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Dancing, learning, fun on UC Patio

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“Aloha!”

Friday night UM students, family, and friends, took a journey through the South Pacific as the islands of Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, and Aotearoa, New Zealand were brought to the Coral Gables campus.

“Its so much fun, every year attendance gets bigger and bigger,” said senior Nalani Arnold, who has performed at this event for the past three years.

Entertainment was provided by the much-acclaimed Drums of Polynesia, who livened up the crowd with their traditional songs and dances.

One of the evening’s highlights was New Zealand’s “War Dance,” which was once used during battle to intimidate the enemy.

With feet stomping and boisterous chanting, the men from Drums of Polynesia adorned with ornate costumes, captivated onlookers.

Ever heard of a “Fire Dance?”

The audience at this Hawaiian Luau experienced firsthand the astounding and very dangerous dance.

Using two batons lighted on fire at both ends, a Samoan performer threw the “knives” high in the air catching them just seconds before hitting the ground. He held the burning “knives” between his legs, and also executed many other hazardous stunts.

As the night progressed, members from the crowd were chosen to take center stage with the male and female dancers from Drums of Polynesia and show off their dancing skills. Hips jetted from side-to-side, feet rhythmically tapped the floor, and legs vigorously maneuvered these dancers into a Polynesian state of mind.

The university’s very own hula dancers also enhanced the evening with their bright blue floral skirts and enchanting moves they had been practicing twice a week, they said.

Attendees’ hunger was satisfied with authentic Polynesian cuisine, and souvenirs such as T-shirts, picture frames, and other arts and crafts.

A raffle was held and tickets could be acquired for $1.

The winners walked away with boxes of chocolates, flower arrangements, and gift certificates to The Rusty Pelican for a romantic dinner for two.

As the adventure through the South Seas came to an end, audience members walked away feeling euphoric, for they had experienced customs from another part of the world- the main goal of International month, organizers said.

To learn more about the Hawaiian performers Drums of Polynesia, visit them at their website at www.drumsofpolynesia.com.

Homecoming announces 2002 theme

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After much anticipation, the Homecoming executive committee, comprised of co-chairs Julio Barroso and Lucy Evans, and 32 Committee members, has released the theme for Homecoming 2002 as “The Road Home.”

“This year Homecoming is going to be huge,” said Roger Alvarez, homecoming committee member working with participation and recruitment. “It’s much more imaginative than ever.”

Homecoming will take place earlier this year due to the home football schedule. Opening ceremonies will be held on Friday, Sept. 27 and closing ceremonies will be on Sunday, Oct. 13.

“We have the added obstacle of trying to ensure and increase involvement while making sure that everyone is aware that Homecoming will take place much earlier in the semester than they have been accustomed to in the past,” said committee member Julio Barroso. “Through the hard work of our committee members, we are overcoming this problem and are way ahead of schedule with the planning of all events.”

“We’re trying to get students, organizations, fraternities, and sororities involved this year that haven’t participated in the past because they were not aware of all the things going on,” said Alvarez. “The more people that get involved, the more exiting and fun everything will be.”

Alvarez said he also hopes to get the residential colleges actively involved in this year’s activities.

“It would be really good if students living on campus could participate in the events as teams,” said Alvarez. “We are working on finalizing this idea, but it would definitely be great to have students living in the dorms to participate as a group, especially if they are not involved in any other organizations on campus.”

“I didn’t get to participate much in last year’s activities particularly because I didn’t know any one that wanted to go,” said sophomore Lacey Hickle. “I think it’s a great idea to have residential floors go and participate as a team in the events.”

“Even though I live off campus now, I think I’m going to give blood and do some community service for Hurricanes Help the Hometown,” Hickle said.

Homecoming committee members have also been working on several other Homecoming events including Mr. UM, Miss UM, and the Organized Cheer.

“We have the cream-of-the crop as our committee members this year,” said Barroso. “They have all done a great job organizing everything and are definitely pulling their own weight.”

An organizational meeting will take place April 22 in the International Lounge of the UC at 5:30 p.m. The meeting is open to organizations, volunteers, and willing participants.

“The purpose of this meeting is to encourage the organizations and individuals that want to be involved in the Homecoming activities to start planning early so that all those interested have the opportunity to participate come the Fall semester,” Barroso said.

