Section B·Page 4
The University Daily Kansan
Monday, April 26, 1999
Baseball team winds down season
Aggies sweep 'Hawks in three-game series
By Matt Tait
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas baseball team closed out its conference road schedule much the same way it began it — a three-game sweep in Texas.
While the Jayhawks' first road series saw them fall to the Texas Tech Red Raiders, this weekend's final road sweep came courtesy of the No. 3 Texas A&M Aggles.
Despite outhitting the Aggies in two of the series' three games, the Jayhawks could not manage to get key hits at opportune times.
In Sunday's finale, Kansas gave up eight runs in the first three innings. But the 'Hawks were competitive the rest of the way, before finally falling 12-3.
Kansas managed 14 hits in the game, including Chad King's 3-8.
for a performance, and catcher Shane Wedd, shortstop John Nelson, and centerfielder Harrison Hills had two hits each. But starter Rusty Philbrick lasted only 2/1 innings and gave up seven runs on just four hits.
Jeff Davis, Brian Schriner and Corey Harrington took the mound for the remaining six innings, but the damage had been done, and Kansas could not get back into it.
Saturday, however, was a much different story. In front of a live FOX TV audience, the Jayhaws played their best game of the series but were overmatched in the end, losing 10-5.
One bright spot for the Jayhawks was that senior pitcher Chris Williams logged his 67th career appearance and moved into a tie for fourth place in all-time Kansas appearances.
The 'Hawks again outhit the Aggies, 12-10, thanks largely in part to Wedd's 3-for-4 day.
Wedd got the scoring started in the second inning when he belted a home run to right center. The blast was Wedd's fourth of the year and gave the Jayhawks an early 1- lead. However, the Jayhawks could not hold down another powerful opponent.
"That was an interesting ballgame, where we oushit them, but we couldn't outscore them," Randall said. "We were just a couple of clutch hits away from making that thing close."
Trailing 4-1 going into the sixth, the 'Hawks pulled to within one, 4-3 but then fell victim to A&M's powerful lineup. The Aggies used a four-run seventh to put the game away and despite a valiant ninth-inning rally, the Jayhawks left the bases loaded.
"Texas A&M is a great hitting team," Randall said. "I'm still proud of a lot of things we did out there. We're playing better baseball."
Friday's opener was just the opposite of the last two, as starter Ryan Schmidt lasted six innings and pitched a solid game until he became fatigued, lost control and gave up two home runs.
"Ryan pitched a very good game until he lost his command in the fourth," Randall said. "Once that happened, they're a very good long-ball hitting team, and they opened up a home-run derby on us."
"There's no doubt in my mind that Casey Fossum is one of the pitchers in the nation. He threw a fantastic game tonight." Randall said.
Offensively, Kansas scraped together only five hits and never really threatened the Aggies. Aggies' pitcher Casey Fossum dominated the game, striking out 13 'Hawks in an 8-1 complete-game victory.
The losses dropped Kansas to 11-33 overall and 4-23 in Big 12 play. The 'Hawks will travel Tuesday to Wichita to face Kansas State, which does not count as conference game. The two teams will be back in action this weekend as conference foes for three games at Hoglund Ballpark. Tuesday's game will begin at 7 p.m.
-Edited by Juan H. Heath
Midfielder shines in end-of-season wins
By Chris Wristen
cwristen@ukans.edu
Kansas sportwriter
The Kansas women's soccer team wrapped up an undefeated season this weekend by notching two more victories, but the weekend belonged to the Jayhawk's Colleen Colvin.
Colvin scored six goals during the weekend as the Jayhawks downed Creighton 2-1 on the road Saturday and blew out Southwest Missouri State 9-8 on Sunday at home.
Colvin scored both goals in the first game and earned her other four in game two.
Colvin, a midfielder, received the praises of coach Mark Francis as well.
"The play was a lot faster. I just got a lot of lucky bounces off people and off the ground, and I just finished it off," she said.
"She's mostly played midfield for us, but out front is her best position. She's definitely got a nose for the goal. She plays with a lot of confidence," Francis said.
Because of bad weather the game was held in Anschutz
Kansas got off to a fast start by taking a 3-0 lead after the first period with goals by Meghann Haven, Melissa Downing off a pass from Lindsey Horner, and an open net breakaway goal by Colvin.
