Friday, April 30, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 3
Kansas to conclude Big 12 play
Jayhawks to battle 'Huskers, Cyclones in weekend games
By Brandon Stinnett sports@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas softball team will wrap up Big 12 conference play this weekend when it plays host to Nebraska and Iowa State in doubleheaders at Jayhawk Field.
Kansas has not seen action since it split a doubleheader with Texas A&M April 25. The team was scheduled to play two games against Creighton Tuesday night, but the doubleheader was canceled because Creighton's field was deemed unplayable.
"It would have been a chance for
us to get two games in to keep us sharp," Kansas Coach Tracy Bunge said. "On the other hand, with the conditions of the field, there was a good chance for someone to get injured. Neither Creighton nor us could afford to get kids hurt."
It was the second time this season games between Kansas and Creighton have been called off. Rain forced the cancellation of an April 14 doubleheader at Jayhawk Field. All together, the weather has forced the cancellation of six games on Kansas's schedule.
"All the rain hasn't been a lot of fun to deal with," Bunge said. "There are a lot of teams in the same boat as us."
One thing the rain hasn't washed away is the Jayhawks' current hot streak. Kansas (25-24, 6-6) has won 11 of its last 14 games and six of seven at home. During the stretch,
"We know we are capable of beating anybody," freshman Leah Tabb said.
the Jayhawks have moved from eighth to fifth in the Big 12 conference.
Kansas likely will face the weekend's toughest challenge Saturday against Nebraska. The Cornhuskers are 26-15 overall and 8-5 in the Big 12.
The Jayhawks probably will face Jenny Voss, a junior pitcher who was an All-American last season when she guided Nebraska to an undefeated record in conference play and the Big 12 tournament championship. Voss has battled
injuries this season, but she still has compiled a 1.14 ERA and a 17-6 record.
"She hasn't been quite as effective this season," Bunge said. "But when she's on, she's still as tough as anyone in the nation."
Bunge said the Jayhawks were shooting to finish the weekend with at least three wins.
"They are a young team and they've had some problems," Bunge said. "But their record is not necessarily indicative of the way they are playing."
Kansas will face Iowa State Sunday. The Cyclones (21-26, 3-4) are in last place in the conference, but Bunge said the Jayhawks would not take them lightly.
"We have a goal to finish 3-1," she said. "But we are definitely capable of going 4-0."
Edited by Nathan Willis
Records thrown out as tournament starts
By Amanda Kashube sports@kansan.com
Kansas writerwriter
The women's tennis team looks to prove why it's one of the top teams in the Big 12 Conference today by making a run at its first conference title.
The Jayhawks, seeded No. 3 in the tournament, will play either No. 11 Missouri or No. 6 Oklahoma State at 8:30 a.m. today in College Station, Texas. Kansas received a first-round bye yesterday because it placed in the top four in the conference. Texas, Colorado and Texas A&M also received byes.
Earlier this season, Kansas defeated Missouri 7-2 and Oklahoma State 7-2 also.
Coach Jenny Garrity said the Jay hawks had improved their level of play from the beginning of the season.
Kansas finished the season 12-11 overall and 8-3 in the conference. The Jayhawks' three conference losses were to Baylor, Colorado and Texas.
"Our record really doesn't reflect our play," she said. "We can accomplish a tremendous amount when we play like we can play."
If Kansas advances past the quarterfinals, it could face Colorado in the semifinal round.
The series, which Kansas once dominated, has turned into a rivalry the past two seasons. Colorado holds a two-game winning streak against Kansas.
Earlier this season, the Buffaloos defeated Kansas at Robinson Courts, 5-4, and last season, Colorado eliminated Kansas in the semifinals of the tournament. 5-3.
After playing the Buffaloes this
WOMEN'S TENNIS
spring, Garrity said she would have liked to play the match again.
"If we concentrate on our weapons instead of our opponent's weaknesses, we can do well," she said. "If we play aggressive, we can beat anyone."
Kansas will again look to senior Kris Sell to deliver a strong performance in the tournament. Sell, ranked No. 27, won her last home match in straight sets against Texas A&M last Sunday.
"A win over our rival, Texas A&M, was a perfect was for me to end my career." Sell said.
Sell will enter the tournament with a 5-3 conference record.
Juniors Brooke Chiller and Julia Sidorova will also be key in a Kansas victory. Both have compiled winning records in singles and doubles this season.
"We just want to go out there and have fun." Sidorova said.
The team was rewarded this week for its achievements off the court as well.
Freshman Christi Wagenaar was named to the Academic All-Big 12 team on April 23. Wagenaar, a business administration major, posted a 3.8 GPA during the fall of 1998.
She also posted a perfect 4-0 conference singles record at No.5 and No.6 singles.
Cheryl Malliaiah was named Big 12 Player of the Week. The freshman has a 23-18 overall record and 8-3 record in Big 12 competition.
Edited by Chris Fickett
Track teams head east for Indiana Triangular
By Mike Miller sports@kansan.com Kansan sportwriter
The men's and women's track teams travel to Bloomington, Ind., this weekend to compete in the Indiana Triangular.
The Jayhawks will face Indiana, Kentucky and Indiana State in a match-up that features top teams from the Big 10 Conference and the Southeastern Conference.
against," said Coach Gary Schwartz.