“I think the theme this year sounds great,” said one student. “I’m going to show up with a cowboy hat, a snake-skin belt, and some boots- I’m from Texas.”

Venezuela’s crisis hits home for students

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By Sunday, the people of Venezuela had been though four political upheavals-the overthrow of President Hugo Chavez from power, the instatement of Pedro Carmona, head of the country’s largest business association as president, Carmona’s resignation and Chavez’ reinstatement into power.

Back to square one and all in the space of three days.

With all of the realized and potential unrest going on in their home country, the sizeable Venezuelan student population at the University of Miami is on tenterhooks, waiting in anticipation to see what’s going to happen next.

Cristina Vanessa Vila is a freshman who has lived in Anzoatequi, Venezuela for most of her life. Her parents and little sister still reside there. They say the situation is just getting worse.

“People are locked up in their houses and they’re afraid. There are riots and civil war and they’re just killing people. It’s affecting the people in every possible way,” Vila said.

“All my family is there. It’s not good,” said freshman engineering student, Silvana Mateo, who is from Caracas.

“There is no safe place right now,” said freshman engineering student and Valencia resident Irene Rojas.

Chavez, a vowed proponent of the poor, managed to incite his non-supporters to strikes, protests and demonstrations ending with his removal from office by military leaders last Friday, because of what they called his authoritarian regime, according to a CNN.com article posted on April 14, and his replacement of top officials at the state oil company in February.

“There is not a soul in the streets. My brother said that CNN shows only about 20 percent of what is going on,” Rojas said. “Nobody knows. There are no channels [of information]; only the government channel and they are not allowing expression of any kind.”

“He pretended to be anti-corruption, anti-poverty. Then he started to show his communist ways, passing laws that made no sense. Things began to deteriorate slowly,” she added.

“From the day he was elected everyone knew that this was going to happen. The poor population in Venezuela is very large and he promises them the world for their support,” Vila said. “Meanwhile he is deteriorating the country.”

Chavez regained power with the help of three thousand members of the National Honor Guard-which protects the presidential palace and has remained loyal to Chavez, according to CNN.com.

“There are a lot of urgent things to take care of now,” Chavez said. “We must fix that light that has been broken. I call for peace. I call for strength within all Venezuelans.”

But UM Venezuelan students are not expecting peace anytime soon.

“My mother says that it doesn’t seem to be getting any better, just worse,” Vila said. “Now that he’s back in power he’s bitter. He’s going to be doing things directly to those who put him out of power.”

“Everything is just going to be worse. It’s like living through the whole Cuba situation, Vila said.

“Everyone I’ve talked to is down, sad. It is so ironic after thinking that he was off the presidency that he just bounces back,” Rojas said. “He killed who knows how many hundreds of people when he allowed the military to open fire on our citizens. It’s scary.”

The biggest concern, of course, is for the students’ families still in Venezuela.

Vila had already bought her airline ticket to return home at the end of the semester but now, it is unsure what her summer plans will be.

“Get my parents out of there. They’re getting everything in order to get back here. I am happy to be in Miami but my parents and my little sister are in Venezuela and I am worried constantly,” Vila said. “I mean, I don’t care what the situation is, I want to be there right now.”

“My concern is for my family’s well-being. Economically, my parents are both doctors and no one knows what’s happening. I don’t know if I’m going to be able to continue my studies,” Rojas said. “It is affecting me directly.”

Titanic

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“I would live in Titanic if I could,” said Titanic fan Chris Mcquade. “The spicy cervache wings,triple screw and Karaoke [are] to die for.”

While this is merely one reaction from a Titanic enthusiast, this restaurant and brewery pub has become home to an increasing number of college drinkers. A big reason for this is their food. The Titanic classic burger was rated number one in Miami by the Miami New Times.

Furthermore, they offer everything from a tasty bucket of wings, to a fancy steak/seafood dinner, and all at very reasonable prices. It’s a superior alternative to Wendy’s, which is just around the corner, and offers a much tastier beverage selection.

