12A
The University Daily Kansan
He's back-almost
Sports
Kerry Wood took a perfect game into the sixth inning last night while pitching for the Class A Daytona Cubs.
Inside: Royals fans are excited about the formal approval of David Glass' as the Royals owner.
SEE PAGE 9A
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2000
Inside: New recruits at Iowa State may give returning football players competition for starting positions.
SEE PAGE 11A
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
Pitching squandered in 3-2 loss
By Amanda Kaschube sports@kansan.com Kansan writerspritter
Kansas' strategy going into last night's non-conference match-up with Missouri was to shut down the Tiger offense — namely the Big 12 Conference's leading slugger, Ryan Stegal.
Mission accomplished. Stegall, who was batting 416 before the game, went 0-for-4 last night, as the Tigers recorded only three runs on eight hits. But the 'Hawks also failed to put big numbers on the scoreboard and lost 3-2 after Missouri's game-winning run in the ninth inning.
Four Kansas batters were held hitless, three recorded only singles, and the 'Hawks struck out eight times — twice with runners in scoring position in the top of the ninth.
One run would have put Kansas ahead and put more pressure on Missouri to produce in the ninth.
"We didn't take advantage of key opportunities," said coach Bobby Randall. "It really hurt us when the runners were in scoring position. We had a bad approach to hitting — that was our nemesis."
Junior John Nelson did have the right approach. He tied his career-high with four hits, but it wasn't enough to bolster the offense in the late innings.
Nelson had another perfect outing at the plate, lacing a double in the first and compiling three singles in his following at-bats. He now has 12 hits in the last three non-conference games.
But even his productive night could not sway the game's outcome.
"You always want to win big
Nelson: Tied career-high with four hits
a g a i n s
Missouri, but
it just didn't
go our way,
said Nelson,
who stole his
30th base of
the season
last night.
"This game
got away
from us. We
played
a tough
game against
a q u a i t y
and we gave it
Missouri team — and we gave it all we had."
So did starting pitcher Brandon O'Neal.
In eight innings, O'Neal gave up two earned runs and limited the Tigers to six hits, four below their game average. But the Kansas
offense did little to help him.
"It's disappointing that he threw so well and didn't come out with a win," Nelson said. "It's a heartbreaker."
Going into the ninth inning, Kansas had a chance to tie or take the lead before the Tigers' last at-bat.
"We struck out in a key situation," Randall said. "I've been waiting for the offense to click, but we still aren't getting production from all the hitters."
The 'Hawks had runners Ryan Klocksien at second and Jesse Gremminger at first base, with only one out. But back-to-back strikeouts from Brett Kappelmann and pinch-hitter Matt Oakes ended the inning.
O'Neal exited the game in the ninth, and Sam Gish (1-4) entered with the game tied at two. Gish gave up a lead-off single to Landon
Brandes, but forced the next two Tiger batters to ground out and strike out. First baseman Mike Rallo then singled up the middle to center field, scoring Brandes from second.
"Two runs isn't enough four nine innings," Randall said. "You need more than two. Brandon pitched well — when you allow only three runs, that's good pitching."
Although Missouri is a conference opponent, Big 12 teams can only play each other three times in conference games. Any additional games count toward the non-conference standings.
BOX SCORE
Kansas 000 002 000 3'9 I
Missouri 010 010 000 3'9 I
Kansas IP H R ER BB SO
Brandon O'Neal 8 6 2 2 1 2
Sam Gish 2/3 1 1 0 1
Softball team splits doubleheader
By Rebecca Barlow
sports@kansan.com
Kansas Sportswriter
Kelly Campbell, right, tosses a pitch during the second game against Oklahoma City last night. The Jayhawks split the doubleheader with the Stars. Photo by Aaron Lindenberg/KANSAN
Nothing like a little drama.
Nottingham race Shortstop Courtney Wright hit a home run over the right field fence in the seventh inning against Oklahoma City yesterday, which tied the game at 6-6 and gave Kansas some life as it headed into extra innings.
But the 'Hawks' defensive error in the eighth kept the Stars in the game, and Oklahoma City went on to a 8-7 victory.
"Something that hasn't happened all year, which is defensive miscues, cost us the ball game," coach Tracy Bunge said. "We beat ourselves today. The other team did not."