The second of two scored meets the Jayhawks have this season, the Quadrangular is a scored meet in which Kansas
Russell, who has qualified provisionally for the NCAA Championships in the javelin and the hammer, has thrown more than 230 feet in the javelin in back-to-back meets.
will have some athletes compete in several events to score as many points as possible.
"I feel confident in how I'm competing because I'm throwing well right now," Russell said. "I just wish I could smooth out some technical problems."
"We'll gear up for this meet more than we did for Wichita State, but we can't do it too much because Conference is coming up," Schwartz said.
The Big 12 Conference meet is three weeks away, in Waco, Texas.
Sophomore thrower Marela Woodman also will compete in the discus, hammer and the shot put, while freshman Jennifer Foster will throw the lavelin, shot
Two-time All-American sophomore Scott Russell will compete in four events: discus, hammer throw, shot put and javelin.
put, discuss hammer.
Kansas will need excellent performances from its vaulters, especially from two-time All-American sopho
more Andrea Branson.
She set a school record earlier this season with a mark of 13-1 1/2.
"I'm not excited how the last two meets have gone," she said. "But I did some things really well last weekend. They just didn't translate into a higher valut."
Seniors Colby Miller, Marc Romito and sophomore Greg Steele will give Kansas depth on the men's side. All three have been the top finisher for the Jayhawks in a meet this season.
Edited by Keith Burner
Former collegiate player returns to semi-normal life
Continued from page 1A
Meanwhile, surgeons did everything they could to keep Harker alive.
Surgeons spent the first five hours picking out more than 300 fragments of bone to save brain tissue. Ironically, if Harker's skull had not been crushed severely, his brain wouldn't have been able to swell and he would have died. A hole in his skull the size of a quarter leaked cerebral fluid. To increase his chances of survival, doctors deliberately placed him in a chemically induced coma for five days.
Clark, Harker's coach at K-State, was instrumental in his recovery.
"Coach Clark came down and guided me through several painful times," Harker said.
Clark said that the time he spent at Harker's bedside might have been one of his best coaching jobs ever.
"Brad was in a lot of pain," Clark said. "We would hold hands, and I walked him through situations such as the time he hit a game winning home run against McNeese State. It was very gratifying to see him progress. I left Columbus thinking KSU could go undefeated next year, and I wouldn't have been as successful a coach as I was with Brad."
After numerous other surgeries, Harker faced the grueling work of speech, physical and occupational therapy. For almost two months, he was unable to speak. His weight dropped from a solid 225 pounds to a slender 175. But Harker was determined.
"I wasn't going to let whover did this get the best of me," Harker said.
"this get the best of me," Harker said. Three months after being attacked, Harker was released to go home to Lawrence and continue his therapy.
The attack left him blind in his right eye, ending any chance of making a comeback in baseball. Metal plates hold parts of his face intact and several scars over his right eye remind him how close he was to death.
"I look in the mirror every day, and I see the scars are there," Harker said. "It's come to the point now where instead of worrying about it, I've accepted it. No one wants to hang around someone who feels sorry for themselves."
He continued to talk with detectives working on the case, but no suspect was ever convicted.
Sue Harker said, "We could have hired a private detective but at the time, all our focus was guided towards Brad's recovery."
Harker, who went through hypnosis twice in an effort to recover the memory, believes that the attacker was one of his own teammates.
"I can remember everything about
the attacker except for his face," Harker said. "I remember the attacker saying my name several times, so it had to be someone I knew."
Knowing that his attacker is still out there is difficult for him.
“It’s hard for me when people ask what happened to the guy who did it.” Harker said. “What I would like to know is what I did to make this person so angry with me that he thought he had to kill me. I would like some kind of finish.”
Although the case has no new leads, Ohio Police Detective David Morris insists the case is not on the back burner.
"I have a suspect in mind, and I do random checks on him in his hometown," he said.
Morris said one of three things must happen to solve the case.
"The person who did this is going to have to develop the conscience to come forward; or he's going to have to tell someone about it who comes forward; or Brad is going to have to reach a point where his memory returns and he knows who did it," he said.
In the meantime, Harker is a junior and in his second year at KU, working toward a degree in communications.
"Iused to be able to study the night before an exam and do well," Harker said. "Now I rely on the assistance of tutors and note takers, and I start studying several days in advance."
Someday he would like to be a Division I baseball coach.
"I'd like to stay close to this game by giving back," Harker said.
Harker has helped coach in the Douglas County Amateur Baseball Association for the past two summers. He also enjoys his work with kids at Holcom Park Recreation Center, 2700 W. 27th St.
"I want these kids to realize that if their goal is to play Division I sports, they have to pursue the avenues that will help them reach their goals," he said. "Getting into drugs and alcohol will only set you back."
Lawrence Youth Sports director Lee Ice, Harker's American Legion coach in high school who now works with him at Holcom Park Recreation Center, admires Harker for overcoming adversity.
"Every day he comes out to Holcom with a bounce in his step," Ice said. "Brad is a survivor, and I felt fortunate to have seen him play baseball."
Harker's attitude toward life has changed since the attack.
"I live every day like it could be my last," he said, "Because you never know what might happen."
Edited by Nathan Willis
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