THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2009
FRIDAY,FEBRUARY 13,2009
SPORTS
5B
SOFTBALL
Jayhawks hoping to improve ranking Saturday
Team could move up in ranking with another upset at UCF
BY TOM POWERS
tpowers@kansan.com
No. 25 Kansas (2-2) looks to keep the upsets rolling, facing No. 12 Tennessee Saturday in Orlando during the UCF Invite.
In a five-game, three-day stretch.
the lajhawks play
South Carolina
and Western Carilina on Friday.
Bradley and No.
12 Tennessee on Saturday and finish the tournament with a game against Bowling Green on Sunday.
Kansas is hoping to continue the trend of upset victories and have a prime opportunity to gain some ground in the rankings.
The team proved it can win big
games last weekend in Tuscon, Ariz., notching both of its victories against ranked opponents. No. 10 Arizona and No. 11 Northwestern. The No. 12 Lady Volunteers have a 4-1 record, suffering their only loss to then-No. 15, now No. 7 Washington, in a 2-1 upset. Kansas is hoping to continue the
trend of upset victories and have a prime opportunity to gain some ground in the rankings. To do so, the Jayhawks will have to play just like they did against Arizona and Northwestern, getting it done offensively while shuttling out their opponents from the circle in
clutch situations.
Offensively, Kansas hopes that these are the kind of teams that show up at the UCF Invite and not the ones fielding their losses to UTEP and No. 8 Stanford. In the two games combined, the Jayhawks went 4 for 38 at the plate with one
RBI, striking out 20 times and walking only once.
Jayhawk hitters left nine on the base paths on their way to being outscored 14-1. The bright spot in the losses was the defense, committing only two errors while totaling 15 assists on 36 putouts.
Kansas has had a few nice days
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Today
South Carolina, 10 a.m.
Western Carolina, 2:30 p.m.
Saturday
Bradley, 4:30 p.m.
No.12 Tennessee, 6:30 p.m.
Sunday
Bowling Green, 12 p.m.
this week to practice and hopes to improve its standing in rank and record this weekend. The Jayhawks stepped up and played big in pivotal games, and now they're ranked. In order to stay that way, every game is crucial. With a newfound confidence, and some
Last weekend's key stats
KU vs, ARIZ — 6/24 hitting, 5 RBI, 4 BB, 4 K, 6 assists, 6 LOB, 2E
KU vs. UTEP - 4/22 hitting, 1
RBI, 1 BB, 7 K, 11 assists, 5 LOB,
1 E
KU vs. NW — 6/22 hitting, 8 RBI,
7 BB, 6 K, 9 assists, 5 LOB, 2 E'
KU vs. STAN — 0/17 hitting, 0 RBI, 0 BB, 13 K, 4 assists, 4 LOB, 1 E
TEAM (averages per game):
AVG.: 190 3.5 BRI 3 BB, 7.5
K, 7 assists, 5 LOB, 1.5 E
much-deserved national recognition. the Jayhawks could have a strong outing.
Edited By Sam Speer
Junior pitcher Valerie George throws a pitch against a Texas Tech batter during a March 29, 2008 game against Texas Tech.
Weston White/KANSAN
TRACK AND FIELD
Team splits up to attend two weekend meets
BY JASON BAKER
jbaker@kansan.com
For his 20th birthday, sprinter Keron Toussaint would love to get
a victory at one of the toughest track meets in the country. "I'm going to win both of them," Toussaint said about competing in the 400-meter dash and 4x400 relay.
Toussaint, Lawrence sophomore and some of the Kansas track and
"It will be good competition, so we'll be used to it and we won't be scared and hopefully we go out and compete with the best of them."
VICTORIA HOWARD Senior sprinter
"The surface at Arkansas, most people will get a faster time", coach Stanley Redwine explained. "The majority of the middle-distance and distance runners will go to
The Tyson Invitational is not just a college meet: it
Iowa State because it's an oversized 300 meter track and it's closer to running outdoor (season) so they'll produce faster times."
