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Section:
The University Daily Kansan
Today in sports history Is it the ball? Nah...
The St. Louis Cardinals became the first team in major league history to hit 50 home runs in April.
Sports
Inside: A Missouri Senator questioned the appropriateness of naming a section of the interstate after Derrick Thomas
SEE PAGE 7A
THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 2000
Inside: Magic Coach Doc Rivers was named the NBA coach of the year yesterday.
SEE PAGE 6A
Tournament could turn around tennis year
By Zac Hunter
sports@kansan.com
Kansas sportwriter
Two or three wins could put the Kansas women's tennis team's season in a completely different light.
The Jayhawks, 12-11 overall and 5-6 in the Big 12, finished seventh in the Big 12 — the team's worst finish since the conference was formed in 1996-97.
The conference season started out promising, with the 'Hawks winning four of their first five matches.
Then the wheels came off.
Kansas' season skidded to a screeching halt Sunday with a 9-10 loss to Texas. The loss capped a late-season free fall in which the Jawahvers lost five of their last six matches.
the time being — with a few wins in the Big 12 Tournament, which starts today in Kansas City, Mo. There is no automatic bid to nationals for the winner of the Big 12
All of that can be forgotten - at least for
Tournament. but a
tournament, but a string of wins could improve the Jayhawks' chances of being an at-large selection to the regional tournament.
First up for the
'Hawks is Iowa State. Kansas beat the Cyclones 7.24 and 8.0 on three same courts.'
it offered same courses.
Iowa State finished its season 7-12 overall
and 1.10 in the Big 12.
Junior Monica Sekulov said there was some comfort in knowing that the team had beat Iowa State easily, but Sekulov was
quick to add that the Jayhawks did have some problems with the Cyclones.
Kansas' pair at No. 1, doubles, senior Brooke Chiller and sophomore Cheryl Malliaiah, lost their match 8-2, and senior Julia Sidorova lost her singles match, 60, 6-7, 6-7. Coach Jenny Garrity said the trouble with Iowa State was that it was so balanced at all six positions.
"I think they're still a very talented team top to bottom." Garrity said.
If Kansas can get past Iowa State, it has Baylor waiting in the second round. The Bears finished second in the Big 12 and beat Kansas 6-3 March 19. Sekulov said that if the Jayhawks beat Iowa State, all the pressure would be on Baylor.
"We really don't have a lot to lose," Sekulov said.
Sekulov said that no one expected the
Jayhawks to win after a mediocre season. However, Sekulov said the 'Hawks had confidence that they could compete with Baylor because of their singles play.
In the last meeting Kansas split the six singles matches, but the team was swept in the doubles.
Garrity said in order for Kansas to make a run through the tournament, the team had to believe it could do it.
"I think this (Kansas) is one of the least talented teams top to bottom, on paper," Garrity said. However, she said the statistics didn't tell the whole story and that the 'Hawks were competitive and had accomplished a lot.
Softball team sweeps Shockers
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
'Hawks hope balanced play will continue
By Shawn Hutchinson sports@kansan.com
Kansas sportswriter
Kansas outfielder Erin Garvey rounds a base during the first game against Wichita State. The final score of the first game was 8-0. The jayhawks won the second game 3-1. Photo by J.M.Dailey/KANSAN
If the Kansas softball team could play all its games against the Wichita State Shockers, that would suit them just fine.
Flashback two weeks ago, when the 'Hawks were struggling offensively and buried up to their necks after losing five of their previous six games. Then came a friendly road trip to Wilkins Stadium at Wichita State. The Kansas bats magically came alive, and the Jayhawks scored 22 runs in a two-game sweep of the Shockers.
"That was the game where we really turned it around offensively and started putting it together," said Kansas outfielder Katie Malone.
16-36.
Now fast-forward to yesterday, when the rematch took place at Jayhawk Field. Kansas picked up right where it left off last time, spreading Wichita State, 8-0, in the first game, and dropping them in the second game, 3-1.
The wins improved the Jayhawks to 30-27 on the season. Wichita State dropped to
"I think we were all really confident going into these games," said Malone, who finished the day two for five with
Jayhawk catcher Katie Campbell connects on an offering from the Wichita State pitcher. The 'Hawks won both games in yesterday's doubleheader against the Shockers. Photo by J.M. Dailey/KANSAN
three RBI. "We've said all year that as long as we play our game and play up to our level, we're really hard to beat."
Kansas got things going early in the first game, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. Shelly Musser led things off with a sharp single to center, and then with one out Kansas third baseman Megan Urquhart reached base on an error. Shortstop Christy McPhail drove in Musser with a blooper into center field, then Malone came up to the plate and ripped a two-run single to center. The rout was on.
Wichita State got on the scoreboard in the second game, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. But Kansas' Courtney Wright unleashed a three-run homer over the wall in right-center an inning-and-a-half later, and the Jayhawks never relinquished the lead.
Kansas pitcher Kelly
"Kelly was effective today getting the change-up over, and I was really happy to see that," said Kansas coach Tracy Bunge. "That's really her bread and butter."
Campbell pitched seven innings, striking out four while mixing in a nasty change-up to go along with her fastball.
The task facing the Jayhawks is a formidable one. Not only are the Sooners the top team in the Big 12, they're also the fifth-ranked team in the nation, possess one of the highest-scoring offenses in the country, and they have lost only six games all season.