Though you can find Miami’s finest burger at Titanic, the place is not a mere burger joint. Titanic also offers a more wholesome selection. From freshly steamed mussels to a delicious pasta primavera to a rack of ribs or to a perfectly cooked steak, it has something to satisfy any craving you may have. And ask the waiters to complement your meal with the perfect beer; you’ll soon find yourself in paradise.

“Whenever I’m hungry I go to Titanic,” said frequent patron Patrick Dupree. “Whenever I’m thirsty I go to Titanic.”

But enough of the food. What sets Titanic apart from any other establishment in its area is its fine beer. Brewmaster Jamie Ray has raked in countless awards and accolades from beer festivals around the world, including a silver medal for the Captain Smith’s Rye at the prestigious World Beer Cup, the first Florida beer ever to receive such an award. But proof is in the pub; the best way to experience some of Florida’s finest beer is to try it yourself.

Titanic serves up six house beers: the triple screw, the Brittanic best bitter, nutbrown, the Captain Smith’s Rye, the white star India pale ale, and finally, the smooth and creamy oatmeal stout. All of them are ales, which generally means they are packed with more flavor and a higher alcohol content.

Not sure which one to get? Try their sampler, a plate of each of the house beers served conveniently in small glasses for you to decide which is your favorite. All beers are $3.50 – $4.50, but you can knock off a dollar on house beers during happy hour, which is from 4-8 p.m. everyday.

Or you can also capitalize on $2 triple screws from 10 p.m. to closing every Monday and Wednesday night.

In addition to Titanic’s fine food and beer, is an even finer atmosphere. For starters, the service is excellent. One regular known as “The Mic” said “as soon as I walk in here, Amanda K. already has my favorite beer waiting for me.

There’s nothing better than being around cool people who are supportive of my drinking habit”.

While Titanic is no hole in the wall, there is definitely a Cheers-type of atmosphere about it. “Everybody knows your name here,” says Mcquade, “I don’t know where I’d go without this place.”

One of the reasons why the restaurant has such a large following is because it offers a diverse range of evening entertainment. Tuesdays are jazz nights, when musicians from the music school can bring their instruments and join the Alex Berti Trio. Thursdays offer some of the finest blues bands in Miami, and Fridays and Saturdays are open to local variety bands. And for the more courageous performers, Sundays offer the finest Karaoke in town, brought to you by the famous Boogie Man George.

Whatever the dinner or drinking occasion, Titanic offers it. The excellent service, beer and ambiance make Titanic one of those places where “everybody knows your name.” And again, it’s walking distance from campus.

For more information, check out the website at www.titanicbrewer.com.

Entertainment News

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Film news…Changing Lanes, starring Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Affleck, toppled all other films this weekend, collecting $17.6 million.

Actress Nona Gaye, daughter of the late soul crooner Marvin Gaye and last seen in Ali, has been cast as the character “Zee” in the next two Matrix films, The Matrix: Reloaded and The Matrix: Revolutions. The role was originally given to the late R&B singer Aaliyah, who died in a plane crash last summer.

In related news, artist Paul Oakenfold has finished three songs specifically for Reloaded, and may possibly contribute more. Warner Brothers has purchased the movie rights for a live action version of the highly acclaimed anime film Akira, which will be based on a script by Stephen Norrington, the director of Blade. Rapper Coolio, known for his eternally lame hairstyle, will have an unspecified part in the upcoming Daredevil, which stars Ben Affleck.

In music news…Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson are engaged. Celine Dion and Marc Anthony will perform at the Billboard Latin Music Awards on May 9 in Miami. The Hives are reported to be in the middle of negotiating a deal with Warner Brothers. In the meantime the label plans to re-release their 2000 album Veni Vidi Vicious sometime this year. In June, Motorola will release a customized Nelly cell phone complete with “Nelly-based games and ring tones.” No joke. Nelly’s new subtly titled album, Nellyville, backed by the predictably “hot” single Hot in Herre, drops on June 25. Feuding rappers Nas and Jay-Z will make separate guest appearances on Scarface’s new album, The Fix, which hits stores on July 2.

42nd Street Boasts Nostalgia

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It’s a piece of old Broadway nostalgia, it’s a bit of Chorus Line, it’s a touch of Flashdance, and a dash of Cinderella .

