Section:
B
The University Daily Kansan
Sports
The check's in the mail
Play was suspended for 13 minutes during the Colorado Rockies' home opener yesterday against Cincinnati because of a power surge that knocked out the stadium lights.
Inside: Mark McGwire hit a home run for the third straight day.
SEE PAGE 2B
TUESDAY, APRIL 11. 2000
Inside: Green Bay Packer Mark Chmura was arrested on charges of sexual assault.
SEE PAGE 5B
Football team selects captains
Nesmith: Safety
Bowers:
Linebacker
Norris:
Fullback
By Brandon Krisztal sports@kansan.com
Kansas sportswriter
Oddonetto:
Offensive lineman
Smith:
Quarterback
The Kansas football team announced the new captains for the Fall 2000 season yesterday.
Unlike the previous two seasons, this year's corps of captains is composed of seniors. They are second-year captain and linebacker Tim Bowers, quarterback Dylan Smith, fullback Moran Norris, offensive lineman John Oddonetto and safety Carl Nesmith.
Bowers, who is the fifth player in Kansas history to be selected captain twice, said the selection meant more than it did a year ago.
"I think of it as a bigger honor this year than last year," he said, "When you get elected the first time, they think that you're a leader, and they feel that you're a leader. If they do it two years in a row, then I guess you've proven your role, and they're willing to follow you on the field and follow
you again for another year."
Norris, like Bowers, has been in the program since his freshman year. No one on the team questioned his work ethic, which translated to 528 rushing yards and a team-high 12 touchdowns, as well as a third-team all conference selection. Despite the acclaim, Norris said that he did not expect to be named captain.
"I was kind of shocked and surprised," he said. "I didn't know
the team had that much respect for me. But I'm happy, though... I'm pleased that the coaches, who have the final decision, after the players, voted me team captain."
He said the team already had goals for the season.
"We plan to do big things this year, such as going to a bowl and winning the Big 12 Championship." Norris said.
Although the other three captains found their way to Lawrence via
Nesmith and Smith both joined the Jayhawks last season and contributed almost immediately. Nesmith moved into the role of starting free safety midway through the season and earned
junior college, it did not take long for their impact to be felt. Oddonetto was a redshirt his first year at Kansas, but last season he started all 12 games at offensive tackle and was one of the cornerstones of the team's blocking scheme.
the nickname, "the butcher," for his crunching hits. Nesmith earned first-team all-conference honors and was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. He also was third in the conference with a 23-yard kickoff return average. Smith started the last eight games at quarterback. He passed for 1,599 yards and 12 touchdowns. Smith was 4-4 last season as a starter. Coach Terry Allen was excited about his new team leaders.
"I think we have a great group of captains," he said. "I was impressed with the number of votes that they all got. We had it more defined than we had in years. And we're really looking for big things from all of them."
Bowers is a three-time academic all-conference and two-time district academic All-America selection.
The Jayhawks will practice today and Thursday before the spring game, scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Jayhawks fear retaliation
Team to play Wichita State again tonight
By Amanda Kaschube
sports @ kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
But tonight the tables will be turned.
When Kansas pounded Wichita State University 10-5 last Tuesday, the Jayhawks had home-field advantage and the support of 1,550 fans — the fourth-largest crowd in Hoglund Ballpark history — taunting the opposing players and coaches.
But tonight the tables will be wet here.
A possible 5,665 capacity crowd at Tyler Field in Eck Stadium, as well as the Shocker players, will be gunning for the 'Hawks when the teams square-off at 7. And coach Bobby Randall knows it.
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
"They've had revenge in their eyes ever since last Tuesday when we thumped them soundly," he said. "They've wanted it since their bus ride home. But we're ready."
"That was the first weekend where our pitching was not effective for at least a game," Randall said. "Things change quickly in baseball — we had two convinc-
The 'Hawks also will be ready to snap their three-game losing streak after being swept last weekend by Nebraska. While the Kansas offense produced 16 runs total against the 'Huskers, the pitching staff struggled. Kansas allowed 45 hits and 41 runs.
