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Volume 126 Issue 113
kansan.com
Thursday, April 24, 2014
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY & ANSAN
COMMENTARY
Kansas Relays showcase Rock Chalk Park
When preparations began for Rock Chalk Park — the new home to the track and field, soccer and softball teams athletic director Sheahon Zenger didn't envision a facility similar to others in the Big 12. He wanted it to be better.
While I haven't seen any other facility in the conference, I can't imagine one that's better than what Rock Chalk Park will look like when it is set to officially open in September.
Pulling off a frantic, Sochi-like effort to get the grounds ready for the relays, Rock Chalk Park debuted in front of thousands of spectators despite the seemingly endless amounts of dirt and construction in what was referred to as a "soft opening" for the park.
If you made the trek to Sixth Street and George Williams Way last week for the Kansas Relays,you got a firsthand glimpse of the venue that will surely rank among the top collegiate athletic facilities in the country.
This opening put a stamp on what has been an ongoing idea for several decades now at Kansas: improved facilities for the University's Olympic sports.
Especially for soccer and softball, Rock Chalk Park will be a big-time upgrade over their current complexes, which aren't even as nice as many high school ones. It will be a major boost for two programs that have underachieved compared to other Kansas sports.
It's a place that is capable of launching these programs — and Kansas Athletics — to a whole new level.
Once you visit the renowned park in West Lawrence,you will quickly realize it's not an ordinary place.
Edited by B'air Sheade
"We play against teams with some of the best facilities in the country," soccer coach Mark Francis said. "And you can see it on our kids' faces when we go out there...the thought of 'How come we don't have something like that?'...I'm really excited that our players are going to get to play in a facility they deserve."
It will be an added incentive to recruits, who typically select their college based on a combination of factors including academics, proximity to home, coaching staff, teammates, etc. But when all is equal, a university's facilities could prove to be the difference. Now, Kansas has a powerful selling point.
"When people see this stadium, they will know that Kansas supports softball and Kansas supports women's athletics," softball coach Megan Smith said.
"This is a place that will welcome recruits and a place that our athletes can call home," track and field coach Stanley Redwine said. "This is something that is going to help our athletes improve in everything that they do."
At the groundbreaking ceremony last April, the coaches of the three sports discussed the impact the park will have on their programs now and in the future.
BASEBALL
Jayhawks lose to the Bears in the ninth
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Freshman pitcher Stephen Villines shows off his pickoff move during the seventh inning. Villines got out of a jam, retiring three straight batters in the eighth.
SHANE JACKSON sports@kansan.com
It had appeared as though freshman reliever Stephen Villines was untouchable. He swiped the closer role during conference play, from Preseason Closer of Year Candidate Jordan Piché, and looked to be one of the more promising relievers in the country.
"I like his makeup, I like his adversity, he has been unbelievable, but freshmen will have peaks and valleys," said coach Ritch Price.
Clinging to a 5-3 lead in the top of the ninth over Missouri State (18-19), it looked like Villines was going to record his fifth save of the season and get a Jayhawks victory. That was until four left-handed batters faced the freshman, getting three runs on three hits and an error by sophomore third baseman Colby Wright. That was enough for the Bears to defeat Kansas 6-5 in Hoglund Ballpark.
"The last three (losses) have been huge," Price said. "We have had opportunities to win, just couldn't finish the deal, there is no sugar coating it, this was devastating."
Coming in Villines had a stunning 0.61 ERA in 17 appearances, in just under 30 innings of work. It seemed as though nothing could disrupt the cool and collected freshman, but that was until he saw a left-handed batter.
"That's the first bump in the road Stephen has had. It's obvious he struggles against left-handers," Price said. "He has to add one more plus pitch to negate the left-handed hitters."
Another freshman pitcher, Jon Hander, got the start after pitching his way into the mid-week starting role. He tossed 5.2 innings, allowing two runs off four hits. He allowed two of those hits in the sixth inning with a 1-0 lead. Hander who seemed unhittable through five, loaded the bases up with two outs before Price put in junior Drew Morovick.
"I was pleased to see the freshman go to the sixth inning, despite not having his best stuff." Price said. "It's nice to have a guy like Morovick in the bullpen."
Morovick gave up a two-run single up the middle, and the lead, but recovered quickly after that. He tossed 1.1 innings, allowing one run off four hits in relief.
"Suiter has been good all
"It's a role he (Morovick) has to pitch for us," Price said. "Drew gives us the ability to use him multiple days, we need more guys with experience pitching late in games."
Down 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth with the bases loaded, Price elected to pinch hit freshman Michael Tinsley,
Junior left fielder Michael Suiter hit two insurance RBIs, one on a single in the sixth, and a double in the eighth, to finish the evening 5-5 at the plate. He had two RBIs on four singles and a double.
who answered the call with a two-run double to right center to take back the lead.
year, hitting that three hole," said senior shortstop Justin Protacio. "He is the best hitter in the lineup, he proved it tonight."
Despite the blown save, Price is confident that Villines will be back out there the next time the Jayhawks have a lead in the ninth inning.
"I completely trust him,"
Price said.
With the loss, the Jayhawks now move to 3-7 in their midweek games and 23-20 overall on the season. They have a tough road ahead if they wish to make a bid at the NCAA Tournament.
— Edited by Blair Sheade
MEN'S GOLF
Kansas sends five to Big 12 Championships
DANIEL HARMSEN
sports@kansan.com
The Kansas men's golf team travels to Trinity, Texas, for the 2014 Big 12 Championships this weekend, April 25-27. The event will be held at the Whispering Pines Country Club, a 7,021-yard, par-72 course. A first-place finish would catch the attention of
Second-year coach Jamie Bermel is still looking for that signature win to put on his young resume at Kansas. Winning this weekend would certainly do the trick.
The Jayhawks enter the field of nine pegged as the eighth-seed team. Kansas will find itself paired with seventh-seeded TCU and ninth-seeded Kansas State for the first day of competition. With four Big 12 teams in the top 25, Kansas will get all the competition it can ask for.
the nation for the underdog Jayhawks.
"In the Big 12, it's going to be hard," Bermel said.
"We're there to win it. We're not going there to finish second."
Bermel will lean on a young squad to bring home hardware for the Jayhawks. Freshman Chase Hanna,
sophomores Ben Welle and Connor Peck, junior Logan Philley and senior Ryley Haas, who will provide the
JAMIE BERMEL Coach
Jayhawks with their lone bit of tournament experience, to headline the five-man unit.
"We need to make progress every day, every round and with every person," Bermel said.
Last season. Haas competed at the Big 12 Championships for the first time in Hutchinson at the Prairie Dunes Country Club, finishing 41st that day and fourth on the Kansas team with scores of 78 (in rounds 1 and 2) and 77 in round 3. The tournament capped off his season average at 76.2 strokes per round.
This year, Haas'a average sits almost right on that
mark: 76.26. With a solid tournament this weekend,
he can help both himself, on the stat-sheet, and his team,
by improving on last year's finish.
"We're there to win it," Bermel said. "We're not going there to finish second."
Kansas placed eighth overall last year at the championships, and looks to improve on that position this year. Kansas has not won the Big 12 Golf Championship since 1999.
— Edited by Blair Sheade
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