Volume 124 Issue 108
kansan.com
Thursday, March 1, 2012
It's hard loved action a tempor can only You just your loved for an extent every time to school mother and The Jay game of th against the ways, the night. Thecludes Coemann aman Just abstay at A fans chan "one more considerin will decide season at was Cole the Morri Thomas Robinsa a decision forgo his s NBA Dram cause he tery pick, end of the steps foot on Saturday The Ja Robinson because player, but by the grandmother The port that has been tween the Robinson Arnold Scrabe, which difficult foe Youd L Jayhawk memory, loved that For a p college be in str
national player of the year honors after losing three of his closest family members is something to admire.
If you think you're going through hard times because you're struggling with class, you broke up with your partner, you're struggling with your relationships with your family and friends or undergoing financial hardship, just take a good, hard look at what Robinson has endured.
Losing your mother and grandparents at 19 is something nobody should have to go through.
He has responded to his misfortune by committing himself, whether it's by taking care of his younger sister Jayla, or being the best basketball player he can possibly be. He doesn't want people to feel sorry for him. He is a symbol of hope, determination, strength and perseverance.
I know senior day is a day to honor the seniors, but Robinson should be honored as well. If you aren't planning to attend Saturday's game against Texas, I strongly urge you to go because it's probably the last time you'll see Robinson play at Allen Fieldhouse.
Edited by Jeff Karr
Coach Ritch Price said that a tournament format allows for teams to choose who they want to throw their best arms against. In a normal three-game series format, the teams match up their number one, two and three pitchers.
Coming into the season, the Kansas baseball team knew it would be facing the best pitchers of each team it plays. That's the price that comes with being a member of the Big 12 conference.
The Jayhawks will play in their third preseason tournament, The University of Texas San Antonio tournament, this weekend in San Antonio, Texas. In each of the three tournaments, Kansas has been one of the marquee teams.
"I told our team in a short team meeting that the advantage of playing at the University of Kansas is going to a tournament and getting everybody's best guys," Price said. "Those are the guys we're going to see in
While the Jayhawks have been able to get players on base often, the clutch hit has proved elusive. Kansas has left 63 runners on base already this season, which averages to nine runners left on base a game. Senior catcher James Stanfield said the team needs to lay off sliders down in the strike zone, and look for fastballs.
"That's one of the big things when we start playing conference series," Elgie said. "If we can use the bullpen the first couple days, that leaves them kind of shorthanded for the weekend. The more you can do that the more you can wear them out and they can't use their best pitchers later on."
against opposing pitchers. In seven games so far, no starting pitcher for the opposing team has made it past the fifth inning against the Jayhawks. Senior infielder Zac Elgie knows that getting starting pitchers out of the game early will lead to success.
Stanfield said the team has to make sure they stay patient later in the game because that's when the at-bats are the most important.
Price said the team would need to be confident and relaxed at the plate to be successful.
the times in the those situations you just need a ground ball to the right side or a fly ball to the outfield."
"The hardest part about baseball is that it beats you up mentally, at any level." Price said.
"Anytime you're successful offensively, you're successful one-through-nine in the lineup." Price said. "The first couple of weekends we've had two or three of our key guys who are off to a slow start, but all it takes is one good weekend to turn it all around."
The Jayhawks will look to build off of their 14-1 victory over Mississippi Valley State last Sunday in San Antonio.
Edited by Katie James
BY THE NUMBERS
The number of runners Kansas has left on base in seven games.
5. 0 The most innings an opposing starting pitcher has lasted against Kansas.
10 The number of runs Kansas scored in the first inning Sunday against Mississippi Valley State.
39 The number of runs Kansas has scored in seven games.
V
12
11 The number of runs Kansas has allowed in seven games.
1
V
1
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