And with solid pitching, the Jayhawks will have a chance to produce offensively, if they can get by starting Shocker freshman Justin Maureau (1-1). The Hawks must trouble
weekend adjusting to the 'Husker hurlers, but Randall said tonight would be a different ball game.
"We were too worried about Nebraska and not focused enough on executing," he
Kansas second baseman Doug Dreher snatches a cut-off pass and tags out an opposing baserunner. Photo by J.M. Dailey/KANSAN
It's not about emotion anymore because it can only carry you so far. But execution will get you results."
said. "Their pitchers had a lot of speed, and we didn't handle it well.
But executing simple skills may be difficult if more than 5,000 screaming fans
show up, adorned in black and yellow. Still, infielder Ryan Klocksien said he would just stick to the game plan and get the job done
"You can't really tune out the crowd; you just to ignore them the best you can," he said. "Just don't give them any incentives to tease you and you'll be fine."
Third baseman making strides, coach says
By Amanda Kaschube
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
When Ryan Klocksien was at Minnetonka High School in Minnesota, he guarded future Connecticut Huskie Khalid El-Amin, caught 84 footballs as a receiver and was named the 1998 Metro Player of the Year in baseball his senior year.
year.
The three-sport captain then had to decide which sport to pursue in college, but the choice was simple.
being a six-foot-one white guy who can't jump," the sophomore third baseman said. "I've always wanted to play it ever since my grandpa started me when I was four years old. He put my first pair of cleats on me and dressed me up in old uniforms — I loved it."
"I knew that baseball was my future.
His love of the game
has pushed him to become a dominating fixture on the field and in the batter's box for Kansas. He was named the 1999 Bob Allison Rookie of the Year last year, and coach Bobby Randall said Klocksien still continued to show signs of improvement.
Klocksien: Excelled in three sports in high school
"He's really matured, but he's always had the burning desire to be great," Randall said. "He works hard at his hitting, and lately he's really developed his defensive skills. He works hard at the fundamentals to make some outstanding plays at third."
"I knew that baseball was my future, being a six-foot-one white guy who can't jump."
But even before he came to Kansas, Klocksien was fine tuning his skills in high
Ryan Klocksien
scool, winning batting titles and receiving top prospect honors from Collegiate Baseball.
See 'HAWK on page 2B
Third baseman
Softball team sets sights on blitzing border rival
By Rebecca Barlow
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
The Jayhawk softball team, 21-23 overall and 1-8 Big 12, would like nothing better than to beat Missouri today — not only because Missouri is Kansas' traditional rival, but also because it would mean the end to a five-game losing streak.
"Any game right now is big," said coach Tracy Bunge. "Missouri is a good, sound ball club, and we are going to see another tough pitcher."
The Tigers, 29-16 overall and 5-4 in the Big 12, are in fourth place in the Big 12 after sweeping a two-game series with No. 20 Oklahoma State last weekend. The Tigers lead the overall series 41-35.
The Jayhawk offense has been the main factor in Kansas' recent slump. In the last five games, the
The Jayhawk's losing streak began with a loss to the Tigers 3-0 last Tuesday in Colombia, Mo. Tiger pitcher Stephanie Falk was dominant, holding Kansas to four hits and striking out nine.
It won't get any easier for the Jayhawk offense tomorrow because there is a good possibility it will face Falk again. Falk, 14-10, has a 1.32 era and already has thrown four shutouts this season, to go along with her 212 strikeouts.
Jayhawks have scored two runs and gotten 17 hits.
The Kansas pitching staff will have to work extra hard from the mound. Three Missouri players are batting over .300. Freshman outfielder Sara Vassmer leads the team with a 683 batting average,
"We will definitely come out ready to play them like we always do," said pitcher Melanie DeWinter.
and senior outfielder Stacy Gemeinhardt leads the Tigers with 48 hits.
These stats don't scare the Jayhawks — they make them want to beat Missouri even more.
Although Kansas and Missouri both have lost to No. 13 Alabama and Minnesota, the teams have beaten Missouri-Kansas City. Further complicating comparisons
But the bottom line is that Kansas will try to look past all the records and its five-game losing streak and focus on the task at hand.
is the fact that Kansas split with Arkansas, who beat Missouri twice, and Missouri split with Texas, who beat the Jawhaves twice.
