Section B
Fast Mama
The University Daily Kansan
At the Woodlands greyhound racing track, yesterday, Mad Mama paid out a handsome $20.20.
Sports
Inside: The men's tennis team was not selected to play in the NCAA tournament for the first time in six years.
SEE PAGE 2B
Inside: Highlights and photos from the year in Kansas sports.
FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2000
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
Baseball team looks to declaw in-state rivals this weekend
By Amanda Kaschube
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportwriter
Kansas' chances of earning a berth in the Big 12 Conference tournament are as slim as Dion Rayford's chances getting a job at Taco Bell.
Even if the 'Hawks declaw the Wildcats in the three-game series this weekend and Oklahoma State drops three to Iowa State, Kansas still might miss out.
"We have a real minuscule shot," said coach Bobby Randall. "But even if we don't get into the tournament, we're still playing Kansas State for other reasons. It's all about state pride."
The 'Hawks have dropped the last five meetings to the Wildcats, including a sweep last year in Lawrence. Kansas' last victory came in 1998 $ 0.9 \mathrm{min} $
in manhattan.
But Kansas holds a 160-141
advantage against its instate
challengers, so a win would be a perfect way to end a rocky conference season.
"We've had some frustrating games, and we've played some incredible games," Randall said.
"We haven't been real deep all season, but we want to finish strong
KANSAS VS.
K-STATE
Kansas (22-26 and 8-
19 in Big 12) vs.
Kansas State (18-27
and 4-19 in Big 12)
Where: Frank Meyers
Field, Manhattan
Game one — 7
tonight
Brandon O'Neal (1-5)
will start on the mound
Game two — 2 p.m.
tomorrow
Rusty弘brick (5-5) is
scheduled to start
Game three — 1 p.m.
Sunday
Pete Smart (6-9) will
start on the mound
these last seven games. A lot of the guys have put their heart into every game, and I can't ask for any more."
Tonight's starter, Brandon O'Neal, wants more. O'Neal (1-5) was roughed up at Baylor last weekend and, as a native of Olathe, he knows the importance of winning the series.
"I want to beat K-State badly—they are our biggest rival," he said. "But we're only focusing on one game at a time. We just need to go out and play like we know we can."
The bottom-rung Wildcats have been focusing too — they beat Wichita State 18-6 in Wichita. This is proof that Kansas State is preparing for tonight's main event.
- Tuesday's and Wednesday's rained out games against the Mavericks tentatively have been rescheduled when UT-Arlington comes to Lawrence May 13 and 14. Instead of playing one game each day, Kansas will play two double-headers.
"Kansas State has had a tough year, and they aren't going to lay down." Randall said. "This is the last series to resurrect their season, too."
The 'Hawks also will have to deal with fresh Pat Maloney, who leads the Wildcats at the plate hitting. .371 with 24 runs and 29 RBI, and senior pitcher Jason Wells, who has thrown two complete games.
One thing working against Kansas may be the lack of playing time this week.
When the midweek tune-up series against the University of Texas-Arlington was rained out twice, the 'Hawks were stranded in Texas without a game to play.
But Randall won't use that as an excuse for allowing a poor performance this weekend.
"You always face adversity, and this is our adversity to overcome," he said. "I would have preferred not to have the team sit out this many games, but we're going to overcome that. We're better than that."
Diamond Notes
Members of the Kansas rowing team flex their first-place muscles before practice. The Jayhawk rowers were named as one of the best Kansas athletic teams for the past academic season by the Kansan and were the top Big 12 Conference rowing team. Rowers, from right to left, are: Dana Parsons, sophomore; Shannon Gribbin, junior; Ellen Remsing, senior; Andrea Buch, sophomore; Erin Harrington, freshman; Jen Van Ruyen, freshman; Galina Levin, freshman; Kristi Dubiel, senior; and Jennifer Page, junior. Photo by Aaron Lindberg/KANSAN
The Kansan rates the Big 12 athletic programs
2000
2006
1. Texas 150 points
2. Nebraska 141 points
3. Texas A&M 109 points
4. (tie) Oklahoma State 94 points
4. (tie) Oklahoma 94 points
6. Baylor 90 points
7. Missouri 89 points
8. (tie) Colorado 85 points
8. (tie) Iowa State 85 points
10. Texas Tech 78 points
11. Kansas 75 points
12. Kansas State 71 points
Year's top teams not big money makers
€
1. Texas 186 points
2. Nebraska 156 points
3. Baylor 117 points
4. Texas A&M 116 points
5. Colorado 110 points
6. Oklahoma State 107 points
7. Kansas 99 points
8. Missouri 97 points
9. (tie) Kansas State 93 points
9. (tie) Oklahoma 93 points
10. Texas Tech 75 points
11. Iowa State 73 points
See page 3B for ranking explanation and Big 12 standings in all varsity sports.
By Mike Miller
Kansan sports editor
To nobody's surprise, the best athletic teams at Kansas in 1999-2000 were ... men's golf and women's rowing? Exactly.
For a school steeped in basketball tradition and one that is frantically spending money to improve its football program, the most successful teams this year were a couple of nonrevenue sports. It may surprise those unfamiliar with the little-known sports, but the athletes have come to expect it.
