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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015
PAGE 7
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THE DAILY DEBATE
Will Kansas baseball make an NCAA Regional appearance?
Griffin Hughes
@GriffinJHughes
YES
It's very difficult to see the Kansas baseball team which sits at 121st in the country with a 16-24 record overall in postseason play. If the season ended today, the last team in would be California, and it has a 23-11 record, playing in the third-best conference in the country.
With a month left in the season, it seems unlikely the Jayhawks can even get above .500, let alone make an NCAA Regional Tournament appearance for a second straight year.
However, since the beginning of the season when the Jayhawks were swept by the LSU Tigers, coach Ritch Price's team has improved mightily, the pitchers have gotten more experience, and, as a result, Kansas has picked up more crucial wins. The Jayhawks took the series against Oklahoma State (which was ranked ninth at the time), they took games from Texas Tech and Utah, and, just recently, they stole
one from Texas.
Their remaining schedule also looks promising if they continue in that form. In the rest of April, Kansas faces Wichita State — which it has already beaten — West Virginia and Arkansas-Pine Bluff, none of which has more than 22 wins.
in the country at getting the best out of his players in crucial times, and his experience will be useful to the young pitching staff, most of whom have never pitched in crunch time at the end of the season.
"...THE JAYHAWKS HAVE ENOUGH MOMENTUM AND ENOUGH TALENT TO MAKE ONE FINAL PUSH TOWARDS A SECOND-STRAIGHT NCAA REGIONAL."
Baylor and TCU await them once May starts, neither of which will be easy wins by any means, but we've seen Kansas can beat top-tier teams when its pitching is on. Price is as good as any coach
With strong performances in those series, the Jayhawks can find themselves right near.500 and with plenty of momentum heading into the home stretch.
Once Blair Beck, Connor McKay and the other seniors realize that this is their last go-round at Kansas, they'll take the offense up a notch an offense that has already hit more than 20 home runs this season.
It's all a snowball effect triggered by Price's motivation and the experience of the team's seniors. Now that they have wins against top-10 teams and some of the best teams in the Big 12, the Jayhawks have enough momentum and enough talent to make one final push towards a secondstraight NCAA Regional.
Edited by Emma LeGault
When Ben Krauth and Drew Morovick are on, they can contest any lineup in the country. With Stephen Villins seemingly out of his slump, Kansas has a dominant closer who can shut down the game on the back end.
Dylan Sherwood
@dmantheman2011
NO
As much success as Kansas baseball bad last year this
had last year, this season has been a swing in the opposite direction. With more underclassman taking on bigger roles, Kansas has not clicked on a good everyday starting lineup.
Currently the layhawks are 16-24 on the season and 4-8 in Big 12 Conference play — a similar conference record before Kansas started its run toward the top of the Big 12 last season. This season, Kansas had to replace pitchers and other key players from last year's squad, which qualified for the Louisville Regional but ended the season with a loss to Kentucky.
McKay, Dakota Smith, Blair Beck, Justin Protocacio and junior Colby Wright.
Michael Suiter, Jordan Piche', Frank Duncan, Robert Kahana and Ka'iana Eldredge were all major contributors on that team. All but Suiter were seniors. All but Eldredge were selected in last year's MLB Draft. Important players back from last year's team include seniors Connor
However, this season, all three weekend starters are brand new. Senior Drew Morovick went from the midweek starter to the Saturday starter. Morovick is one of the main pitchers that the Jayhawks still have from last year's squad. You can also add sophomore reliever Stephen Villines to the equation, but Villines is limited in playing time as a reliever.
"THE OFFENSE WAS EXPECTED TO BE THE STRENGTH OF THE TEAM."
Sophomores Joven Afenir and Michael Tinsley have made their way into the regular Kansas lineup. Freshman Matt McLaughlin has been the biggest factor for the Jayhawks as the everyday third baseman and mid-week shortstop when Protacio needs rest to play a weekend series.
The offense was expected to be the strength of the team. But even with the
emergence of these young players, Kansas has still had games where the offense disappeared. In the rubber match against Texas last Sunday, Kansas offense was asked to carry a depleted pitching staff. With windy conditions and a freshman starter in the finale, it was up to the Kansas lineup to knock off the far inferior Longhorns on the offensive end.
Coming into the finale, Texas had the last-ranked offense in the conference in terms of batting average, whereas Kansas has consistently ranked toward the top. But it was the Longhorns who took advantage of an inexperienced Jayhawks pitching staff, out-hitting them 23-11 with the aid of five home runs.