The team is split up with most of the sprinters heading to Arkansas while the mid-distance and long-distance runners go to Iowa State.
Senior sprinter Victoria Howard
"We're really excited to see her compete against some of the best in the country" sprints coach Elisha Brewer said about Anderson.
will also feature professional and Olympic track athletes in the invitational events.
One lajahw will have the opportunity to compete with some of the best. Senior sprinter Nickelsha Anderson will compete in the women's open 200-meter dash.
believes this meet is a good experience going into the Big 12 Conference Championships.
"It will be good competition, so we'll be used to it and we won't be scared and hopefully we go out and compete with the best of them," Howard said. Howard will be competing in the 200-meter and the 60-meter dash.
The women's 4x400 relay has been successful for the past two meets, taking first place at the Adidas Classic in Lincoln, Neb. This weekend, the four-person squad will have senior Sha'Ray Butler back after she missed last weekend's meet.
"The work you put in, it comes out on the track. Whether you run for Nike or Butler Community College."
Butler, who has run on the Arkansas track in the past, says it can be tricky the first time.
"If you haven't run on it before,
KEITH HAYES Freshman
Butler, who is also running in the 400-meter dash, said she was looking forward to coming back and moving up
it can be challenging just to get adjusted to how high it is and coming down and going up on the bank." Butler said.
on the Big 12 list of top sprinters in the 400-meter.
In the distance events, senior Colby Wissel will attempt to break the school record in the 5,000 meter run at the Tyson Invitational. Last weekend, Wissel provisionally qualified in the one-mile at the Husker Invitational.
In the triple jump, freshman Corey Fuller got a personal best in New York of 49 feet 7 inches. Fuller said he was happy with his performance and is looking to get a jump of 51 feet 6 inches in Arkansas.
On the field, junior Jordan Scott is looking to bounce back in the Pole Vault. Scott said he's been working on technical adjustments to be able to jump 18 feet. Last time in Arkansas, Scott got a provisional jump of 5.40 meters (17 feet 8 inches.).
IOWA STATE CLASSIC
Senior Patrick McGowan and junior Bret Imgrind look to repeat the success they had in the mile at the New Balance Invitational by taking on the men's 3,000-meter run.
After finishing third in the women's 3,000 meter, sophomore Amanda Miller will take on the 5,000-meter run in Ames, Iowa, along with freshman Rebeka Stowe and senior Hayley Harbert.
"I'm not quite where I want to be at the end of the season, but we're making strides in the right direction," McGowan said.
After being parked at the airport for Thanksgiving Break, I went to turn my car on and it was dead. I remembered Don's Auto from the UDK and my Dad wanted me use the longest, most reliable Auto Service.Not only did Don's Auto fix my car, but called me several times in the process of doing so they could save me the most money.
"The work you put in, it comes out on the track," Hayes said. "Whether you run for Nike or Butler County Community College. It's all going to show no matter what."
Edited by Liz Schubauer
In the middle distance, senior Corey Mims will be competing in the 600-meter along with junior Jacob Breth and sophomore Anna Barber.
This weekend the team is looking to show the world who Kansas Track and Field is and freshman Keith Hayes believes that they are ready to do it.
When: Friday Feb. 13th and Saturday Feb. 14th
-Lauren Bloodgood, Junior-Dallas, TX
THIS WEEKEND
Who: Kansas Track and Field
Where: Tyson Invitational, Fayetteville, Ark., and Iowa State Classic, Ames, Iowa
Don's Auto Center • 11th & Haskell • 841-4833
What students are saying about Dons
Ryan McGeeney/KANSAN
Exp. Feb 31,2009
Nickesha Anderson, Hanover, Jamaica, senior, sprints to the finish line during the Jan. 16 KU-Mann track meet in the Anchorszit Pavilion.
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