Sports THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TRACK RUNS OUT OF STEAM AT RELAYS
Kansas returns from Penn Relays disappointed. TRACK & FIELD 15B
MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2009
WWW.KANSAN.COM
JAYHAWKS TO PLAY AT PRAIRIE DUNES
Javhawks play underdog role at Big 12 tournament. MEN'S GOLF 3B
COMMENTARY
FEISTY FRESHMAN
PAGE 1B
NFL Draft inspires laziness
I'm generally a lazy person, but two things make me feel lazier than any skipped afternoon class: the NFL Draft and Rocky movie marathons on TNT.
With the draft, you're literally watching people watch TV. Not to mention the fact it's just an uneducated guessing game.
With Rocky marathors, Rocky Balboa and (insert Apollo Creed, Clubber Liao or Ivan Drago) look like they're cut from granite, which makes me feel like a marshmallow as I wash down a frozen pizza with another Hee-Haw.
Edited by Realle Roth
However, no matter how many times I swear off both of these events, I'm glued to the screen as soon as the TV clocks on. So, in an effort to make myself feel a little better after wasting 48 hours on ESPN, here are some things I found interesting during the draft
- Oakland continues to be the dumbest franchise in the history of the NFL. Obsessed with speed, Raiders owner Al Davis selected Maryland's Darrius Heyward Bay and his 4.3-second 40 time with the No. 7 pick. He wanted even more speed, but Usain Bolt wasn't on the board (cue rimshot). In the second round, Davis topped it off by drafting Michael Mitchell out of Ohio. Widely regarded as a late-rounder or even a free agent, Mitchell is now rich because Davis doesn't understand how football works.
- Though no Kansas players were drafted, there were plenty of Kansas highlights. Actually, highlights with Jayhavks getting beat would be more accurate. Highlight packages for Texas A&M's Stephen McGee and Texas Tech's top trio (WR Michael Crabtree, DB Darcel McBath and OL Louis Vasquez) all featured a plethora of plays against Kansas.
- The draft is much more enjoyable on day two, mainly because of ESPN's desperate attempts to fill time throughout the day. The best example of this was Erin Andrews' interview with Texas' Quan Cosby and former comedian Dr. Bill Cosby (no relation).
And with that I learned that one of the greatest comedians of our time has lost his mind.
Bill is friends with Longhorn coach Mack Brown, and when he met Quan and he asked to be part of his entourage on draft day. So there was Quan, Andrews and Bill, who was dressed in a Temple jersey and helmet, all crammed onto a love seat too small for Gary Coleman.
After a few failed jokes — Bill really isn't too funny these days — Bill said he wanted to be drafted by Detroit, which led to the most awkward Q&A in recent history.
Andrews: What is the biggest strength you could bring to the Detroit Lions?
Andrews: Don't you think there's enough of that already in Detroit?
Bill: Did you ever corner anything, and then found out that it just terrified you? You had cornered it and it was just going to come out and get you. That's how you have to play.
Bill; Fear.
Junior David Narodowski leaps over freshman James Stanford to avoid a collision as Stanfield catches a Nebraska pop fly for an out. The Jayhawks defeated the Cornhuskers 9-4 in game two of the doubleheader Sunday afternoon
Stanfield steps up against Cornhuskers
Freshman fills in for Price, drives in winning run against Nebraska
BY JOSH BOWE
jbowe@kansan.com
James Stanfield knows his role well. That's why Stanfield, back up freshman infielder, didn't even flinch when junior second baseman Robby Price went down with an injury in Sunday's doubleheader.
Stanfield contributed greatly in both games, driving in the winning runs in Kansas' 9-4 victory against Nebraska in game two of the doubleheader.
Stanfield finished the day going only 2-for-7 in both games, but he made his hits count as he also had three RBIs and scored three runs. Stanfield's second hit came in the seventh inning with the game tied at four. Stanfield barely snuck his
"Injuries happen, and it's definitely time for me to step up and help the team." Stanfield said. "That's all I'm trying to do."
ground ball through the left side between the third baseman and shortstop, as two runners came in to score.