"When we get recognition like that in a basketball town, it's great," said senior golfer Ryan Vermeer. "Since we won the Big 12 Championship a year ago, more people have come up to us and wished us luck — not like it is for the football and basketball players, I'm sure, but it's been nice."
Rowing coach Rob Catloth was pleased but not surprised by his team being recognized as one of Kansas' best of the season.
"Well, hell, I think we are," Catloth said. "It's the atmosphere — the type of athletes we have, and it's a credit to the hard work from our walk-ons."
The men's golf team, which actually had a better year last year winning the Big 12 Championship, placed second this year. Vermeer, junior Conrad Roberts and sophomore Casey Harbour led the way this year, all placing in the Top 10 at the Championships.
See KANSAS on page 3A
Because golf is one of four sports in which all the Big 12 teams compete, it's one of the most competitive
The men's golf team captured a second place finish at this year's Big 12 golf championship and earned the honor of being one of the two best Kansas athletic teams. Back row, left to right, are: coach Ross Randall; assistant coach Roy Edwards; Andy Stewart, junior; Jake Istnick, senior; Ryan Vermeer, senior; Casey Harbour, sophomore; Brett Tobyne; and Chris Marshall, freshman. Front row, left to right, are: Jason deBuhr, junior; Jim Gates, junior; Nic Rebine, sophomore; Conrad Roberts, junior; Jason Byler, sophomore; Brad Dauvin, senior; and Tyler Hall, freshman. Contributed Photo
Jayhawks prepare for last meet before Big 12 finale
Bv Sarah Warren
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
After one more practice performance, it's on to the big show for the Kansas track and field team.
The Jayhawks are heading south this weekend for their second, yet final meet in the U.S. Track and Field Collegiate Series, before taking a bye week to prepare for the Big 12 Conference Championship meet May 19-21.
Earlier in the season, the 'Hawks traveled to Clemson, S.C., for the Clemson College Series meet, and this weekend the team heads to Atlanta for the Life
"It's cool to go to another place and compete against other athletes," said Lorri LaRowe, Kansas throws coach. "With a meet like this they won't know what to expect from us, which is fun."
There it will face the atypical likes of St. Augustine, Florida State, Georgia Tech and the host team. Life University
University Series meet.
And to be sure, Kansas will be a viable threat with All-American juniors Scott Russell, Andrea Branson and Charlie Gruber in the mix. Russell and Gruber, along with other crimson and blue threats such as sophomore throwers Ryan Speers and Andrea Bulat, junior spinter Jabari Wamble and senior distance runner Andy Tate, are competing in multiple events.
"Performance is important, but points
"We're trying to bring a full, scoring team," LaRowe said. "You try to load up every event, which is really how track and field is supposed to be."
What they can expect is Kansas to arrive with a full arsenal, ready to scrape for every point.
are more important in this meet," LaRowe said. "My bunch (Russell, Speers, Bulat, sophomore Jennifer Foster and senior Chris Dunback) will be throwing anything and everything to get points for the team."
The team is using the Life University meet as a mental and physical gear-up for the conference meet. The personal aspect of getting big marks for the NCAA outdoor meet will just be a side note this week.
"We are looking for this meet to get us in the scoring mode," said coach Gary Schwartz. "Hopefully, this meet can get us in the ready mentally and physically to do well at conference in a couple of weeks."
Kansas women to battle tough Cornhusker pitching, hitting
2.
By Rebecca Barlow
by Rebecca Barlow
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas softball team hopes to avoid bleeding Cornhusker Red this weekend.
The Jayhawks, 30-29 overall and 5-11 in the Big 12 Conference, will have a challenge avoiding a Nebraska buzzsaw, as the Cornhuskers, 42-18 overall and 12-2 in the Big 12, are one of the most dominant conference teams.
The Cornhuskers are led by senior infielder Jennifer Lizama, who is batting. 363. She has totaled 53 hits and 45 RBI. Freshman outfielder Kim Ogee follows with a .346 batting average and has tallied 63 hits. Ten Cornhuskers are batting more than 200.
The Jayhawks will have to depend on their offense if they want a win against the Cornhuskers.
Sophomore center fielder Shelly Musser continues to lead the Jayhawks on offense with a batting average of .316. She also leads Kansas with 26 runs and 48 hits, with a hit in each game against Oklahoma.
Senior first baseman Shannon Stanwix also has been helping out on offense. She went 2 for 3 against Oklahoma, including two home runs.
The Jayhawks will have to keep their offense going, or the Cornhusker pitching staff could be fatal. Sophomore pitcher Leigh Ann Walker leads the Husker pitchers with an 1.43 ERA and a record of 18-5. Jenny Voss also has been pitching well for the Cornhuskers. She has a record of 16-8 and a 1.82 ERA.
"Nebraska might be ranked No. 2, but they are still beatable," said senior pitcher Sarah Clopton. "We have nothing to lose, and it's not a pressure situation. We will use it as a stepping stone for the Big 42 tournament."
The first game will begin at 6 p.m. and the second game will be at 8 tonight at the Husker softball complex.
4