"These kids can win if they play up to their ability," Bunge said. "They can beat just about anybody in the country, and we haven't done that yet."
Today's game will begin at 5 p.m. at Jayhawk Field.
1nen, Johnny Damon led off the bottom of the ninth with a home run, lifting the Royals to a 65 victory.
The Associated Press
The right-handed closer, signed to turn around the worst relief corps in the major leagues, made his second straight shaky appearance Monday, giving up a two-run homer in the ninth that let Minnesota tie the game at 5.
Royals topple Minnesota despite shaky relief pitching
bottalico (14) gave up the game for both
double to Corey Koskie, before Jacque
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Ricky Bottallo seems to be doing all he can to make Kansas City fans long for the bullpen of 1999.
"He made a mistake with a breaking ball and that's what happens with breaking balls that are left up and out over the plate," said manager Tony Muser, who brought in Bottalico even though Dan Reichert looked very sharp in a scoreless seventh and eighth. Bottalico (10) gave up the game's 10th
double, to Corey Koskie, before Jacque Jones homed over the fence in center. In his first appearance of the year at Toronto, Bottalico got a save after allowing a home run to Tony Battista and leaving the potential tying run at third.
"That's two games in a row I felt great going out there, and felt like I had good stuff, and I've given up three runs in two innings," Bottalice said.
"You don't know
He rebounded from elbow surgery to convert 20 of 28 chances last year with St. Louis.
A year ago, the Royals' bullpen had an ERA over 5 and blew more saves than it converted.
what to say, I feel like I have good stuff this year" he said. "I feel healthy. But nothing's going right right now. I'll get it down."
"Everybody's going to be negative on Bottalloil." Muser said. "We signed him as the closer, and he's going to get an opportunity to close and see how far we can bring him."
Damon, who struck out feebly on three pitches from LaTroy Hawkins (0-1) in the sixth, hit Hawkins' 2-1 pitch over the fence for the game-winner.
"He made me look silly." Damon said. "I got my revenge, but I know he'll be ready for me next time. I was looking for the ball down because he kept it down on me pretty good the time before. But he left one up and I hit it pretty good."
"I give up a home run and lost the game."
Hawkins said. "That's it. End of discussion."
Hawkins allowed two runs and three hits in 2.2-3 innings.
Jose Rosado allowed three runs and five hits in six innings, and Reichert struck out four in the next two innings. Minnesota starter Sean Bergman gave up four runs and 11 hits in 5-1-3 innings
Damon doubled leading off the game and scored one out later on Carlos Beltran's infield out.
B
Koskie's RBI grounder tied it in the second, but the Royals went back ahead in the third on Beltran's RBI single and made it 3-1 in the fourth when Joe Randa scored from third on Bergman's wild pitch.
Minnesota tied the score again in the sixth when Matt Lawton doubled home Cristian Guzman and scored on Ron Coomer's double.
Johnson singled home a run in the bottom half after Mark Quinn's double, and Randa and Quinn hit consecutive eighth-inning doubles off Hawkins to make it 5-3.
Dave McCarty, installed at first for defensive purposes, dropped the throw from shortstop Jeff Reboulet and let Guzman reach leading off the eighth. But Guzman tried for second and was thrown out.
Minnesota kept it close by turning inning-ending double plays in the second, third, fourth and eighth innings.
"To drop a ball like that at first and still get an out, we were very, very lucky," Muser said. "That was a turning point in this game."
Notes:
Notes.
■ The Twins infield was particularly sharp in the second. Second baseman Jason Maxwell made a diving stop of Randa's smash behind the bag and flipped to Guzman, playing short-stop, for a forceout. Then Guzman made a good play on Quinn's grounder and teamed with Maxwell for a nifty 64-3 double play.
Beltran made an outstanding running catch of Koskie's drive to center in the fifth. The Royals have allowed 18 homers, an AL high.
The 10 doubles were one short of the combined record in a Royals game.