Because of its inexperience, Kansas does not seem to be going far this year, with Baylor and TCU still to play on the schedule. It would not be surprising if Kansas started to make a run this late to gear up for postseason baseball, but with this team it just doesn't feel like it's going to happen.
- Edited by Emma LeGault
STEIN FROM PAGE 10
"When I'm playing softball, I'm always just focused on trying to get this program to be a household name, getting it to be a place where everyone wants to go because we have a great softball program and a place that wins and makes the postseason," added Stein.
Stein came to Kansas from El Reno High School in Oklahoma City, where she was a fouryear letterwinner, and lead her team to four-straight regional championships.
"She's been really consistent for us and has grown every year into an unbelievable leader, not only for our team, but for the entire athletic department," added Smith.
Stein has been taking a mentorship role with younger players this season.
Senior utility player Maddie Stein rounds second base during the first game of the series against Texas on March 27. Stein will leave behind a legacy that will be hard to compete with, recording 148 RBIs in her career.
MISSY MINFAR/KANSAN
"I just want to try to teach others great ways to help other people and help them become a better softball player. That's what the girls in front of me have done and I just want to make a difference," said Stein.
Coming to the University was an easy choice, according to Stein.
Stein's teammates have noticed her leadership abilities at work throughout her career.
As a senior at the University, Stein has been looked to as a leader throughout the season. That has been the case for her throughout her career as a Jayhawk.
"I just loved the college experience. I had narrowed it down to a few colleges and just coming here to KU, the campus was beautiful and the way the coaches treated me and the support staff around KU, it just seemed like such a family-friendly atmosphere."
"It's been fun watching her grow. Her freshman season, she didn't start for half of it and kept working hard and kept doing extra. She was very determined and she got her shot and ran with it." Kansas coach Megan Smith said.
--a difference perspective on the business of college athletics.
"Looking back, I just want to feel like I put my whole heart and soul into what I was trying to do here."
MADDIE STEIN
Senior utility player
"She's really helped me be the player that I am today. She pushes me when she's in the lineup and on defense she's always there," said junior Chaley Brickey. "She just has a happy character to her. When you see her on the field, it just puts a smile on her face and when she's yelling, you know that she means it. You want to fight for her just like she's fighting for you."
On Jan.17, Stein and 14 other student athletes from other schools had the opportunity to speak at the 2015 NCAA Convention in Washington, D.C.
Stein and the other student athletes helped adjust policy on a variety of issues: cost of attendance and scholarships, concussion management requirements, as well as a discretionary student-athlete assistance fund to allow student-athletes to borrow against potential future earnings.
Stein, who would eventually like to work in college athletics, said that attending the convention helped to give her
"I definitely think it's a lot more political than what I wanted to believe it was. But after being at the convention, I realized that there are a lot of people who think genuinely about athletics and why they are involved within it," said Stein.
After graduating, Stein hopes to continue to play softball while working her way toward a career within the business side of athletics.
"It definitely reassured why I want to be in athletics and that the people I'll be around
and working with for the next 20-or-so years will be people who really have the heart for what they're doing and helping student athletes," added Stein.
Stein plans to earn a master's in public administration at the University of Oklahoma when she finishes up this May.
"Hopefully, I can play professional softball if that is in my cards, I would love to continue to do that until I can't play anymore." Stein said.
Statistically, Stein will be remembered as one of the best hitters in recent Kansas softball memory. Her next goal it to lead the Jayhawks to a College World Series title in her hometown of Oklahoma City.
However, Stein's record book appearances and stats aren't the only that she wants to be remembered for.
"I want to feel like I made an impact and helped do something for the program and for the school. Looking back, I just want to feel like I put my whole heart and soul into what I was trying to do here. When people think of me, they think of a person who genuinely cared about what she was doing," said Stein.
Edited by Miranda Davis
RACE AND SPORTS IN AMERICAN CULTURE: A KU SYMPOSIUM
PRESENTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS THE LANGSTON HUGHES CENTER AND KANSAS ATHLETICS
ORTAN BEDDER GETTY/EPIX2013
FEATURING A KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY WILLIAM RHODEN SPORTS COLUMNIST, THE NEW YORK TIMES
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THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2015 AT MACELI'S, 1031 NEW HAMPSHIRE ST.
WITH A PANEL DISCUSSION
INCLUDING DARRELL STUCKEY
RHAVEAN KING ★ TOMMIE SMITH
ERIC PATTERSON ★ WILLIE AMISON
REGGIE MITCHELL ★ TAMRA GIBSON
THE SYMPOSIUM IS FREE-AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC,
BUT REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED
VISIT BUSINESS.KU.EDU TO LEARN MORE
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