The Jayhawks hope to feast well this weekend when they take on Big 12 Conference rival Oklahoma in Norman, Okla.
"Their strength is their offense," Bunge said. "They pound the ball, and there are no holes in their offense. We're going to have to play
extremely well. Hopefully today gave us a little confidence."
"Kelly was effective today getting the change-up over, and I was really happy to see that. That's really her bread and butter."
Tracy Bunge Kansas softball coach
Royals pull past Devil Rays in ninth inning for win again
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jermaine Dye hit a grand slam and solo homer, and Mark Quinn had an RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning last night, boosting the Kansas City Royals past Tampa Bay. 7-6.
It was the sixth straight home victory for the Royals in their last at-bat.
Aurele Lopez (Va) gave up a lead-off single to Dave McCarty in the ninth before Dye grounded into a double play. But Carlos Beltran, Joe Randa and Quinn singled to win the game for Kansas City.
On Tuesday night, the Royals also beat Lopez and the Devil
Rays, 7-6, with Beltran scoring the winning run in the ninth inning on a ball hit by Quinn.
Ricky Bottalico (3-1) pitched a hitless ninth to earn the win.
The Devil Rays tied the game at six with three runs in the eighth. Kevin Stocker, whose two-run blast in the seventh made it 6-3, hit an RBI single. With the bases loaded and two outs, Gerald Williams knocked a two-run single to make it 6-6.
But the Royals scored in the ninth off Quinn's RBI single to win the game.
Combined with his last two at-bats at Seattle on Sunday, Dye is now eight for 11 with four homers, three doubles and a single.
His 407-foot slam off Ryan Rupe in the first inning gave him the club record for April with 10 homers, and he followed that with a 435-foot solo shot off Rupe in the fifth.
Dye, who has homered in six of his last seven games, leads the majors with 11 home runs, 76 total bases, 21 extrabase hits and an .884 slugging percentage.
Rupe gave up four in the first on eight pitches. After Johnny Damon singled, two Royals were hit by pitches. Dye then drove a 1-0 delivery over the center field fence for his second career slam.
The Royals, who swept the Devil Rays in the two-game series, have the worst road record in the AL, 2-11, and the best home mark. 8-1.
Jorge Fabregas was three for three. Durbin went six-plus innings, giving up three runs on six hits with three walks and one strikeout.
Notes:
- Dye's other grand slam came on Aug.
30, 1997, against the St. Louis Cardinals.
He's the ninth Royal to hit a homer in four consecutive games.
The Devil Rays released right-handed pitcher Rick Gorecki, their 20th pick in the expansion draft. Lefty hurler Chris Michalak also was released.
Dean Palmer has the Royals' April homer record with nine in 1998.
Dave Martinez was zero for four, ending his hitting streak at eight games.
SCOREBOX
WP - RICKY BOTTALICO (3-1)
LP - ALBIE LOPEZ (1-2)
HOME RUNS: TAM - KEVEN STOCKER (2)
KAN - JERMINE DYE (10, 11)
By Mike Miller
Versatile Kansas football player Henri Childs to transfer, dad says
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sports editor
Henri Childs is a coach's dream because he can do everything offensively.
In his two years at Kansas, Childs played running back, fullback, flanker, tight end and returned punts and kickoffs.
But now, according to radio reports, newspaper stories and his father, Childs will be some other coach's dream next fall.
Though Childs has yet to receive written permission to transfer, Childs' father, Henry Childs, maintains that his son is leaving Kansas.
"Coach Allen has given him a verbal agreement," his father said. "Coach Allen has
Assistant athletics director Doug Vance said yesterday that coach Terry Allen has no comment yet on Childs' departure but would issue a statement when the transfer becomes clearer. Henry Childs has sent letters to Allen and athletics director Bob Frederick requesting an official release that would allow him to transfer and sit out one year under NCAA transfer guidelines, but he has not received confirmation on those letters yet.
been very cooperative in this process. He said he'll do whatever he can to help Henri, because he wants to see him succeed."
Childs' versatility may have been the main factor behind his transfer.
Though Childs is the second-string running back coming out of spring practices.
Childs has requested to be released from the Jayhawks
the 'Hawks have a plethora of running backs, including two-year starter David Winbush, fullback Moran Norris, who rushed for more yards in the last four games of the season than any other Kansas back, and three redshirt freshmen, who should challenge for playing time this year.
"Everybody has the desire to get some
more playing time," Child's father said. "But coach Allen said that Hensel has done
Henry Childs
father
everything that they'd asked him to, but it's hard to develop when you have that many good running backs. You need lots of repetitions."
Add it all up, and there's not enough time
"Coach Allen has been very cooperative in this process. He said he'll do whatever he can to help Henri because he wants to see him succeed."
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to go around.
.
Childs rushed for 180 yards and one touchdown last season and caught 16 passes for 168 yards, but was far more productive as a punt returner. He ranked fifth in the Big 12 and 26th nationally, averaging 11.3 yards per return, including a 72-yard return against Cal State Northridge.
Originally Childs had thought about transfering at the end of the fall semester, but his father convinced him to play through spring practice. He hasn't settled on a school yet, but his father said he wants him to stay in Division I-A.
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"That's up to Henri," his father said. "And right now, he might have to rely on coach Allen assistance with other schools to figure out where he'll go."
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