The University of Miami’s newest show, 42nd Street, opened Friday night to the sound of 32 sets of tap shoes dancing in unison. That alone was enough to leave the audience (a full house) awestruck. The playbill cover had promised, “a toe tapping musical extravaganza.” It didn’t lie.

42nd Street is an historical view of Broadway, circa 1933, but no one comes to this play for a history lesson. They come for the music, the dancing, the comedy and the story of the unknown girl who makes it big.

Peggy Sawyer is the unknown dancer from Allentown, Pa., who dreams of the lights on Broadway. After missing an audition, she is picked off the street to fill out the chorus line. Peggy is ecstatic, but fate isn’t done with her yet.

Jessica Greeley shines as Peggy, and the audience just fell in love with the innocent country girl who stumbles through rehearsals and trips all the way to stardom.

But naive Peggy is no match for Dorothy Brock, the reigning Broadway star. Although the producers think Dorothy is past her prime and not right for the lead, they are forced to cast her because of her financial connections. Dorothy’s sophistication and cutting comments are a nice contrast to Peggy’s sweetness.

Nicole DeCario, who plays Dorothy, is perfect in the role. She shows just enough street smarts to be arrogant, but not enough to be villainous. The audience cheers for Peggy over Dorothy, but Dorothy shows true New York-style in the end.

Julian Marsh, the show’s producer, needs to have his play, Pretty Lady, score big. This is 1933, the Depression years, and Julian was hit hard by the collapse of Wall Street. His reputation as “the King of Broadway” is also on the line, so Julian is juggling lots of things.

Benjamin Gamble amazes the audience with his very real portrayal of Julian. His voice, his posture, and his mannerisms bring Julian to life. At times the audience feels like a member of the cast or crew – all focused on the “King of Broadway.”

The choreography was everything to this play, and the true star was the choreographer, Clay James.

No musical can be a musical without music, and 42nd Street has great music. The orchestra is the heart of the show, keeping it beating throughout both acts. Old favorites such as I Only Have Eyes For You, Lullaby Of Broadway, and the show-stopping 42nd Street are rejuvenated through the young voices of the UM cast.

42 Street’s last shows will be April 16-21 at 2 and 8 p.m. For more information, call (305) 284-3355.

Tickets are $18 for Friday and Saturday nights and $16 for weeknights, Sunday evening, and matinees.

Intramural Scoreboard

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SOFTBALL
Sunday 4/7

Absolute Zero – 3
Hui Aloha – 1

We’re Arrogant – 5
The Rednecks – 0

UMSM – 8
Superfly – 2

Foul Balls – 5
Axis of Evil – 2

We’re Arrogant – 10
UMSM – 4

Axis of Evil – 10
The Rednecks – 1
Superfly – 9
Foul Balls – 8

Tuesday 4/9

Master Batters – 10
Insomniacs – 5

86ers – 13
SECS – 4

UM baseball travels with diamonds

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In 1994 Denise Morris, wife of Hurricane baseball coach Jim Morris, began a tradition at UM when she came up with an idea to help increase support for Miami baseball after Hurricane Andrew had devastated and displaced so many local fans. She formed a fan club that began with about a dozen people.

Today the club is still active and they call themselves the Diamond Darlings – Diamond Studs. The group’s main purpose is to support the team and carry out special events throughout the year.

The current head of the organization is Lois Kerr, recognized at Mark Light Stadium as one of the most decorated and spirited UM baseball followers. To everyone else she is simply known as Lois.

In this year’s baseball media guide, head coach Jim Morris said: “Lois is relentless in her passion for the University of Miami baseball program. Her dedication and work is much appreciated by the team.”

Last weekend the club participated in a three-day excursion to see the ‘Canes take on arch- rival Florida State in Tallahassee.

This was the second trip for two UM die hard baseball fans Liz Rios and Katie Inderbitzen, seniors at Miami.

Even though they are graduating this year, the two already have plans of returning in the future.

“I am already planning on coming next year,” said Inderbitzen.”And I will be in California for graduate school.”

Upon arrival at the stadium, the club mingled with some of the UM players, giving words of encouragement and good luck.

“It is refreshingly delightful,” said Ellafae Cockroft, mother of Hurricane reliever J.D. Cockroft. “I believe that friends and family are some of the most important things in helping these young players achieve all of their goals in life.”

