Sports THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TRACK SEASON ENDS IN DISAPPOINTMENT
Track members fall short at outdoor championships. PAGE 21
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2009
WWW.KANSAN.COM
PAGE 19
BASEBALL
The wait is over: Major League drafts five players
Hall, Afenir sign with Yankees, Narodowski with Diamondbacks
BY HANNAH DECLERK
hdeclerk@kansan.com
Five Kansas baseball players were offered contracts by Major League Teams. Four players were picked in the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft last week, and one signed a free agent contract Monday.
The draft aired its first round Tuesday the 9th, with the opening three rounds of picks. Rounds 4-30 took place Wednesday and the final rounds, 31-50, were on Thursday. Seven Jayhawks, who have completed at least three years at the University, were eligible for the draft.
Mike Cummings, assistant media relations director for the Kansas team, said the draft was a waiting process, where many of the participants waited at home with friends and family for the recruiters to call.
Junior shortstop David Naro-
dowski was the first drafted from the team. The Arizona Diamondbacks picked Narodowski in the 15th
round, making him the University's highest draft pick since 2006.
"I was just watching the draft tracker online when I got the phone call," Narodowski said. "The Diamondbacks told me that
"I was just watching the draft tracker online when I got the phone call."
I was going to be in the next round and to get ready for it. It has been craziness ever since"
DAVID NARODOWSKI Junior shortstop
Narodowski signed a professional contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday.
"I got the call from the New York Yankees and I thought to myself, 'Me being drafted — the excitement"
Narodowski said he was also excited for his friend and teammate Shaeffer Hall, who was picked Wednesday by the New York Yankees.
"I was very excited when I heard the news about Hall," Narodowski said. "He pitched very well for our team. He had a really great year."
Junior left-handed pitcher Shaefer Hall was the second player to be drafted from the team.
doesn't get old," Hall said. "I would not have ever have gotten this opportunity if it wasn't for the Kansas Baseball team, especially my coach."
Hall decided two days after being drafted to sign a professional contract with the Yankees and forgo his senior year at KU.
Buck Afenir signed a free agent contract with the New York Yankees Monday after not being drafted last week. He is now the second Kansas baseball player to have a professional contract with the Yankees.
Other drafted players included senior right-handed pitcher Paul J. Smyth, who was drafted by the Oakland Athletics, and junior outfielder Brian Heere, who was drafted by the Boston Red Sox. They have yet to announce a contract with the Major League Teams.
— Edited by Kristen Liszewski
Matt Bristow/KANSAN
Junior infielder David Narodowski, reaches back to make a catch against Chicago State at Hogland Ballpark. The Arizona Diamondbacks drafted Narodowski, who signed a professional contract.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Self anticipates growing pains for next season
BY JESSE RANGEL jrangel@kansan.com
The return of center Cole Aldrich and guard Sherron Collins may have Kansas fans planning a return to the national championship game, but Kansas coach Bill Self still has growing pains factored in for next season.
"We know there's a big step you have to take to win a championship," Self said in a Wednesday Big 12 media teleconference. "We're going to get some knocks put on our head. Hopefully it's not with a lot of losses."
With this, Self further emphasized how special that 2008 national championship was.
"We do have a chance to have a great team," Self said. "But there's not as much a margin for error as what we had maybe when we had
basically seven pros playing a couple years ago."
Self pointed out how Aldrich can develop as a player by improving his lower body strength.
"He's got to be stronger lower body and have a stronger base about him," Self said. "I do think visiting with a lot of people that have watched him and have been impressed with his progress, that's one area that he make himself a better player, is through
Kansas will have some potential growing pains in Big 12 conference play as small forward Damion James is returning to Texas for his senior season, after withdrawing his name from the upcoming NBA draft. James' return along with the return of Collins and Aldrich, has coaches singing the praises of the Big 12 conference for next season.
lower body strength."
"It's probably made this league.
unfortunately for coaches, probably the best league that's going to be in the country next season," said Nebraska coach Doc Sadler. "The league is going to be really, really fun for people to watch."
Texas coach Rick Barnes said the Big 12 is as strong as it's ever been. "We've got a lot of teams that can do a lot of damage."
Edited by Jason Baker