Sports THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
JAYHAWKS RETURN TO ARKANSAS TO COMPETE
Team hopes to qualify several for regional competition. TRACK & FIELD 16B
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2009
WWW.KANSAN.COM
It's a first for four Big 12 schools with a rowing team. ROWING I 2B
ENDING ON A HIGH NOTE
PAGE 1B
Coach bids farewell to Arrocha
Jayhawks play final home game of year, beat Texas A&M 4-1
BY BEN WARD bward@kansan.com
Kansas softball coach Tracy Bunge said goodbye to Arrocha Ballpark on Thursday, as the team played its final home game of the season.
The layhawks sent their coach out on a high note, defeating Texas A&M 4-1 in the rain-shortened series. Thunderstorms reduced what was originally scheduled as a doubleheader to a single contest. With the victory, Kansas ended its 14-game losing streak to the Aggies, which dated back to 2002.
"First and foremost, this win was great for the kids," Bunge said. "It's been a struggle this year, but we've come a long way to play this well down the stretch."
The season has had its ups and downs for Kansas, 21-28 overall and 6-9 in the Big 12. But the team has played some of its best ball lately, having won four of its past five games.
The Jayhawks picked up where they left off in Wichita, jumping out to an early lead. Sophomore shortstop Kolby Fessmire kicked off the scoring in the third inning when she smacked a solo home run to deep center field. The blast was the first of her Jayhawk career.
The round-tripper seemed to spark the Jayhawks, who quickly loaded the bases for junior first baseman Amanda Jobe. Jobe promptly lined a sharp single to
"I was joking with Allie Clark before the game, having her rub my bat trying to get some of her power into it." Fesmire said, referencing Clark's team-leading 10 home runs.
SEE SOFTBALL ON PAGE 3B
game state
Kansas 4, Texas A&M 1
WP - George (10-14)
LP - Kliesing (20-12)
SV - none
HR - Kliesing (TAM, 8);
Fesmire (KU, 1)
Jenny Terrell/KANSAN
Coach Tracy Bunge congratulates Ally Stanton, junior outfielder, after the victory against Texas A&M on Thursday afternoon. The Jayhawks snapped their 14-game losing steak to the Aggies.
BASEBALL
It's a long way to the top, if you want to be No.1
BY JOSH BOWE
jbowe@kansan.com
Down the stretch they come,
a neck-and-neck finish in sight.
Back and forth they go.
But it accurately describes the horse race that is the Big 12 standings. Entering the final month of conference play, Kansas (31-15, 10-8) sits at fifth place, only three victories behind leader Texas A&M.
Sophomore infielder Tony Thompson gets a high-five after crossing home plate during the Javhawks' game against Chicago State Tuesday.
THIS WEEKEND
It's why the season's end, and more importantly this weekend's matchup against second place Oklahoma (33-12, 11-7), is more crucial than ever before. With nine Big 12 games remaining, Kansas has an opportunity to earn the most Big 12 victories in coach Ritch Price's tenure.
Matt Bristow/KANSAN
The previous best was in 2006, when the Jayhawks' total was at 13. That was also the season Kansas won the Big 12 championship.
Unfortunately for the Jayhawks, seven of their nine remaining Big 12 series will be away from Lawrence.
lately is we have not played well on the road," Price said. "Our record on the road has not been good; our starting pitching has not been good on the road."
"One thing we have not done
WHO: Kansas vs.
Oklahoma
WHERE: Norman, Okla.
WHEN:
Game 1: Today, 6:30 p.m.
Game 2: Saturday, 2 p.m.
Game 3: Sunday, 1 p.
Kansas has only a 5-10 record on the road. In fact, only freshman starter Lee Ridenhour has picked up a victory on the road against Big 12 competition. It was the only victory for starting pitchers on the road.
"Walz and Hall and Ridenhour have now had the opportunity to go to Texas A&M, to go to Texas Tech", Price said. "Hopefully we're going to continue to build off those experiences and we'll get better production these last three weekends."
Price suggests that now that junior right hand sheafer Haller
Sophomore third baseman Tony Thompson has been equally, if not more reliable this season. However, Thompson has found himself in something he're rarely been in all season: a slump. Thompson has batted .143 over his last games (3-for-21) and hasn't had an RBI since Baker back on April 21.
and sophomore right-hander T.J. Walz have experienced road games, their performance, along with Ridenhour's, will improve.
Thompson isn't worried or pressing however. His batting average is still .356, and a slump is expected during a long season.
"I just need to make better pitch selection and hopefully it'll get better in the next couple of games." Thompson said. "I think I can get through it as long as I keep
doing what I'm doing."
2
Price took the same approach as Thompson did regarding his mini-slump. In 17 games before his slump, Thompson had at least one hit in 16 of them. Price said he expects Thompson to pick that rate back up sooner rather then later.
aggressive in the last week where he's swinging at a lot of first pitch outs," Price said. "I think he needs to go back and be more patient and let the game come to him. Hopefully he can get hot again."
"I think he's been a little too
The reason why Kansas has won five of its last six games,
COMMENTARY
SEE BASEBALL ON PAGE 3B
Seniors fondly recall athletics
If you feel left out of this column, I apologize ahead of time — but I want to take some time and recognize my senior class. This is the last column I will be writing as a student at Kansas, so color me a little sentimental. The senior athletes always get their special recognition days during their seasons, so I want to borrow that idea and recognize the senior fans, and what they've been able to witness the past four years at the University.
Let's talk about their contributions first. Allen Fieldhouse has always been a big draw, but Memorial Stadium has grown on KU fans over the past four years and the senior fans have helped with that. They've kept the atmosphere at Allen Fieldhouse electric, which has helped the Jayhawks keep up the nation's longest current home winning streak. The seniors have also been part of the record sell-out crowds at Memorial Stadium over the past couple years.
The senior class has seen some great athletes pass through Kansas as well. Current member of the PGA, Gary Woodland, spent time on campus with these seniors. These seniors have seen some of the best softball players in Kansas' history as well, including Serena Settlemier and Kassie Humphreys. They saw some talented football players, such as Charles Gordon and Aqib Talib, rebuild this Kansas program. And let's not forget the NBA talent that helped lead Kansas to its national championship: Darnell Jackson, Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush and Darrell Arthur, as well as Julian Wright.
The seniors have seen banner years from many sports in their time here at Kansas. Most notably, the football team progressed extremely well over the last four years. The senior class saw three bowl games — including a victory in the Orange Bowl — in four years, something no other class has ever done. They also saw the first national championship in basketball in twenty years. Heck, they almost saw the basketball team win the Big 12 Tournament every year they were here.
I don't want to forget the other sports though. Baseball and softball both won Big 12 championships in the past four years. The volleyball team made it into the NCAA Tournament. The soccer team made it into the NCAA Tournament and got a victory in the first round. The rest of KU athletics have had their ups and downs.
Personally, I've been extremely lucky to witness some of Kansas' sporting greatness firsthand. I went to all three bowl games and followed the Jayhawks twice on their road through the NCAA tournament (unfortunately not on their championship run though). This senior class has been lucky to witness some great Kansas teams over the past four years. I won't forget the past four years, and the rest of the senior class can take these sports memories with them and look back on them fondly as a part of their time here at Kansas.
— Edited by Casey Miles