"The worst thing in the world that can happen is when your offense goes sky high and your defense goes to pot, which is exactly what happened to us in the second game." Bunge said. "We had several major throwing errors, which haven't been characteristic of this team all year."
Kansas won the first game of the doubleheader 6-1, but could not repeat the performance in the second game. The Jayhawks had four errors in the second game, compared to zero in the first, and the offense was not able to make up for the mistakes.
The Kansas offense continued
to stay on track yesterday, collecting nine hits and three earned runs against against Stars' senior pitcher Sonia Ortiz (18-4), who had an ERA of .89 before the game.
Even though Kansas' offense hit well off the pitcher, the loss makes the stats seem less important.
"I can honestly say it feels great to hit a home run." Wright said. "But the greatness wears off when you don't win."
Kansas' other shortstop, Christy McPhail, helped the team offensively during the first game.
Her two-run triple in the bottom of the first inning was enough for the Jayhawks to win. "I just changed a little thing in my hitting, and I'm not worrying about it anymore," McPhail
The Jayhawk pitching also helped the Jayhawks. Sarah Clopton, (14-10) shut down the Stars, limiting the team to seven hits and one run in the first game. It became all the more impressive considering the Stars have six players who are batting over .300. Clopton pitched all seven innings and tallied seven strike outs.
McPhail's triple was not the only highlight of the game—she found out before the game that she was named Big 12 player of the week. Her .526 average and 1.053 slugging percentage last week was tops in the conference.
When asked about her accomplishment, she did not say anything about herself, but about the team.
"I'm just glad the team is hitting the ball now, and I think its awesome were having confidence now," McPhail said.
Bunge is proud to have a player of the week on her team. She said she noticed that the hard work McPhall put in finally was paying off.
"She has worked extremely hard all year, and all of a sudden everything came together for
her last week and has continued this week," Bunge said. "I'm really proud of her and excited for her."
The Jayhawks will play at 3 and 5 today in a doubleheader against Southwest Missouri State at Jayhawk Field.
Kansas Relays back in Memorial Stadium
By Sarah Warren sports@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas Relays are back.
After a two-year hiatus because of renovations, the 2000 Relays begin at 10 a.m. today in Memorial Stadium. The first day starts with heptathlon and decathlon events.
Representing the Hawks today on the track will be multi-event athletes Megan Wray, freshman; Dorian Jordan, sophomore; and juniors Ashley Pyle, Erika Hamel and Andy Morris. Morris recently placed fourth in the heptathlon at the Big 12 Indoor Championships with a mark of 5.391 points. He will be competing in the decathlon during the Relays.
"We're all excited that they are back," coach Gary Schwartz said. "The Relays have been missed."
ing the Kells.
"If you've never seen the multi-eventers compete, it a great thing to watch," said Tim Weaver, meet coordinator. "These athletes are competing against time and distance rather than each other. In fact, they often cheer for one another during the events."
The nineteen multi-event athletes are scheduled to compete in the 100-meter dash, 100-meter hurdles, long jump, high jump, shot put, 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash in the competition, which is the 73rd running of the Relays.
Bausch, also known as "Jarrin' Jim," was a letterman in football, basketball and track during his depression-era stay at Kansas. After graduation, Bausch set the world record in the decathlon in the 1932 Olympics.
Mason graduated from Kansas last year and currently is a Kansas sprints and hurdles coach, while she works to complete her master's degree in exercise physiology and biomechanics. She is a five-time All-American, earning three of those honors in the heptathlon, and she was named the 1999 KU Female Athlete of the Year.
The Kansas Relays' Jim Bauch Heptathlon and Candace Mason Decathon are named after two former Kansas track athletes.
The Relays, which run through Saturday,
are free with a valid KUID.
TODAY'S KANSAS RELAY EVENTS
Today's Kansas Relay Events
Jim Bauch Decathlon
Candace Mason Heptathlon
10 a.m. dcm. heptathlon 100-meter dash
10:30 a.m. heptathlon 100-meter hurdles
10:50 a.m. decathlon long jump
11:20 a.m. heptathlon high jump
12:40 p.m. decathlon shot put
1:50 p.m. heptathlon shot put
2 p.m. decathlon high jump
3:10 p.m. heptathlon 200-meter dash
4:30 p.m. decathlor 400-meter dash
Tennis team faces familiar foe today
Rv Brent Waska
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sports writer
The Kansas men's tennis team will do battle with a familiar face today as it takes on the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.
