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1905—Chicago Cubs outfielder Jack McCarthy threw out three runners at the plate in a 2-1 win against the Pirates.
Inside: Raptors' coach Butch Carter has dropped his suit against Knicks' forward Marcus Camby SEE PAGE 4B
SEE PAGE 4B
Inside: The NFL suspended Broncos cornerback Dale Carter one year for drug violations
SEE PAGE 10B
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26., 2000
Pride to join Portland Fire
Jayhawk picked in first round by new team
By Melinda Weaver sports@kansan.com Kansan writerswriter
Kansas forward Lynn Pride may not have been the first pick in the 2000 WNBA Draft, but she is going exactly where she wanted to go.
With its first pick, the seventh pick overall, the expansion Portland Fire, one of four teams entering the league this season, drafted Pride as a foundation for a team that will have some growing to do.
"We really feel like we can build a franchise around a Lynn Pride," Portland coach Linda Hargrove said.
Pride said she was excited about the prospect of joining a brand new team and starting from the beginning. Her first choice had been Portland because of the coach and the opportunity it offered her.
"The chance to play for a new team was what I was looking for," Pride said. "I like building new things and going in with a fresh start."
"She has a tremendous athletic upside," Hargrove said. "She is a strong defender. We feel like she can defend many players in the WNBA now."
When the Minnesota Lynx drafted a point guard with its sixth pick, Pride said she hoped her skills were what Portland needed. They were.
Pride was the second player drafted in the first round from the Big 12. Texas guard Edwina Brown was selected third overall by the Detroit Shock, while Kansas State center Olga Frisova was selected by the New York Liberty at No. 11 overall, and Nebraska forward Nicole Kubik was chosen by the Los Angeles Spark at No. 15.
Former Kansas guard Charisse Sampson, who played at Kansas from 1993 to 1996, was selected No. 25 overall by Seattle.
With her seventh overall pick, Pride became the highest Jayhawk women's basketball draftae since the induction of the WNBA. Tamicia Dixon was a 12th pick by Los Angeles, and Angela Aycock was the 10th pick in the expansion draft
by Seattle when the ABL folded.
"It was only recently that I thought I would be at the point to make this decision after college," Pride said. "When I was young, women's basketball players went overseas. I have the opportunity to stay home and play for a team. It's great."
Pride signed a two-year contract with the Fire and will join the team in training camp on May 3. The season begins May 29. After the summer season, she will return to Kansas to complete her education.
BIG 12 WNBA DRAFT PICKS
First round
No. 3 Edwina Brown g Texas Detroit
No. 7 Lynn Pride f Kansas Portland
No. 13 Olga Finova c Kansas State New York
No. 15 Nicole Kubik f Nebraska Los Angeles
Second round
No. 24 Keitha Dickerson f Texas Tech Minnesota
No. 25 Charisla Sampson g Kansas Seattle
No. 29 Desiree Francis f Iowa State New York
Third round
No. 35 Stacy Frese g Iowa State Utah
No. 38 Phylesha Whaley f Oklahoma Minnesota
Fourth round
No. 56 Shanele Stires f Kansas State Minnesota
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
Kansas forward Lymn Pride shoots a jumpshot over a Texas A&M defender. Pride was selected in the first round of the WNBA Draft yesterday by the Portland Fire. Photo by Aaron Lindberg/KANSAN
'Hawk golfers finish 2nd
Individuals take fourth sixth places
Kansas golfer Ryan Vermeer, left, and Oklahoma State's Charles Howell line up their putts on a green in Hutchinson, the site of the Big 12 conference championship. Howell won the tournament by 10 strokes, and Vermeer came in eighth. Photo courtesy of Paul Rutherford/The Daily O'Clegall
By Michael Terry sports@kansan.com
Kansas sportwriter
The Jayhawks finished second in the tournament, shooting an 863, twelve shots behind the Cowboys.
HUTCHINSON — Placing three golfers on the All-Tournament team wasn't enough to help the Kansas men's golf team corral the Oklahoma State Cowboys yesterday in the final round of the Big 12 Championship.
After ideal playing conditions in the first two rounds, golfers were greeted with wind gusts up to 20 mph, and Prairie Dunes Golf & Country Club course once again showed why it is known as one of the most difficult golf courses in the country.
Only one golfer, Charles Howell of Oklahoma State, was able to shoot a round in the 60s, which enabled him to run away with the individual all-around title by 10 strokes.
Kansas coach Ross Randall said he was pleased overall by the team's performance, especially the play of sophomore Casey Harbour and junior Conrad Roberts. Harbour fired a final round 71 putting him in fourth place — the best finish of his collegiate career. Roberts also carded a final round 71, pushing him into a tie for sixth place.
"Conrad and Casey both had pretty good rounds," Randall said. "Overall I was pleased, we just got out-played today by one of the best teams in the country."
Even with these two solid performances, the 'Hawks were unable to chip in to the lead posted after Oklahoma State's record-setting second round. The Cowboys fired a tournament record 272 in the second round, obliterating the old mark of 284 that was set last year by Kansas.
"Oklahoma State has a good team, and they proved it today," Roberts said. "We all played our hearts out, but we just came up short."
For one golfer, senior All-American Ryan Vermeer, the end could not come soon enough. Even though he finished in eighth place and joined Roberts and sophomore Casey Harbour in earning All-Tournament honors, his final round 77 was one of his worst rounds of the season.
"My timing just wasnt there like it was yesterday," Vermeer said. "The course played a lot tougher, and nothing seemed to go right."
