WEDNESDAY,APRIL17.2002
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3P
Recharged team takes on UMKC
Weekend visit from 1992 alumni team energizes women for tonight's game
by Ali Brox
Kansan sportswriter
CHRISTINA NEFF/KANSAN
Kansas senior second baseman Amy Hulse takes a swing,at a pitch against Texas Tech. The team plays a doubleheader at UMKC today.
After two victories against Big 12 Conference opponent Texas Tech during the weekend, the Kansas softball team will look to continue its improved play at 5 p.m. tonight against the University of Missouri-Kansas City at Adair Park.
"The key will be the same key as we had against Texas Tech," coach Tracy Bunge said. "We need to get back to the way this team plays its best, which is playing relaxed, competing on every pitch, and having some fun out there as well."
The Jayhawks (28-17 overall. 5-6 Big 12) are coming off a funfilled weekend. The 1992 Kansas College World Series squad competed in an alumni game and was officially inducted into the Kansas Athletics Hall of Fame.
"We need to get back to the way this team plays its best,
which is playing relaxed,competing on every pitch,and having some fun out
there as well."
Tracy Bunge Kansas softball coach
"Very fun, good weather and lots of fans," senior centerfielder Shelly Musser said about the alumni weekend. "We were having a lot of fun and the energy picked up and we feed off of it."
Bunge said that the team had a lot of respect for UMKC (23-19 overall, 11-1 Mid-Continent Conference) because the Kangaroos had been playing well lately.
UMKC is riding a 10-game winning streak and its last losses date back to April 3 when the Roos dropped two to another Big 12 team, Nebraska.
Kristen Caldwell leads UMKC offensively with a .315 batting average and is followed by Kari Thurman who owns a .308 average. Thurman also pitches and has a 3-0 record with a 1.93 ERA. But most of the mound duty belongs to Lindsey Davis, who leads the team with a 1.73 ERA and 12-12 record.
Starting pitching for today's game is still a bit up in the air for the Jayhawks. Freshman Serena Settlemier and junior Kirsten Milhoan shared the pitching duties during the weekend, but Bunge said sophomore pitcher Kara Pierce's wrist felt much better than it did during the weekend.
end.
It is possible Pierce will pitch today but the coaches are gearing toward tomorrow for her return to the mound. Senior pitcher Kelly Campbell is still experiencing soreness in her neck and is not expected to be ready until this weekend.
"For a change, we may actually be working with a pitching staff of three for the next two days," Bunge said.
Bunge said she was pleased for the most part with her team's play lately.
"We can continue to get better, executing in critical situations, especially offensively," Bunge said. "We can also continue to get better defensively, making the routine plays. But our main concern is to improve everyday as we head into the Big 12 tournament."
Contact Brox at abrax@kansan.com. This story was edited by Kristi Henderson.
--since Coker left the program after Kansas suffered through a 4-7 2000 campaign that had begun with many predicting a bowl appearance for the Jayhawks.
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Offensive lineman returns to Hawks
By John Domoney Kansan sportswriter
It was only two years ago that Tony Coker arrived in Lawrence as a heralded offensive line prospect, but now the Jayhawk football program hardly resembles the one Coker signed with out of high school.
Coker became part of Terry Allen's 2000 recruiting class after the 6-foot-6,320 pound Hoisington native completed a high school career that included a spot on the first-team Class 3A all-state team.
What looked like a promising career as a Jayhawk turned sour when Coker redshirted his freshman campaign and promptly left the team after the season for playing time at Hutchinson Community College.
"I think it gave me some experience at playing at an upper level besides high school." Coker said. "It was a good experience. I'm glad I have it, but it's quite a change from juco to here, though."
There has also been change in the Jayhawk football program
After his gloomy first stay at the University of Kansas, Coker was willing to give the program and university a second chance this past winter when assistant coach Clint Bowen approached him about becoming a part of new coach Mark Mangino's first recruiting class.
It did not take much for Coker to realize that Kansas football was heading in the right direction, and that he wanted to be a part of its resurgence.
Coker joins a group of Kansas offensive linemen who will be under the microscope after the group struggled to direct an offensive attack last year that averaged only 117 yards per game on the ground and produced a total of seven rushing touchdowns.
"He told me he liked the enthusiasm and atmosphere that coach Mangino and his staff had brought early on to the program," said MoKan Football Magazine Editor John Kirby, who became familiar with Coker when he ranked him as the number one offensive line prospect in the state of Kansas out of high school.
Gone from the group are tackle Justin Hartwig, guard Bob Smith and center Nick Smith.
Only seniors Kyle Grady and Justin Sands are returning, leaving three open spots on the offensive line.
Coker will be competing for a spot during spring drills and the early weeks of fall practice.
Coker has been pleased with the attitude of the team and the guidance of new offensive line coach Ken Conatser.
"He's been a coach for a long time, and he brings a lot of experience to us and that helps us because we're not a real experienced line," Coker said. "His experience will help us younger players step into the roles that we need to take."
The role that Coker said he hoped to assume was as a starter and a player who can provide leadership to the offensive line unit.
"I think I bring pretty good speed and agility," Coker said. "I think I can be a leader. That's
"I think I can be a leader.That's something that will grow on me as I mature as a player, but I'll eventually become a leader on the line."
Tony Cocker offensive line recruit
something that will grow on me as I mature as a player, but I'll eventually become a leader on the line."
As he prepares himself for the upcoming season, Coker is basking in his return to a Jayhawk uniform and waiting for the opportunity to combat in the trenches of the Big 12.
"It's just my dream to play Division I football," Coker said. "I love the school, and I'm glad I'm back here."
Contact Domoney at jdomoney@ kansan.com. This story was edited by Joanna Miller.
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