Micah Zomer, who transferred from Kansas after two years on the squad, returns to the Robinson Tennis Courts at 3 p.m. today to play against his former team.
"It will be interesting to see him in another uniform," Kansas coach Mark Riley said. "He left for a combination of reasons. He wanted to be closer to home, and he wanted more playing time."
Tulsa also is a familiar opponent for the Jayhawks. Last spring, Kansas lost to the Golden Hurricane 2-5, but rebounded in the fall, beating it 4-3.
The Jayhawks' match with Tulsa originally was canceled because of a scheduling conflict, but it now will serve as the final home match for Kansas this season. The Golden Hurricane were forced to cancel several matches this spring because three of their players were injured.
The Golden Hurricane are led by senior All-American Nenad Toroman. Riley said Toroman was a strong player, but not unbeatable.
"He's a good player, but by that token he's at the same level as the other No. I singles players we've faced this season," Riley said. "We've been put in a lot of tough situations this season, which is helping us now."
"They haven't had much of a chance to play this season, but they always seem to play well against us," Riley said.
Sophomore Quentin Blakeney said the key to beating Tula would be the Javahawks' doubles play.
"We're not playing doubles particularly well right now." Blakeney said. "It's pretty important that we win the doubles point because that would set the momentum for the rest of the match."
Kansas is entering today's match on a positive note after squeezing by Colorado 4-3 on Sunday. Riley said his team was improving in time for its final three regular season matches.
"Blakeney, (Alex) Barragan, and (Bryan) Maker are all playing better than they did in the beginning of this season," Riley said. "We just need to have more production from our No. 1 and No. 2 singles spots. This team is starting to come around."
Cynthia Dahle was recognized as the Bank of America Community Champion of the Year for the Big 12 Conference on Monday. Her involvement in community service and her church led a former soccer coach to say he "had more respect for Dahle as a human being than any person he had ever met." courtesy photo copyright Jeff Jacobsen/KUAC
Soccer player recognized for service, grades
By Chris Wristen
sports@kansan.com
Kansas writer/sportwri
A wide-eyed 7-year-old boy looked up with a smile glowing from his face. He had just read his first sentence.
It is experiences such as this that make Cynthia Dahle tick. They bring joy to her heart, give her a sense of pride and humble her at the same time.
Dahle, a senior on the Kansas soccer team, was honored Monday for her work with community service church involvement and was recognized as the Bank of America Community Champion of the Year. Three finalists were chosen from each Big 12 Conference school last fall based on their community service and academic success, as well as on-field contribution. Dahle, Amanda Reves (volleyball) and Risa Petty (rowing) were Kansas' nominees. From the field of 36 finalists, Dahle was selected as the grand champion.
"I feel pretty honored," Dahle said. "I don't know all the people that were nominated for the award. But I do know Amanda and Risa, and I've seen all of the kinds of work they've done so I would not have picked me."
As a result of the award, Bank of America will donate an additional $5,000 to Kansas' general scholarship fund. Bank of America already gave $3,000 to the University in honor of the three nominees.
Dahle's community service began when she was in grade school. Her parents had long been involved in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and taught her the importance of helping others.
"Cynthia represents the very best of college athletics, and it is our pleasure to present her with this award." Steve McCracken, vice president of Bank of America, said. "Her efforts in the community, in the classroom and on the field made it obvious to us that she was the most outstanding student-athlete in the conference this year."
She brought that value with her to Kansas in 1996 and her love for service blossomed.
My first few years here I was mostly involved with my church group." Dahle said. "We helped with the food kitchen for the homeless, and we sang. As I got more involved, I learned about more things on campus."
The summer after her freshman year Dahle volunteered at a day care center in Anchorage. It was her work there that led her to chose her degree in social work, which she will obtain in May.
"I started working with the kids there, and I saw some of the situations they were coming from," she said. "That's when I decided I wanted to be able to help people — more than just by coaching soccer."
She then decided to go on an Alternative Spring Break trip her junior year. Dahle and nine others pitched into a van and drove
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