SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2009
5B
SOFTBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
VALERIE GEORGE
Upon first glance, you might not place Valerie George as a big-time pitcher. But that's just what George, a 5-foot-5 hurler, likes to hear.
"A lot of people have doubted me, being undersized as a pitcher," she said. "I feel like I did a good job of proving them wrong."
Over her career, George has gone from a complementary arm in the bullpen to the ace of the staff. Last season was her best in a lajhawk uniform, as she racked up 18 victories from the circle behind a 1.96 ERA. Though this season has been somewhat of a disappointment for
the team, it still contains a career highlight for George.
George's eyes lit up when reminiscing about the team's 5-1 upset victory against perennial softball powerhouse Arizona. George, a Tucson native, struck out eight and earned the victory in the early-season game.
"For me obviously, the hometown thing was big, but they're always such a good team too," she said. "It felt so good to beat them."
ELLE POTTORF
Bumps and bruises, scrapes and cuts — all in a day's work for Elle
After taking medical redshirt in 2006 because of shoulder surgery, Pottorf bounced back with her best offensive season, blasting nine home runs and 37 RBIs. Though a knee injury cut her 2008 season short, Pottorf found her way back to the field to catch the majority of Kansas' games this year.
Pottert. As the backstop for Kansas for the past five seasons, Pottert has endured much more than a few scratches.
"I don't know if I've ever coached a player who has fought back from so many injuries," Burge said.
Though she has overcome all her
injuries, they seem to have made a lasting impact on Potterf, who is currently working to become an athletic trainer. With a few years of school remaining, Potterf is far from finished — but her athletic eligibility is.
"My five years have been a blast," she said. "I grew up only having brothers, so it was nice to have the girls on the team to talk with and play pranks on. They are all like my sisters."
DOUGIE MCCAULLEY
Since transferring to Kansas from Odessa (Texas) Junior College
before the 2007 season, Dougie McCaulley has been a fixture in the lavhawk outfield.
"Being able to put on the KU uniform day-in and day-out has been special," she said.
McCaulley has started every game she has appeared in and has become known for robbing opponents of a hit or two with diving catches. McCaulley, a Victorville, Calif., native, has also been a consistent hitter for Kansas, with her .375 average last year marking the sixth-best single season average in KU history.
field, McCauley is an avid fan of hunting, fishing and target shooting. One day, she hopes to own her own ranch so she can continue to enjoy being outdoors.
Though McCaulley will miss being on the field, she spoke more about what being on the team has meant to her.
When she isn't roaming center
"The game has been such a big part of my life" she said. "But what I miss most is just the relationships with my teammates. We have a little layhawk family with 17 sisters."
Edited by Chris Horn
Favre could make a comeback with Minnesota
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MINNEAPOLIS — Just when Brett Favre looked to finally be out, the Minnesota Vikings could be pulling him back in.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Citing an anonymous source "with direct knowledge of the discussions between the two parties," ESPN reported Tuesday that Favre is scheduled to meet with Vikings coach Brad Childress later this week about a possible comeback with Minnesota.
Favre's agent, Bus Cook, did not immediately return a phone call to his Mississippi office left by The Associated Press.
Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre pushes off Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ben Leber as Favre is sacked during an NFL football game in Green Bay, Wis. Citing an anonymous source, ESPN reported Tuesday that Favre may be considering a comeback with Minnesota.
Both Favre and Cook have said this spring that Favre intends to stay retired. But Favre's statement after he was released by the New York Jets last week left the door open.
Childress did not immediately return a message. A Vikings spokesman declined to comment.
Those three little words—"At this time"—set off rampant speculation that he was indeed considering a second return to action.
Childress said Friday he had been too busy to concentrate on Favre, but did acknowledge the subject would soon be broached.
"At this time, I am retired and have no intention of returning to football," he said.
It wouldn't be the first time.
Favre spent 16 seasons in Green Bay, retiring in 2008 after leading the Packers to the NFC title game. He changed his mind a few months later, which set up a long and messy soap opera that ultimately led to his
trade to the Jets.
It was believed all along that Favre, after hearing Green Bay's plans to go with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, wanted to come to NFC North rival Minnesota so he could exact some revenge on the Packers.
But the Packers would have none of it. The team filed tampering charges against the Vikings, alleging improper contact between Favre and Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, a friend of Favre's from his days as Green Bay's quarterbacks coach.
The league cleared the Vikings of all charges. Green Bay included in the trade to New York a clause that made it all but impossible for the Jets to turn around and ship Favre to the Vikings.
