Diane Ninemire.
The upperclassmen's pregame exit overshadowed the much-anticipated rematch against No.1 Arizona,the team Cal defeated in the championship game of last year's College World Series.
The Bears were overmatched by the Wildcats in a 6-0 washout, but the real story took place before the first pitch.
Three Cal starters, second baseman Eryn Manahan, All-American first baseman Veronica Nelson, All-American catcher Courtney Scott, third baseman Mikella Pedretti and pitcher Jen Deering left the stadium before game time.
"I made a coaching decision that they didn't agree with," Ninemire said. "They decided that the lineup, or the coaching decision, wasn't the way that they thought it should be. They decided not to participate today. They took their stand, and they decided not to play today — that's it."
The Bears that did play were overpowered by 31- game winner Alicia Hollowell, who held Cal to a harmless four hits. Arizona scored four times against Kelly Anderson (16-9) in the top of the fifth to break open the game and seal
its sweep of the three-game season series.
The team declined to comment on the exact nature of the seniors' complaint or the future consequences of the decision.
Nelson and Scott declined to comment on why they made their decision, preferring to keep the issue within the team.
The controversy, the first of its kind in team history, seemed to stun players on both sides of the incident. Many players were visibly upset after a lengthy post-game team meeting with Ninemire.
"The team is very hurt," said Kristen Morley; the remaining senior. "Not in a million years did I ever think this would happen."
"I stood up for what I believe in, just like they did." Morley said. "I support my team and my coach. I believe the team comes before myself."
Morley would not address her classmates' position, but said she chose to side with the needs of the entire team.
While no decision regarding the five seniors' futures with the team has been reported their presence will be needed in Cal's final Pac-10 series next weekend in Oregon and in the World Series-qualifying regional tournament.
The continued absence of the seniors would mean losing the team's three biggest run producers.
Morley is confident the Bears' title defense will continue as planned.
"The team will do everything they can to pull together and continue to win," she said.
Fight leads to Callineman's arrest
Daily Californian via U-wire University of California-Berkeley
Bv Nate Tabak
BERKELEY, Calif. — A Cal football player was arrested for allegedly fracturing a UCBerkeley student's skull with a bottle during a fight outside a fraternity Saturday night, police said.
UC-Berkeley freshman Michael Gray, 20, an offensive lineman, allegedly committed the assault during an 11:30 p.m. PST melee in front of Pi Kappa Phi at 2908 Channing Way that involved as many as 50 combatants who used baseball bats, chairs, fists and bottles.
Four fraternity members were taken to Alta Bates Summit Medical Center for treatment of wounds sustained during the incident.
"It was a big fight," said Berkelie police Sgt. Steve Odom.
In addition to the skull fracture, fraternity members' injuries included various cuts, gashes, abrasions and a possible broken collarbone.
None of the injuries were life-threatening.
Police are not sure what precipitated the fight, but it appears to have included a mixture of high school and college students. Odom said.
Pi Kappa Phi Archon Clark Chu said the fighting began after a large group of people tried to force their way into the house.
"It was an unprovoked attack." Chu said.
There was no event or party happening at the house when the incident occurred. A philanthropic event had ended about 30 minutes before, Chu said.
Chu declined to comment about the identities of the attackers.
Gray was arrested on the 2400 block of Piedmont Avenue a
short time after the fight. He denied any involvement with the incident, Odom said.
Hewas booked at the Berkeley Jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.
The Alameda County District Attorney's office is reviewing the case for the possibility of charging Gray, Odom said.
It was not known if Gray was still incarcerated Monday.
Last year, then-coach Jeff Tedford recruited Gray, a student at Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland, Calif.
In a February 2002 interview with the Daily Californian, Tedford described Gray as a "puppy" because he only played football for one year in high school.
Cal Athletics representative Herb Benenson said he was not aware of Gray's arrest or the fight. No football coaches were available for comment.
No other arrests were made in
connection with the fight.
The investigation into the fight is still open, but Odom said he did not want to speculate on the prospect of more arrests.
Conflict between fraternities and high school students who frequent their parties is a long-standing problem in Berkeley.
In January, two Berkeley teenagers were arrested in connection with the firebombing of the Sigma Chi fraternity on College Avenue.
Police said the incident stemmed from a dispute between the teenagers and fraternity members at a Sigma Chi party.
While nighttime fights on Fraternity Row occur with some regularity, the injuries incurred Saturday were more severe than most incidents.
Chu said he cannot remember any incidents as violent as what happened Saturday night.
Wide receiver dies in fishing accident
By Michael Casagrande
College Heights Herald via U-wire
Western Kentucky University
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. After a year of success and happiness, the Western Kentucky University football family is now facing the tragic death of a player.
"He was a good friend, like a brother."
A Saturday fishing accident claimed the life of Trey McMiller, a freshman wide receiver from Apopka, Fla.
Karl Phillips
McMiller was on a fishing trip in Corbin, Ky., with teammate Nate Jenkins when their canoe overturned. Jenkins escaped unharmed, but McMiller
Karl Plimps
Western Kentucky receiver
drowned in the accident.
Freshman receiver Karl Phillips was stunned when he heard the news after returning from a Western Kentucky softball game.
"He was a good friend, like a brother," Phillips said of his teammate.
Phillips said it still seemed "unreal" on Monday night when he thought of his fallen friend.
The team met Monday night at 8 p.m. with coach David Elson and representatives from Student Affairs, according to Phillips.
McMiller's No. 81 jersey was on the stage as Elson and several players shared their memories of the promising young receiver.
Tears were shed and the atmosphere was "pretty intense," Phillips recalled.
At the meeting, Elson told his players that he had spoken to McMiller's family. Family members told Elson that Trey's best days were spent at Western Kentucky.
McMiller had seen limited action in his freshman season, making four catches for 60 yards.
However, with Elson's new offensive scheme, McMiller was expected to have a much more important role when the season kicks off Aug. 28 vs. Union College.
In the Red-White scrimmage played April 26, McMiller played with the first-team offense, catching the only two passes completed by quarterback Casey Rooney, tallying 22 vards.
At press time, funeral arrangements were incomplete.