Forward Lindsey Horner prepares to head the ball off the knee of Southwest Missouri State defender Jennifer Beal. Horner had an early assist in the 9-3 victory inside Anschutz Sports Pavilion. Photo by Jay Shepard/KANSAN
Sports Pavilion. The indoor battle had the teams playing eight on eight in three 30-minute periods.
Southwest Missouri State answered in the second period. Shannis Stock lofted an indirect kick past Kansas goalkeeper Betsy Pollard to cut the lead to 3-1. The Jayhawks responded two minutes later with a rocket to the upper right corner of the net from 24 yards away by Allie Heyworth.
Southwest Missouri State picked up two more goals in the third period but that was not nearly enough to counter the five that Kansas put away. Three goals by Colvin, a solo effort by Haven and a Kyle Watts header off a pass from Downing rounded out the scoring.
"Our shooting was really on. Our passing went well. We adjusted well to the conditions." Downing said. "We had a few minor defensive lapses, but I was real impressed with the way we played."
Francis was pleased with his team's play.
"I felt our spring schedule was pretty tough so I had no idea we'd do so well this quickly, but I think the
players have really responded very well to what we're trying to do, and they've worked extremely hard. I think that's paid off," Francis said.
Commentary
-Edited by Darrin Peschka
The Greats say good-bye, open door for new stars
Welcome to the next generation. First it was Michael Jordan's retirement, arguably the best basketball player in history — I'd take Bill Russell or Wilt Chamberlain, but that's a different column. Then came hockey's Great One, Wayne Gretzky, who dominated the game the way I used to dominate Tecmo Bowl.
Now John Elway — one of the top two or three quarterbacks of all-time reportedly will announce the end of his professional football career.
e most of us can
You can't help but wonder if baseball Iron Man Cal Ripken Jr. is for behind
Ever since remember, these athletes have been fixtures in their respective sports.
Elway as the blonde, cocky, super-talented quarterback who for years did everything but win a Super Bowl.
Jordan as the most recognized athlete in the world, the man who transcended sports with an engaging demeanor and spectacular game.
Sam Mellinger sports © kansan.com
And Gretzky as simply the Great One, the man who holds nearly every meaningful scoring record in hockey.
They're all gone, and with other legends like Ripken not far behind, the question is clear.
Now what?
This truly is a new age in sports as we know it. Not to sound like a bitter fuddy-duddy, but it ain't like it used to be.
We grew up in a golden age of sports. The NBA could have used the baggy shorts look a lot earlier, but the Lakers-Celtics rivalry of the '80s will never be duplicated.
The NFL has made giant strides in the last few years, but I would trade that for the chance to watch
Major League Baseball players who aren't bought and sold like trading cards and professional basketball players who actually care.
And don't even get me started about college basketball.
But bitterness about the current state of sports has to end with the realization that there's no better way to spend a weekend afternoon in the fall than watching football.
And there's no better place to spend a lazy summer evening than a ballbark.
It sure beats real life.
And can you think of a better way to put off February homework than watching Big Monday college basketball on ESPN?
So ball-hogging punk Allen Iverson's replacement of Michael Jordan as the NBA's leading scorer does not take away the pure enjoyment of the game.
The sports world will miss the class that Jordan, Gretzky and Elway brought. And it will miss other old-schoolers like Ripken, Karl Malone and Jerry Rice whenever they decide to quit.
The replacement of these greats with the likes of Ken Griffey Jr., Tim Duncan and Ricky Williams ensures that class did not retire when the Big Three stepped down.
One of the great things about sports is its natural ability to change with the times of society.
In the Beaver Cleaver days, basketball etiquette frowned upon dunks as disrespectful and unnecessary. Now, post-slam looks and words are commonplace to make the disrespect clear.
There's still nice guys — Sammy Sosa, Derrick Thomas and Mo Vaughn to name a few — to carry the torch.
Obviously, sports will live on and continue to provide us with the staples of our autumn afternoon and mid-March lives.
1999 will be remembered as the year of the retirement, and the beginning of the next generation.
Mellinger is a Lawrence junior in journalism.
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