The fans gave their full support to the ‘Canes throughout game one, despite the FSU 13-3 win

Despite the loss, after the game the team and the group ate pizza together until their fill, with everyone having a good time. Lois paraded around making sure everyone had what they wanted with shouts of, “Kevin, we have cheese and pepperoni over here, Jim we got mushroom over there, Danny would you like some cookies?”

On Saturday, after an afternoon of touring the sights along the streets of downtown Tallahassee, the club once again was off to the stadium for game two. This time the ‘Canes put up a much better front against No. 10 FSU and pulled away with a 5-2 victory.

“It was great,” said Hurricane fan and trip co-coordinator Stu Glassman, “and George pitched just like George,” referring to Hurricane closing pitcher, George Huguet, who shut down the Seminoles in the late innings.

On Sunday, the team traveled back to the stadium to what would be a much anticipated series wrap up. What wasn’t anticipated however, was the extra four innings the team would have to play to finally decide a winner.

Four and a half hours from UM starter, Kiki Bengochea’s first pitch, Steven Drew, FSU rookie sensation and brother of current St. Louis Cardinal J.D. Drew, put a dagger into the hearts of the UM fans and players by smashing a game winning three run home run deep over the right field fence.

With a weekend of extremely competitive baseball now in the past, the bus started for home.

“My favorite memory of these bus trips was coming up here to Tallahassee last year and sweeping the Seminoles at home,” said Rios.

On the ride home in keeping with tradition, any fans who were participating in their first bus trip were forced to sing a song of their choice. Also, lucky numbers were drawn, giving away numerous prizes courtesy of All-Sports. Money raised goes towards future Diamond Darlings – Diamond Studs events.

Eventually the bus pulled up to campus at the tone of 3:00 a.m. and a very tired group left for home.

After a week of rest, the Diamond Darlings – Diamond Studs start up again tonight however, as the same Florida State Seminoles come down to Mark Light Stadium in the second half of the home and home series.

Todd Widom shines despite team’s poor play

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The University of Miami men’s tennis team has had a tough season. Coming into this weekend, the Hurricanes sit at 8-8 overall, but they have had one bright point — the play of freshman Todd Widom.

Widom has been ranked as high as No. 12 in the nation and he currently sits as the No. 16 player in the country. Widom is 14-2 in league play, which is no easy task.

“Todd has been a very pleasant surprise. Going 14-2 is not easy to do,” said men’s tennis coach Jay Berger.

Perhaps the biggest surprise about Widom’s success comes from Todd himself. Widom knew he was a very good tennis player, but he had no idea that his success would come so soon.

“I didn’t have many expectations coming into the year,” said Widom. “I didn’t know where I was going to be in the lineup.”

Widom’s tennis success started well before the University of Miami. His favorite sports memory is from high school, when he won the National Claycourts in Kentucky while having the entire crowd against him.

“All I had was my mom and a coach there. I had to battle a rough crowd and it made winning so much sweeter. . . I am definitely a fighter, I never give up,” said Widom about his victory in the National Claycourts.

The J.P. Taravella high school graduate from Coral Springs, FL has taken his tennis game to Miami, where he is just grateful for the opportunity that Miami has given him.

“Todd happens to be one of the nicest guys you’ll meet,” Berger said. “He appreciates this opportunity at the University of Miami. He takes nothing for granted and works hard every single day.”

Widom does not have many expectations, but he does have some goals that he set for himself. First, he wants the team to win. As far as for himself, Widom has accomplished the goals that he set for himself as a freshman at UM.

“I wanted to be an All-American as a freshman and I wanted to play in the NCAA Tournament,” said Widom.

Widom will represent UM in men’s singles at the NCAA Tournament. As the No. 16 player in the nation, he will be a definite threat to come home with the singles title. Perhaps the best thing about Widom on the tennis court is that the best is yet to come. He will continue to improve and will be even better for UM next season.

“I expect him to dominate college next year,” said Berger.

Mari Toro tears up competition

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Mari Toro’s father probably never expected much from his daughter after he introduced her to the game of tennis when she was just six years old. But now at the age of 22 she has by far exceeded his expectations and risen to become one of the top college players in the nation.