Kansas tacked on three insurance runs in the eighth, but Stanfield's hit was what coach Ritch Price talked about.
"That was big time wasn't it? I mean for that kid to get that clutch hit with two outs to put us ahead was a tremendous at-bat for a freshman," Price said. "He's a scrappy little guy."
Stanfield's clutch hit helped Kansas take the series against
Nebraska after thunderstorms postponed the game on Saturday. Redshirt sophomore outfielder Brian Heere said the doubleheader sweep showed a lot of maturity, especially after the way Kansas lost on Friday night.
"That took a lot of maturity from us," Heere said. "We had to get to bed early, get up early. It took a lot of maturity to stay in the game and play all 18 innings today."
It was the Jayhawks' first series
SEE BASEBALL ON PAGE 6B
BASEBALL REWIND
For full coverage of the baseball game versus Nebraska, check out the rewind on PAGE 6B.
SOFTBALL
Senior center fielder Douqie McCauley points to a teammate on second base after being driven in for a run off her hit. Kansas won 7-3.
Jayhawks celebrate seniors
Kansas splits with Baylor, remain positive for strong finish to season
BY BEN WARD bward@kansan.com
An 11-8 loss on Sunday wasn't the ideal result for Kansas softball's Senior Day, but it wasn't enough to spoil a feel-good weekend for the team.
The Jayhawks (18-28, 5-9), who won Saturday's contest 7-3, earned a split of the two-game series with Baylor (36-18, 11-6), and afterwards celebrated the careers of their five
"We've got a great group of seniors," coach Tracy Bunge said. "Every Senior Day is emotional, but this group is definitely a special one. They've done a lot of great things for us."
senior players.
Third baseman Val Chapple, left fielder Stevie Crisosto, pitcher Valerie George, center fielder Dougie McCaulley and catcher Elle Pottrott were all honored for their career achievements.
"All five of them are such good players and teammates," sophomore Allie Clark said. "They've taught us so much."
Many of Kansas' underclassmen also spoke of the importance of ending the year on a high note for their senior teammates.
"We really want to finish the year strong for them." junior pitcher Sarah Vertelka said.
SEE SOFTBALL ON PAGE 7B
WOMEN'S GOLF
Team takes fifth place in Big 12 tournament
BY HALLIE MANN
hmann@kansan.com
Kansas was ranked 11th coming into the tournament but after three days of playing the team finished with a program-best performance of 945 strokes.
Junior Meghan Gockel, who tied for sixth place overall, led the team. Gockel said she thought the team finished pretty well. She also said she thought that she played well overall but that there were still ways for the team to improve.
With its best finish ever in the Big 12, the Kansas women's golf team couldn't be happier. The team took fifth place in the conference tournament this weekend in Lubbock, Texas.
Kansas State beat the Jayhawks by one stroke, taking fourth place.
One of the things that the team has been working on is its mental game, O'Neil said. She said
"It always comes down to the wire at tournaments like this," Coach Erin O'Neil said. "Either way we did a great job this weekend."
"I didn't come in with expectations for the tournament, but if I had, I think I definitely exceeded them," Gockel said.
BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP
Stroke Place
Stroke Place
Kansas 945 4
Meghan Gockel 230 T6
Sydney Wilson 238 T28
Emily Powers 240 T34
Grace Thiry 242 T41
Meghna Bal 242 T41
the girls stayed in control and focused despite some tough playing conditions this weekend.
Gockel said the team had made progress on its mental game over the course of the season. She added that the team could still make some improvements to its overall performance despite the impressive finish.
"I think this tournament was a step in the right direction for us as a team and our progress," Gockel said.
Looking back on the season and Gockel's performance Sunday, O'Neil said Gockel had made a lot of progress as a player. O'Neil said she was pleased with Gockel's mental toughness and her ability to motivate others on the team.
SEE GOLF ON PAGE 7B