THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2015
PAGE 7
THE DAILY DEBATE
Which spring sport should you be most excited about?
Griffin Hughes
@GriffinJHughes
BASEBALL
When Kansas basketball took an early exit in the NCAA Tournament. Kansas sports fans needed to find another outlet for their Jayhawk pride. It's hard to convince those fans to pour their pride into a team whose record is below .500, but Ritch Price's Kansas baseball team is no ordinary team under .500.
The Jayhawk baseball team sits at just 9-14 with one game remaining until conference play. They've played a tough schedule throughout the year, which started with a three game series at Alex Box Stadium against LSU.
Despite a tough going in the early part of the year, seniors Connor McKay and Blair Beck lead a lajayh offense that averages five runs a contest. It's an offense that has
Ritch Price has also coached a defense that has made just 30 errors all season and has a fielding percentage of 97. They've also supplied the world of college baseball with a steady stream of incredible highlights.
Who could forget center fielder Joven Afenir's two catches on consecutive days in the Utah series?
What about Connor McKay robbing a home run in the Iowa series? Justin Protocio has also provided Kansas fans with a stream of solid defense and incredibly athletic plays.
already homered twelve times and hits for a .282 average.
But that's exactly the point. The pitchers are due for some major improvements. Led by the experience of Drew Morovick and Stephen Villines, who each pitched on last year's team that went to the Louisville regional, the young staff will undoubtedly develop.
In fact, the only thing that has kept the Jayhawks from more wins is pitching. Kansas has a team ERA of 5.83, and has only one starter who started games last year.
upcoming schedule, which features contests against four teams ranked in the top 25, they've put up enough offense to compete in every contest.
In the world of college baseball, a consistently good and powerful offense is hard to find.
Despite the Jayhawks'
"...THE ONLY THING THAT HAS KEPT THE JAYHAWKS FROM MORE WINS IS PITCHING."
Kansas will need their pitching to step up when they face two of the best staffs in the country—Texas and TCU—but their offense is certainly enough to carry them to victories.
Ritch Price has coached up a team that's fun to watch and he plays a very attractive brand of baseball. They're also coming off one of their best seasons in the Price era, and they play in one of the best conferences in the country.
There's a lot to be excited about with Kansas baseball, whether it's the high flying offense, the athletic defense or the young promising aces.
SOFTBALL
But the most exciting part is watching them all develop.
Well KU fans, basketball season has unfortunately ended, and it's time to shift our attention to spring sports. The end of basketball season overlaps the beginning of spring sports' seasons, so they tend to get overlooked. But they
"...KU SOFTBALL LOVES GETTING VICTORIES FROM THE WALK-OFF, SO FOR WHOEVER LOVES SEEING WALK-OFF FINISHES THIS IS THE TEAM TO WATCH."
A great example of why not to ignore KU spring sports: KU softball.
shouldn't be.
KU softball has gone above and beyond what has been expected from them since the start of the season. KU softball has started the year with a program best of 29-2, and only one game remains before conference play kicks off this weekend.
The Jayhawks' two losses come from the No.1 team ranked in the nation, the Florida Gators, on their home diamond, and Chattanooga, who reached the Super Regionals in last year's NCAA Championship. KU softball also set milestones this past weekend in their home opening series.
Coach Megan Smith tallied her 300th win of her KU coaching career, and senior utility player Maddie Stein became the all-time leader in RBIs for the KU softball program. She tied it previously to the Georgia State game, where she broke the record. KU softball is also a great team to watch simply because of their offensive production.
Earlier this year, in a game against New Mexico State, they scored 25 runs.
However, that's not the only time the Jayhawks have produced double-digit run totals; they've done it seven times. They scored 10 runs against Liberty, Idaho State, Stetson and Illinois State, 11 runs against Chattanooga and 13 against Eastern Michigan.
If that's not impressive enough, KU softball loves getting victories from the walk-off, so for whoever loves seeing walk-off finishes, this is the team to watch.
This past weekend, they won in walk-off fashion against Georgia State 5-4. Not only does their offense come in bunches, but their pitching staff is extraordinary lead by senior Alicia Pille, who has an astonishing 18-0 record against opponents this season.
Adding to her stats this season is a team-low 1.95 ERA, with 16 of her 18 games having pitched a complete 7-inning game.
These stats and facts should be enough reason to send KU fans out to Arrocha Park this spring. KU fans, take some time out of your schedule to watch these girls at work. Your time will be well spent.
Edited by Victoria Kirk
Emotional Nicklaus awarded congressional gold medal
DONNA CASSATA
Associated Press
WASHINGTON - The Golden Bear got a gold medal. Congress on Tuesday awarded its highest civilian honor to golfing great Jack Nicklaus, who accepted the medal with a few tears, humility and humor.
In a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda, the House and Senate leadership bestowed the award on Nicklaus, winner of 18 major championships, including six Masters titles, five PGA championships and four U.S. Opens.
ANDREW HARNIK/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., left, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., center, listen during a speech by Jack Nicklaus II, during a ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington. Tuesday, March 24 to present the Congressional Gold Medal to Nicklaus Il's father, retired professional golfer Jack Nicklaus.
"Few transcend their sport to achieve that kind of moment, or this kind of honor," said House Speaker John Boehner, an avid golfer who grew emotional at times during the ceremony. "With Arnie (Palmer), it was how he brought an audience to the game - an army. With Jack, it's how he gave the game a gold standard - a ladder to climb."
The 75-year-old Nicklaus, dubbed the Golden Bear, recalled the hard work of his parents, praised his family and paid tribute to his wife, Barbara. He recalled that when his son Jack was six, he was asked what his father did for a living. The younger Nicklaus said, "Nothing, he just plays golf."
An emotional Nicklaus told his family that his whole life he wanted to make them proud of him, and "hopefully I have."
The speakers, from congressional leaders to Nicklaus' son, recalled the drama of the golfer's 1986 win at the Masters. They praised Nicklaus' charitable work, including the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation, which recently pledged $60 million to the Miami Children's Health System.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Nicklaus had a brush with polio as a teenager. McConnell said that as a fellow survivor of polio he appreciated Nicklaus' perseverance.
Attending the ceremony for Nicklaus was golfing legend Arnold Palmer. The Ohio State marching band performed for the Ohio-born Nicklaus.
ANDREW HARNIK/ASSOCIATED PRESS
LEFT. CBS Sports Commentator Jian Nantz, right, shakes hands with retired professional golfer Jack Nicklaus after speaking at a ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 24, 2015, where Nicklaus received the Congressional Gold Medal. RIGHT: Retired professional golfer Jack Nicklaus looks at a Congressional Gold Medal which was presented to him during a ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington on Tuesday. From left are, House Speaker John Bosehner of Ohio, Nicklaus, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky.
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