THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2012
PAGE 7
BASEBALL
Price gets 300th victory from season opener
CHRIS NEAL/KANSAN
Baseball coach Ritch Price answers questions from the media during the Baseball Media Day at Allen Fieldhouse, Tuesday, Feb 14. Price opened the season with his 300th victory.
goal on her mind that could involve taking a trip overseas this summer.
"Well, it is an Olympic year," Geubelle said with a grin. "And I would really like to win a Big 12 Championship and NCAA Championship. I'm only here for two more years, so I'm running out of time. But the biggest goal is
staying healthy, staying competitive and improving upon my marks to the point where I can go into meets and come out on top"
Practice makes perfect, as the saying goes, and for Andrea practice has been the key. Strength and speed go a long way in horizontal jumps, but it takes technique to carry that speed into the middle phase of the jump after the takeoff and before landing. Everyone involved seems to agree that this will come with practice.
TRACK FROM PAGE 10
MAX LUSH
mlush@kansan.com
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Ritch Price became Kansas' 32nd baseball coach 10 seasons ago. Now, after beating Middle Tennessee State 7-3. Price has accomplished something that only one other coach in Kansas baseball history has accomplished.
Price picked up his 300th victory as the Jayhawks' coach Friday night.
Only Floyd Temple has won more games than Price, winning 438 games from 1954-81. Price reached the milestone in just nine full seasons and one game Friday at Middle Tennessee State.
"I'm really honored to be the baseball coach at Kansas," Price said. "I don't think there's a man in America who enjoys their job as much as I do."
When Price took over the program after coaching at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for eight seasons, his friends told him he would have to be crazy to take the job. Kansas had terrible facilities and
"I want to thank our donors who have helped us improve our facilities so much in the 10 years I've been coaching here," Price said.
With facility improvements and Price's ability to teach and recruit young players, Kansas baseball has seen an unprecedented period of success. Under Price, Kansas has recorded seven 30-plus win seasons, and 44 players have been drafted or signed by professional baseball clubs.
had never reached the Big 12 tournament.
"I got a bunch of texts today wishing me good luck from former players today and I think that's what it's all about," Price said. "It's a player's game."
Price joins a group of just three active Big 12 coaches with 300 career victories with one team. Only Baylor's Steve Smith, Missouri's Tim Jamieson and Texas' Augie Garrido have also reached the 300-win club.
Price's son Ritchie played for his dad at Kansas from 2003-2006 and now coaches with his dad as
"The movements that we're trying to get her to do just aren't natural for her yet, but the more you work on it the better you get at it," jumping coach Wayne Pate said.
"I probably watched games since 8th or 9th grade," Dreiling said. "I've been around and seen a lot of the things he's done here. It means a lot to be a part of his 300th win here."
Designated hitter Jordan Dreiling grew up in Lawrence and went to Free State High School. He said he knows what Price has meant to the program.
"Baseball is a game with so much failure and no matter how tough it is he's staying positive," Ritchie said. "His teams play hard all the way through the year. His guys enjoy coming to the yard."
an assistant coach. Ritchie said he has learned a lot from watching the way his dad coaches the game.
Price has compiled a 300-250-2 record with the Jayhawks since 2002, but he's not satisfied yet.
"Hopefully we will keep pushing away and find a way to get another 300 before I'm done," Price said.
Andrea has been battling pains in her knees from the constant jumping of recent meets and practices, but she says it is nothing she has not seen before and will not keep her from jumping.
Edited by Jeff Karr
One thing that is not so easy to agree upon is the potential that Geubelle has in her legs. She has been told by some coaches that she could one day jump as far as 48
"It's hard to say, I never try to put limits on anybody. You put a goal
feet. Today her longest triple jump stands at 43-7 feet, which currently ranks as the second longest jump in the NCAA. Coach Pate is not willing to put a number on it, however.
in front of somebody, if they reach it you set another one." Pate said. "She works hard, though. She has no fear in anything we do and obviously she doesn't like to lose. Those are three things you can't teach."
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN PRESENTS
Edited by Christine Curtin
DINNER WITH A DOZEN ENGINEERING HAWKS
6-8 p.m. Wednesday, February 29 Adams Alumni Center
Students, you are invited! At the dinner, a dozen KU engineering alumni will network and share words of wisdom with you. This is a special opportunity to learn from successful engineering alumni! And the dinner is free! RSVP required. Space is limited, so RSVP by Feb.27 at www.kualumni.org/saa_engineering.