The sophomore from Miami grew up playing tennis with her older sister, Tari Ann. It is doubtful they will ever be compared to pro tennis sisters Venus and Serena Williams, but the two competed against each other in many tournaments when they were younger.

“She beat me most of the time,” Mari Toro said with a laugh. “Sometimes we’d have to play each other in the finals.”

Toro had no problem playing against her sister, noting that she was always trying to catch up to her playing level.

Not only did Mari Toro enjoy contending against her sister, but she also hoped to be coached by her someday.

After graduating from The College of William and Mary, Tari Ann Toro became the assistant coach for the women’s tennis team at the University of Miami. The same year, Mari entered her freshman year at FIU.

Despite finishing her first season with a 24-8 overall record, Toro was not comfortable playing for the Golden Panthers.

“I wasn’t happy at FIU,” Toro said. “I wasn’t happy with the team and the coach over there.”

Things soon changed for Toro, as her wish of having her sister as her coach came true when she had the opportunity to transfer to the University of Miami.

“I’ve always wanted to be coached by her,” Toro said. “Simply because she is my sister and she knows me so well.”

Having Tari Ann as a coach was not the only reason why Mari transferred to Miami.

“I knew [Miami head coach Paige Yaroshuk] is an excellent coach and Miami is an excellent school,” Toro said. “The tennis program and work ethic is just so much better over here.”

Toro came to the Hurricanes competing for the No. 1 spot against senior Marcy Hora. She earned the spot right away and finished the spring 2002 regular season last Sunday with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Notre Dame’s Becky Varnum.

The win improved her record as a sophomore to 22-9 overall – all coming from No. 1 singles.

Even though this is only her first year at the University of Miami, Toro believes she has gained respect from teammates and coaches.

“I know the girls look up to me because I’m a hard worker and I try my best,” Toro said. “But I wouldn’t consider myself the leader of the team, we are all leaders.”

The Intercollegiate Tennis Association has recognized Toro’s accomplishments this year. She is currently ranked No. 66 in the nation for singles by the ITA.

This is not the first time Toro has been ranked. Despite only playing one year of scholastic tennis in high school, Toro went undefeated in singles play. She was ranked in the top five in Florida for girls 18 and under and was also named to the All-Dade County tennis team while competing in No. 2 singles. Toro also played volleyball and softball in high school.

The women’s tennis team will hold a week of practice before they host the Big East championships from April 19-21.

Toro is confident the Hurricanes will bring home a Big East championship. She hopes that the team will finish the season in the nation’s top 15.

“After [the BIG EAST tournament] comes regionals, which is pretty tough,” Mari said. “But anything can happen.”

Sports Briefs

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MEN & WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD

The University of Miami will host the 16th Annual Miami Gatorade Track and Field Classic tomorrow at Cobb Stadium. Field events are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. with track events starting at noon. The meet will be the final home track event of the season for the Hurricanes. After the meet, Miami has road meets in Gainesville and Philadelphia before the Big East Champion-ships, which take place May 3-5 in Storrs, Connecticut. Joining the Hurricanes at this year’s Classic will be a strong field including Bethune-Cookman, Florida International, Kansas State, St. John’s, South Florida, Tulane and Villanova.
ROWING

This past weekend, the University of Miami women’s rowing team split up to compete in two separate events, the San Diego Crew Classic on the west coast, and the FIRA State Championships in Tampa. The Hurricane Varsity Women’s eight competed in the San Diego Crew Classic, placing 12th in the prestigious invitational Jessup Whittier Cup. In the event’s petite final, the University of Miami women finished in fifth place with a time of 6:57.49, ahead of the US Naval Academy (7:06.43) and Tulsa (7:11.73). Meanwhile, on the East Coast, the remaining team members competed in the FIRA State Champion-ships. The Hurricane Women’s Varsity Eight was edged out in a narrow finish by the Varsity Eight from the University of Central Florida. The day was additionally highlighted by a win by the junior varsity four. The crew gained immediate control of the race and won going away in a time of 8:02.1, nine seconds ahead of the next crew from the University of Central Florida (8:11.7). The Hurricanes captured an additional two silver medals in the women’s Freshman/Novice Eight and Four events. The Hurricanes will race again on April 20-21 at the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