After a slow start, Vermeer showed signs of life. And after drilling a 12-foot birdie putt on the fifth hole, things seemed to be going in the right direction. As the round continued, though, it became apparent that
"I'm happy with second, but I wish we could have won," Vermeer said. "I guess the better team won today, but we won't let it get us down, and now it's time to start think about Regionals."
"I didn't play anywhere near the caliber I can and expect to play," he said. "I just going to take the lessons I learned today, and use them to help me in the future."
all that was left for Vermeer was to think about what he can do at Regionals in Victoria, Texas, May 18-20, to make up for his poor performance.
The 'Hawks second-place finish marked the fifth time this spring they've recorded a top-five finish.
BIG 12 TOURNAMENT
1. Alabama State 287-272-292-85
2. Kansas 287-282-294-863
3. Colorado 285-292-296-873
4. Texas 286-292-304-876
5. Texas A&M 284-289-304-877
**Kansas finishers**
6. Casey Harbour 70-71-213
7. Connrad Roberts 74-71-712-16
8. Ryan Vermeer 72-68-727-11
10. Andy Stewart 71-71-77-219
12. Taken Jaskite 71-75-725
Prep juniors to join team in fall 2001
By Allan Davis sports@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
They're only high school juniors, but they've already jumped at the chance to join football coach Terry Allen's Kansas Jayhawks.
Although the May evaluation period, when college football coaches officially contact high school juniors, has yet to arrive, two high school juniors orally have committed to attend Kansas, according to Internet recruiting analyst Jon Kirby of MOKAN Football (http://www.mokan-football.com).
Banks Floodman of Wichita Collegiate and Anthony Brown of Grandview, Mo., both say they will attend Kansas after they graduate in 2001.
Floodman, 6-feet-3-
junior he rushed for 1,400 yards and was second on the team in tackles.
As a junior, Brown, a 6-foot1-inch, 205-pound linebacker, broke the school record for tackles with 145, and he also forced seven fumbles and had six sacks.
Floodman said Kansas offered a lot to a student athlete.
"They have a good campus and academics," he said. "One of the things I look at is what happens if I wasn't playing football, and Kansas would be the place I want to be. They have a good program going in the right direction, and I've always wanted to play there."
Kirby expects Floodman to play safety at Kansas. Floodman's high school coach also expects him to play defense in college.
"I look for him to get his 40 (yard dash) time right around 4.5, and I think he'll be a defensive player in college," said Wichita Collegiate coach Mike Gehrer. "I've had Division I players in the past, and he's definitely one."
MO-KAN Football's early-juniors list ranks Floodman as one of the top three prospects in Kansas.
Brown had a couple of Jayhawk connections leading him to Kansas. Grandview coach Joe Hornback played at Kansas, and Brown has known Kansas receiver Byron Gasaway, also from Grandview, for some time.
"I've known Byron since the sixth grade, and I talked to him a lot about KU," Brown said. "He had nothing but great things to say. I didn't see myself playing anywhere but KU. That's where my heart is. They have good academics, and their program is heading in the right direction."
Kirby said that Brown had legitimate 4.5 speed (in the 40-yard dash). Brown sometimes played defensive end as well as his normal linebacker position.
"When he was a sophomore, he started as a defensive lineman," Hornback said. "But his best position is at linebacker. He's one of those players who just has a motor that runs and runs, and it usually starts an hour before the game and ends and hour after. He plays hard every play." The official signing period isn't until February 2001.
'Hawks look for repeat performance against Shockers
By Rebecca Barlow
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
There will be no surprises for the Kansas softball team when it faces Wichita State today.
The Jayhawks pounded the Shockers, 9-0 and 13-5, in a doubleheader on April 12 in Wichita — dominating on offense and defense in both games.
The Jayhawks out-hit Wichita State 33-8, including four home runs. Senior shortstop Christy McPhail led the way, going six for eight in the series, including a home run and a double.
"I think it affected them quite a bit and hurt their team." McPhail said. "We handled the pitchers pretty well."
The Jayhawk defense held the Shockers to just two hits in the first game, as senior pitcher Sarah Clopton threw a shutout and struck out nine.
Since their last meeting with Kansas, the Shockers have gone 3-9. Last weekend they went 1-3, losing two games to Illinois State and splitting a double-header with Indiana State. Wichita State was shut out in all three of the losses.
Wichita State has been struggling from
the plate this season. As a team, the Shockers are batting .254, with only one player hitting above .300 — junior outfielder Patti Olsen, whose impressive .347 average accompanies her 50 hits,
The Shockers' top pitcher, Tricia Grimsley, quit the team before the matchup with the 'Hawks, which created a gap on the mound from which Wichita State still hasn't recovered.
five home runs and 30 RBI this season.
Pitcher Renee Slatier, who has 3.47 ERA and 4.11 record, has been the only bright spot on a Wichita State staff that includes pitcher Courtney Crumbliss and her 6.47 ERA. The Jayhawks will try to capitalize on the Shockers small pitching roster for the doubleheader.
Even though the Jayhawks blasted the Shockers earlier this month they know
"They've had some good quality wins since they lost to us," said senior first baseman Shannon Stanwix. "We can't take them lightly."
they will need to take their opponents seriously.
The first game of the doubleheader will start at 3 p.m. followed by a 5 p.m. start at Javhawk Field.
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GAME INFORMATION
- Who: Kansas softball vs. Wichita State
- When: Today 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
- Where: Jayhawk Field