6
M O N D A Y, A P R I L 1 7 , 2 0 0 6
SPORTS
S P O R T S @ D A I LY T I T A N . C O M
Lakers Reach Playoffs in Style The Associated Press
Christina House/Daily Titan Photo Editor
SATISFACTION: Pitcher Marissa Marzan (center) and her teammates congratulate third baseman Crystal Vieyra (No. 31) after she scores a run. Vieyra hit two home runs in the second game of their doubleheader.
Softball FROM PAGE 8 The 49ers didnʼt help their cause, committing three errors and only managing a single hit on offense. Martinez was tagged for 16 runs, 15 of which were earned, and 16 hits during three and one-third grueling innings. Just like the first game, the mercy rule was put into effect after the top half of the fifth inning. The
Clippers FROM PAGE 8 “Personally, I think the Clippers have a way better squad then [the Lakers] right now,” Nguyen said. “The Lakers only have Kobe.” With a power struggle clearly going on, is there room in LA for two teams? “I think it will help both teams if they are both successful because rivalries build fan enthusiasm,” Boyd said. “There are enough fans to support two teams in any city, in any sport.”
Titans improved to 25-18, while the 49ers dropped to 20-17. The two victories helped the Titans into sole possession of first place in the Big West Conference with a 6-2 record, moving them past the 49ers who fall to 5-3. With the sweep, the Titans returned the favor to Long Beach who swept them last year in Long Beach. “The wins were big for us, and they give us the confidence that we know we can take to our opponents,” said Baker, who earned a
victory in both games to improve to 16-7. The Titans swept a doubleheader for the third time this season and extended their winning streak to four games. The two teams were originally scheduled to play a single game on Saturday, but Friday nightʼs game was rained out forcing a double header. The Friday game that was rained out will be rescheduled for Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Anderson Field.
Now that basketball fans are seeing what it is like for the Clippers to enjoy similar success that Lakers fans have taken for granted over the years, many people are wondering how long this will last. With the Clippersʼ win-loss records historically being so poor, there is reason to believe that their recent success will be short-lived. Or is there? “If the Lakers were to miss the playoffs four or five years in a row, and the Clippers were to make it, youʼd see big shifts, big changes,” Boyd said. Even though the Clippers are performing well, the Lakers arenʼt
that far behind. Both teams are scheduled to make the playoffs this season. The Lakers have better playoff experience as a franchise and could surprise some people. If the Clippers do enjoy some postseason success and the Lakers take an early exit, the Clippers could try to emerge as L.A.ʼs dominant team. For now though, it appears Lakers fans are safe. “Itʼs not likely to happen in the near future because of the history and tradition [of the Lakers],” Boyd said. “That stuff is going to keep the Lakers on top for a long time.”
Helped by the absence of Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant put on his usual one-man offensive show and the Los Angeles Lakers easily clinched a playoff berth. Bryant made a late-season case for league MVP honors, scoring 43 points in a 109-89 rout of the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. “It doesnʼt really seem like weʼre overly jumping for joy, but it is a great accomplishment for us,” he said. “We came from last season when we didnʼt make it. This season nobody expected us to make it and here we are.” The Lakers are back in the postseason for the first time since losing the 2004 NBA Finals to Detroit. Their seeding has yet to be decided, but they could face Phoenix in the first round. “It is good to be back in the playoffs again. Thatʼs an important step for this club because of the number of young players we have that havenʼt been in the playoffs,” said coach Phil Jackson, who was let go after losing the 2004 championship. The Suns rested Nash and Raja Bell because of thigh-related injuries, leaving Shawn Marion to carry the load in Phoenixʼs first loss to the Lakers this season. He had 29 points and Leandro Barbosa added 16 before fouling out early in the fourth. Boris Diaw had 11 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds for his second straight triple-double and fourth of the season. “They execute the same way. Itʼs just that when Steve and Raja Bell come back, they have more
waves to throw at you and they do it for 48 minutes,” Bryant said. The game was over shortly after it started because the Suns shot a woeful 37 percent from the floor and couldnʼt stop Bryant, who notched at least 40 points for the 27th time this season. He sat down for good with nearly six minutes left. “We were dead and lifeless. It looked like it was Easter morning,” Suns coach Mike DʼAntoni said. “It was one of those games that they kind of knew we didnʼt need, and this was our third game in 3 1/2 days, and it looked like it.” Bryant made the gameʼs first
“It is good to be back in the playoffs again. That’s an important step for this club because of the number of young players we have that haven’t been in the playoffs.” Phil Jackson Lakers Head Coach
three baskets – on a driving layup, a steal and fast-break dunk and a 3-pointer. He also had a block of Marion and scored 25 points by halftime. “To get smacked like that is not easy,” the Sunsʼ Brian Grant said. “We needed Steve and Raja to get healthy. Even Shawn needs a rest before the playoffs start.” The Lakers led by 13 after one quarter and by 21 at the break after scoring the first nine points of the second period.
Baseball FROM PAGE 8 After the loss on Thursday, the Titans came back to win the series and increased their record to 28-9 overall, while the Aggies dropped to 13-18. Titan center fielder Brandon Tripp had two base hits, a stolen base and a RBI. “Today was the best game of all even though we
“We really hustled, we got after them, played with a high energy level and rebounded the ball extremely well,” Bryant said. Bryant finished 11-of-28 from the floor and made 20 of 23 free throws as fans chanted “MVP! MVP!” during the nationally televised game. “I really appreciate the support. It just shows a lot of love,” he said. “I donʼt go out and try to play for that. I go out to try to help us put Wʼs on the board.” Grant, a former Laker, would naturally pick Nash over Bryant for MVP. “If you could give two MVPs out, I would say give it to both of them,” he said. “But since thereʼs only one, Iʼve got to go with Nash, just because I play with him and Iʼve seen all the things he can do to really help this team evolve and help players evolve.” Nash could only watch in street clothes from the bench, getting booed when his face appeared on the overhead scoreboard. He and Bell didnʼt talk to reporters after the game. The Sunsʼ roster is crowded with injuries days before the playoffs begin. Nash, who missed his second straight game, has a right thigh contusion; Bell has a left thigh strain; Amare Stoudemire underwent season-ending knee surgery 1 1/2 weeks ago; Kurt Thomas is out for the rest of the regular season because of a stress fracture in his right foot; and Dijon Thompson had right knee surgery last month. “We were trying to work on some stuff out there. We werenʼt worrying about what they were doing,” Marion said.
scored more runs yesterday,” Horton said. “I really liked in the last two games how many innings we scored in instead of having one big inning.” Other Titans that contributed include catcher Cory Vanderhook, who had an RBI double and designated hitter David Cooper, who had a single and scored a run. First baseman Brett Pill got on base three times with a single and two walks. The Titans will play again on Tuesday against Loyola Marymount University at Goodwin Field at 6 p.m.