WOMEN’S
SOCCER

Tonight, Miami concludes their spring schedule with a 7 p.m. match at FAU Glades in Boca Raton. The Hurricanes are coming off a 10-9-1 overall record last season, including a third place finish in the BIG EAST Northeast division. Additionally, Miami made a NCAA Tournament appearance for the first time in school history. The Hurricanes will also be aided by six new freshman in 2002, all of which are members of the Region III and Region IV Olympic Development Programs (ODP) teams and pools. The signing class includes Ashley Durkee (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), Jackie Garcia (Miami, Fla.), Jessica Keller (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Jyene Mack (Ventura, Calif.), Lindsey Yach (Carrollton, Texas), and Brittani Zonker (Littleton, Colo.). The regular season begins at home against Stetson on Aug. 30.

Hurricane baseball on the bubble

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For Hurricane seniors like Javy Rodriguez and Brad Safchik, this weekend marks the final time they will have a chance at defeating Florida State at Mark Light Stadium.

This weekend’s series, however, has a much bigger meaning for the team as a whole. The Hurricanes enter tonight’s contest with an 18-15 record, and with six weeks to go in the regular season, are in danger of missing the postseason for the first time in nine seasons under Coach Jim Morris.

“I hate to hear the words on the bubble, but that’s where we are right now,” Morris said. “We have to play well for the rest of the season in order to get in, and we’ve talked about that.”

Last weekend, Miami dropped two out of three to the Seminoles in the front end of a home and home series. Florida State routed Miami in the opener, 13-3, as Hurricanes starter T.J. Prunty lasted just 2.2 innings, giving up seven earned runs on five hits, while walking four and hitting a batter.

Morris, who moved Rodriguez over to second and inserted freshman Paco Figueroa at shortstop to start Friday, put Kevin Mannix back in the lineup as the designated hitter for the remainder of the series, replacing Matt Barket.

Mannix went 1-3 Saturday, but Miami was able to get help from pitcher Dan Touchet, who pitched a Hurricane season high 7.2 innings, allowing six hits, two earned runs, and striking out six en route to a 5-2 victory. At one point, Touchet pitched to 20 consecutive Florida State batters without giving up a hit.

“The difference maker in the series was us getting a great performance from Touchet, which gave our guys more confidence,” Morris said. “He kept us in the game and we did what we had to in order to win.”

Miami dropped the finale 9-7 in thirteen innings, as Stephen Drew hit a walk-off three-run homer off Vince Bongiovanni. The Hurricanes ultimately dropped the game, but did get a decent performance from starter Kiki Bengochea, who threw six innings, giving up four earned runs. Safchik also hit his first career home run, a grand slam, which gave Miami a 4-2 lead early on. Safchik was one of many Hurricanes to hit the ball well over the three-game stretch, but the senior gave the credit to the Miami pitching staff for helping them rebound from Friday’s loss.

“The pitchers stepped it up a notch,” Safchik said. “Their(FSU) hitters get on top of the plate so we starting adjusting to that, and the pitchers threw a lot more strikes and stopped walking people and that is what kept us in the game.”

Tonight, Prunty gets the start for the Hurricanes. After a 4-0 start, the sophomore right-hander has dropped each of his last two decisions, and with Troy Roberson still out due to injury, Prunty looks to solidify his spot as the temporary No.1. The rotation remains the same this weekend, as Touchet will pitch tomorrow, and Bengochea is scheduled to finish off the series. Morris will also go with the same lineup as last Sunday, keeping Rodriguez at second, and Figueroa at short.

“We’re trying to get the best defensive team out there on the field,” Morris said. “Right now, Paco has been playing very well at short and Javy does a great job turning two.”

Paco’s brother, Danny, solidified his spot in center field after a 4-4, two RBI performance in Saturday’s victory. The freshman outfielder is confident about facing the Seminoles for the second time in two weeks.

“When we play together as a team, we’re a hard team to beat. We’re focused on this weekend, and we’ve been practicing on the little things because doing the little things are what will win us ball games.”

According to Morris, the team hasn’t talked about specific goals for this weekend. However, the players understand the significance of the series, and the impact it may have on Miami’s postseason chances.

“This is the biggest weekend of the year for us,” Safchik said. “We know that we have to start winning two out of three games every series in order to make regionals.”

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