tell us your news: Contact Jessica Tims, jtims@kansan.com, or Matt Gehrke, mgehrke@kansan.com. or call 864-4858. SPORTS WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 16A THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 2003 COMMENTARY Ryan Malashock rmalashock@kansan.com Softball sagas similar to Royals' start Winning is contagious. Nothing has made this sports trend more understandable than the current state of the Kansas City Royals. The penny-pinching, small-market Royals, which haven't posted a winning season since 1994, are 11-2 as of today, good for the best record in the American League. They've come out strong because they believed in themselves, won a lot of spring training games (they won Arizona's spring training Cactus League) and rode the positive momentum with the help of numerous young blessed pitchers, into Major League Baseball's first two weeks. That's how easy it is for winning to spill over on a day-to-day basis. On the contrary, the contagiousness of winning pales in comparison to that of losing. If winning is like a common cold, losing is like the stingiest strand of influenza. These Royals know the dark days, the depression, the pointed fingers and the ill tempers that arise during a losing skid. They've learned how to deal. But for those not familiar with such difficult times, the possibility of a team unraveling always exists. Here at Kansas, the softball team is going through one of those trying periods, and its coach is doing everything possible to ensure it bounces back. Tracy Bunge's softball team got off to an unprecedented start. Bunge's Jayhawks steamrolled through their first 20 games, winning 16. Confidence was high, and Kansas broke into the national polls. But then, on March 23, that all changed. That day, Kansas lost its second straight game to Oklahoma. The 10-0 pounding in Lawrence placed a doubt in the Jayhawks' minds, an inkling that maybe they weren't as good as their early-season success led them to believe. SEE MALASHOCK ON PAGE 12A Kansas eyes possible replacement Illinois OK's talks with coach Bill Self for Kansas position By Shane Mettlen smeltten@kansan.com Kansan Sportswriter The University of Kansas has attempted to contact at least one potential candidate to replace Roy Williams. Kansas has asked for and been granted permission to talk with Illinois basketball coach Bill Self regarding the Jayhawks' vacancy. "They did contact our athletic director at 9:30 this morning, informing us they would be contacting Bill Self," Illinois assistant athletics director Kent Brown said yesterday. Self, a former Kansas assistant under Larry Brown, left Illinois for a Florida vacation at 6 a.m. yesterday with his family. Rumors have swirled he would be a candidate for the Kansas job since Williams left the Jayhawks for the North Carolina Tar Heels Monday. Self has averaged 26 victories a season in three years at Illinois and took the University of Self Tulsa to the Elite Eight round of the NCAA tournament before joining the Illini. "Certainly, I understand why there would be speculation, with my relationship with the University of Kansas in the past." Self said. "If they do call, I may say, 'Let's visit,' or after talking a few minutes I may say, 'I don't feel it.' I certainly wouldn't mislead anyone." terday that Kansas officials have also contacted Wichita State University coach Mark Turgeon, but Wichita State officials declined to comment yesterday afternoon. Turgeon is a Toppera native as well as a former Kansas player. Kansas interim athletics director, A. Drue Jennings, said a committee made up of him, Chancellor Robert Hemenway and associate athletics directors Richard Konzem and Doug Vance would act quickly in hiring a replacement for Williams. Lawrence Journal-World reported yes. Edited by Todd Rapp Right fielder Nicole Deeter catches a foul ball hit by Nettie Fierros in the third inning. The Lady Razorbacks won the first game yesterday 5-1, while the Jayhawks took the second game 1-0. Courtney Kuhlen/Kansar Softball team wins ends losing streak By Steve Schmidt sschmidt@kansan.com Kansan sportswinter It took five games, but the Kansas softball team finally ended its losing streak with a 1-0 victory yesterday. Schlichtman did it all for the Razorbacks (20-29). On the offensive end, she went 2-for-2 with two singles and the game's first run in the third inning. She struck out eight 'Hawks in the one-hitter effort on the mound. The first game mirrored the other four games in the losing streak as the Jayhawks (23-16) gave up 13 hits Arkansas's season high.The Razorbacks took the first contest 5-1 after junior pitcher Heather Schlichtman threw a one-hitter. Freshman second baseman Jessica Moppin managed a single in the fourth inning, which drove home Kansas' only run as Melaney Torres reached home from second base. What makes Schlightman's accolades even more impressive is that she was just getting back up to speed after having surgery three-and-a-half weeks ago to repair a herniated disk. "She's hungry to play." Arkansas coach Carie Dever-Boaz said. "She single-handedly won the first game with her pitching and hitting." Senior pitcher Kirsten Milhoan took the loss, dropping her record to 8-6. Kansas coach Tracy Bunge complemented Arkansas on its play but also said the loss came largely from the Jayhawks' lack of play. KANSAS 1-ARKANSAS 5 KANSAS 1-ARKANSA5 Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 - R H E Kansas 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 - 1 1 2 Arkansas 0 0 1 2 1 1 0 - 5 13 1 Pitchers: Kansas-Kristen Milhoan(7) Arkansas-Heather Schlichtman(7) Win-Schlichtman(9-15) Save-None *oss-Milhoan(8-6) GAME 2 KANASAS 7 - TEXAS TECH 6 Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 - R H E Kansas 1 0 0 0 0 X - 1 2 1 Arkansas 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 2 0 Pitchers: Kansas Kara Pierce (7) Arkansas Blaine Woodward (6) Win-Pierce (15-10) Save-None Loss-Woodward (3-3) "I give them a lot of credit in the first game — they came out and swung the bats well," Bunge said, "but I was very disappointed with our effort in the first half. We played with no passion and no heart." Hits were hard to come by in the second game as both teams managed only two hits apiece. Freshman shortstop Destiny Frankenstein posted both of Kansas' hits with a leadoff double in the first inning, which turned out to be the winning run, and a single in the third. Kansas junior pitcher Kara Pierce worked quickly and efficiently allowing SEE SOFTBALL ON PAGE 11A EARTH DAY PARADE Saturday, April 19th 11:00 a.m. – Parade begins at 11th and Massachusetts St. and travels to 7th St. Come to watch or come to walk. Earth-friendly events are encouraged. Noon—4p.m. Celebration in South Park on the west side of Mass. St. Come party, peruse, play, and participate in this purely fun festival Live music creative activities, and giveaways will entertain you near home: planet Earth At: ParadeForTheEarth@lawrenceKS.org Earth Day Activities listed at www.LawrenceRecycles.org The University of Kansas Alternative Breaks Invites you to attend the annual Multi-Media celebration Today! Thursday, April 17th 5:30 p.m. in the Kansas Union Come see what Alternative Breaks has accomplished, thank our supporters, learn about the sites, and most importantly, stuff yourself with Chris Cakes (the best pancakes on Earth). START YOUR MASS STREET EVENING AT MASS. STREET DELI INC. DAILY SPECIALS 5 PM TO CLOSE FITCHER NIGHT TUESDAY-PIZZA & FITCHER NIGHT -14" gourmet pizza with 3 toppings and a pitcher of domestic beer for $10.00 THURSDAY-"WING IT" NIGHT Platter of 25 large wings with hot sauce and a pitcher of domestic beer for $10.00 FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHT - Platter of 25 large wings with hot sauce or Combo Appetizer platter (wings, sticks & rings-25 in all) for $5.00 - $3.00 Cosmos & Martinis - $2.00 Wells -1/3 lb. burgers with fries for $3.95 -Fat Tire pints for $2.00 --- 941 MASSACHUSETTS • 842-6565 A.