But when the Jets granted the 39-year-old Favre his release last week, it made him a free agent who is eligible to sign with any team
he chooses. And many experts say the Vikings are a quarterback away from being a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
With unproven veterans Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson slated to duke it out in training camp for the starting job, it would come as no surprise that the Vikings would at least consider adding a three-time MVP who holds the career records in every major statistical passing category, including interceptions.
But the move would not come without questions.
After an impressive start to his first and only season in New York—he threw a career-high six touchdown passes in a win over Arizona in Week 4—Favre's dipped considerably over the final five games while he dealt with shoulder and biceps injuries. He threw nine interceptions in that span and the Jets stumbled to a 1-4 finish.
MLB
MLB Indians defeat Blue Jays after seven-run seventh
TORONTO — Adam Lind hit a three-run homer and Scott Rolen added a solo shot in Toronto's seven-run seventh inning in a 10-6 victory over Cleveland on Tuesday.
Trailing 6-3 after the Indians scored four times in the top of the seventh, the Blue Jays managed seven runs and six hits off four relievers in the bottom half
Tony Sipp replaced Lewis after the second out, but Lind homered into the second deck in right before Rolen homered to left.
With one out, Raul Chavez and Travis Snider singled off Rafael Perez. Vinnie Chuk (0-1) walked Marco Scutaro and left after Aaron Hill's two-run single. Alex Rios followed with an RBI single off Jensen Lewis.
Cleveland relievers have a combined ERA of 6.49 this season.
Brian Wolfe (1-0) worked 2-3 of an inning for the win in his first appearance since being called up from Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday.
Garza (3-2) allowed three runs and four hits and improved to 6-0 lifetime against the Orioles. Brian Shouse got the first two outs of the ninth, and Troy Percival finished up for his fourth save.
Rays win against Orioles Garza is 6-0 lifetime
Brian Roberts and Gregg Zaun homered to give the Orioles a 3-1 lead.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Matt Garza pitched eight strong innings and major league RBI leader Evan Longoria drove in three runs for Tampa Bay.
Longoria's pop-fly double off Koji Uehara (2-2) tied it 3-all in the sixth. He added a two-run single in the seventh that made it 6-3.
BJ. Upton ended an 0-for-20 skid, the longest of his career, with an RBI double that put Tampa Bay ahead in the seventh. Slumping Dioner Navarro also provided some timely hitting with a double and single after a 5-for-46 rut.
Rangers win by five after being tied at two runs
SEATTLE — Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a grand slam that capped a six-run burst with two outs in the 10th inning off emergency fill-in Denny Stark, and Texas won its fourth straight.
Seattle rookie Shawn Kelley entered to begin the 10th, threw three pitches to Elvis Andrus and then fell in pain from a strained muscle on his left side.
Stark (0-1) was summoned on no notice and retired the first two batters before the Rangers broke loose. Marlon Byrd and Nelson Cruz had RBI singles before Saltalamacchia hit his second career slam.
Texas starter Vicente Padilla allowed one hit and one unearned run in eight innings. Dar ren O'Day (1-0) allowed his first run of the season in the 10th
before Frank Francisco finished.
Before Frank Francisco insisted Giants put end to Cubs' four-game win streak
CHICAGO — Tim Lincecum allowed four hits over seven innings and Bengie Molina hit a three-run homer Tuesday, leading the San Francisco Giants to a 6-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
Lincecum (3-1) struck out seven and walked two in ending the Cubs' four-game winning streak.
Resting five regulars against Lincecum, the 2008 NL Cy Young winner, Cubs manager Lou Piniella went with a lineup featuring six players who were in the minors as recently as 2007.
Among those starting for the Cubs was Bobby Scales, a 31-year-old infielder making his big league debut after spending 11 years in the minors.
Scales, who supplements his income by working as a substitute teacher during the offseason, singled in the fifth inning and scored on a single by pitcher Sean Marshall (0-2).
Scales ended up going 1-for-4 and struck out to end the game.
Game suspended for rain with tie in extra innings
WASHINGTON — A sloppy matchup between the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros wound up without a winner when the game was suspended by rain with the score tied at 10 in the bottom of the 11th inning.
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Cristian Guzman hit a two-run homer in the eighth that put the Nationals ahead 10-9. The Astros tied it in the ninth on Geoff Blum's sacrifice fly.
Because the Astros aren't scheduled to return to Washington this season, the game will be resumed July 9 in Houston with the Nationals as the home team.
Astros ace Roy Oswalt left in the sixth inning with a bone bruise on his right index finger. Oswalt, still winless after seven starts this season, hurt his pitching hand while bunting and said he might skip a bullpen session between starts.
Associated Press
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Chicago Cubs' Aaron Miles steals base under San Francisco Giants second baseman Emmanuel Burris during the sixth inning of a baseball game at Wrigley Field in Chicago Tuesday.
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