NSAN
2009
Sports THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANS
SOFTBALL PREPARES TO FACE TEXAS HEAT
The team will try to continue its winning streak. SOFTBALL 16B
WWW.KANSAN.COM
FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2009
WOMEN'S GOLF PLAYS NEW COURSE IN OHIO
The team needs to use practice rounds wisely. WOMEN'S GOLF 13B
TRACK & FIELD
PAGE 1B
Olympic tradition continues at the Kansas Relays
jbaker@kansan.com
BY JASON BAKER
The Kansas Relays have maintained a tradition of featuring Olympic athletes in competition, and this year is no different.
"It gives our fans the opportunity to see someone at the Olympic level compete," coach Stanley Redwine said.
This year's Relays bring the return of Bershawn Jackson, better known as "Batman," who took the bronze medal in the 400-meter
hurdles at the Beijing Olympic Games. Jackson is a popular athlete of the Relays; he has won the 400-meter hurdles five times at the Relays, including a four-year streak from 2005-2008. Jackson will be looking for a fifth straight victory at this year's Relays.
"He's definitely capable of doing that," Redwine said. "He's a crowd favorite and a fan favorite, so hopefully with everyone screaming for him, he'll do well."
the mile event. It's been six years since Webb last competed at the Relays.
Freshman distance runner Austin Bussing thinks it's fitting that Webb is competing.
"Kansas has such a great tradition with the mile with Glenn Cunningham, Jim Ryun and Wes Senti. It's definitely exciting to see that," Bussing said.
Bussing said that the mile event will be interesting with Christian Smith competing along with Webb. Smith, a 2006 graduate of
Kansas State, made the Olympic team qualifying in the 800-meter run.
Also slated to compete is Kansas City, Mo., native Muna Lee, whom senior sprinter Victoria Howard has been following since she was in high school.
"It's a great showing for her every year," Howard said. "A lot of people look up to her because shes a Kansas native. It's good to see her run."
Two Canadian athletes, KU hall of famer Scott Russell and hurdler
Perdita Felicien, will compete as well.
Redwine said it was hard to pick a favorite Olympic athlete who he's seen at the Relays.
"Anytime you're an Olympian, it's an honor. All of them are really good and we're happy to have all of them," Redwine said.
The Olympic athletes will begin Saturday with the Glenn Cunningham Mile Invitational, which starts at 12:55 p.m.
Edited by Casey Miles
TACKLING THE 10
Junior decathlon runner Jacob Breth jumps out in front of the pack before finishing second in the 1500 meter run. Breth took fifth in the decathlon despite a rough showing in the pole vault.
Weston White/KANSAN
Junior takes fifth in decathlon
Jacob Breth performed well but a knee injury forced out teammate Corbin Kratovil
BY JASON BAKEh
jbaker@kansan.com
Freshman Corbin Kratovil wanted to kick off day two of the decathlon in the Kansas Relays with a strong performance in one of his best events; the 110-meter hurdles. Unfortunately, that event got the best of him.
During the race, Kratovil hit some hurdles, causing so much pain in his left knee that he opted not to finish his first decathlon.
"I really wanted just to finish the whole 10 events and I thought that would be kind of cool," Kratovil said.
After the hurdles, Kratovil decided to compete in the discus
throw; earning sixth place with a throw of 35.40 meters, and the pole vault, earning eighth place with a jump of 3.27 meters, before dropping out altogether because of his knee problems.
"I was hoping for it to get better,
SEE DECATHLON ON PAGE 5B
decathlon standings
1. Joey Schwecke (Minnesota) 6,807
2. Benjamin Parish (unattached) 6,622
3. Phillip Horn (Missouri Southern) 6,609
4. Garrett Wankel (Minnesota) 6,551
5. Jacob Breth (Kansas) 6,320
Kansas' Corbin Kratovil didn't finish because of an injury
BASEBALL
Defense crucial in remaining Big 12 games
BY JOSH BOWE
jbowe@kansan.com
Defense has either carried Kansas or let it down in a big way this season. This weekend against Texas Tech (16-23, 7-8), the defense will have to be in top shape, especially after Tuesday's win over Creighton In that game, Kansas' defense committed a season-high four errors, letting Creighton back into the game.
It seems fitting that the Kansas baseball team is fifth in the Big 12. That's the same Big 12 ranking as their defense.
"I think those two errors were uncharacteristic. I mean, catcher interference, and then Tony trying to pick off the guy at first on a lineout, those two you just have to
Junior second baseman Robby Price thinks that two of the errors, one by senior catcher Buck Afenir and one by sophomore third baseman Tony Thompson, will not be repeated this season.
THIS WEEKEND
**WHO:** No. 24 Kansas vs.
Texas Tech
**WHAT:** Three-game series
**WHERE:** Lubbock, Texas
forget," Price said.
The other two, however, were fairly simple plays, and both came during Creighton's rally in the seventh inning.
Junior shortstop David Narodowski let a ground ball bounce off his chest and get away from him. Freshman pitcher Colton Murray simply dropped the ball while running to cover first base after a line drive was hit to first baseman Zac Elgie.
"You've got a freshman on the mound, and he doesn't react to cover first until he sees the ball
SEE BASEBALL ON PAGE 5B
Junior second baseman Robby Price positions himself beneath a fly ball after tracking it in a heavy wind during the Jayhawks' April 11 victory against Oklahoma State. The Jayhawks take on the Red Raiders in Lubbock, Texas this weekend.
COMMENTARY
Baseball in position to win title again
Tuesday's baseball game may have seemed like just another game on the
just another game on the surface, but there was much more going on than a casual viewer could see. Forget the fact that the victory over Creighton on Tuesday pushed Kansas' winning streak to six games. The Jayhawks also had a freshly earned national ranking on the line.
The last time the layhawks were ranked was back in 2006, when they won the Big 12 Conference championship. Why can't they do it again this year? Kansas has now swept two ranked teams this season, one of which was then No. 1 Texas.
Just look at the baseball team's success this way; no one expected anything from them. Rivals.com picked Kansas to finish dead last in the conference, and it is currently fifth. 2006 played out in a similar manner. The lajhawks entered the conference tournament as the sixth seed with a sub-500 conference record. The team proceeded to sweep its pool and win the conference championship, which led to an automatic berth in the College World Series.
The road ahead for the Jayhawks has some speed bumps, but none that would upset the momentum of this team. No. 10 Oklahoma and No. 21 Kansas State remain on the conference schedule, but besides those two teams the Jayhawks will face three of the four worst teams in the conference.
That team in 2006 was young with numerous freshmen and sophomores contributing, just like this year's team. The names may have changed, but the game is still the same. Don't underestimate the Jayhawks. That's when the team thrives. With no pressure, Kansas can play a relaxed game and continue to pile up the victories. Maybe one of those victories will come in the Big 12 Conference tournament championship again.
The pitching staff has gotten its fair share of production from the freshmen and sophomores as well. T.J. Walz and Lee Ridenhour have paired with junior ace Shaeffer Hall to form a solid starting rotation. Kansas boasts the second best team ERA in the Big 12.
Texas Tech, Nebraska and Missouri shouldn't be too much trouble for Kansas. The one wrench in the works is that Kansas will face Texas Tech and Missouri on the road, where the team has struggled at times. But, the Jayhawks consist of several freshman and sophomores that have thrived in their playing time
Kansas is making its youthfulness work though. Sophomore Tony Thompson is turning into one of the best power hitters in the conference. He leads the Big 12 with 44 RBIs and is second in doubles and fourth in homeruns. Thompson has definitely been a spark for the jayhawk offense.
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-Edited by Sam Speer