Friday, April 24, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section B·Page 3
Senior 'Hawks revving for regionals
By Laura Bokenkroger
Kansan sportswriter
With the end of their senior season steadily approaching, three Kansas natives — centerfielder Julie True, shortstop Michelle Hubler and catcher Kristina Johnson — said playing softball for the Jayhawks had been a dream come true.
Growing up in Lawrence, Johnson began playing baseball when she was in first grade. When she was 14, she joined the Hummers, a team mostly composed of her teammates from Lawrence High School.
Tracy Bunge, who replaced Haack last year, took the Jayhawks to regionals her first season as head coach. Johnson said comparing the two coaching styles would be like comparing apples to oranges.
"Coach Bunge expects 100 per cent, but she's more easy-going," Johnson said.
On the field, Johnson is the field general. She has called the pitches since she was freshman and said the pressure didn't affect her too much.
Johnson she used to watch the Jayhawks' softball games whenever she could. Her dream of playing for Kansas was within reach when former coach Kalum Haack began recruiting her when she was a junior.
"It was a dream come true because I always wanted to play for Haack," Johnson said. "He was tough and he expected a lot. Some girls could handle it and some couldn't."
"I think it's good for a catcher to call the game because they're sitting behind the plate." Johnson said. "It's whatever is working that day. Some days everything's working, some days nothing's working."
Johnson said her defensive consistency was her greatest contribution to the team, but her offense is just as strong. Hitting 303 this season, Johnson has the second best batting average on the team. She stands just one home run away from tying the school career record of 15.
Johnson said the team's 26-31 record this season was disappointing, but players' hopes for regional action hadn't been abandoned.
Johnson; Watched the Jayhawks as she grew up
"We have a young pitching staff,
and the pressure may have gotten to them a little bit." Johnson said. "But they've improved so much. We're optimistic going into the Big 12 Tournament. It could have been easy for our team to give up on this season, but we didn't."
The confidence comes partly from the experience of six seniors, she said, including teammates True and Hubler.
True: Recruited after stint at community college
True and Hubber both began playing T-ball at age four. Their
Michelle Hubler, Merrim senior, leads the Jayhawks with a .312 batting average. Contributed art
competitive careers began at 14, and they became teammates at Shawnee Mission North High School, where they won two consecutive state championships.
When she was 16, True joined Huber on the Blaze, a traveling team from Johnson County.
After high school, she played softball for Johnson County Community College for one year and had given up on her dream to play for the Jayhawks. But when Kansas played the community college, Haack saw potential in True and began recruiting her.
In games, True said she tried to find the humorous side of every situation and tried to keep everything light.
"I like to laugh a lot, and sometimes my teammates laugh with me." True said.
True said she had developed a strong work ethic and a sense of commitment through her softball career. After she graduates in May of 1999 with an English degree, she hopes to begin student teaching at Shawnee Mission North High School.
True said her defense was the strongest part of her game and her greatest athletic thrill was throw
ing a runner out at home.
"I love it when coaches send their runners on me," True said. "I love to see the fire in Kristina's eyes when we throw somebody out. I love it when coaches challenge me."
This summer, True and Hubler will help coach the Blaze, which is an 18-and-under team, with their former high school coach.
"If that pans out, I might look for a coaching job," Hubler said.
Hubler, who leads the team with a .312 batting average, said she was confident the Jayhawks could take two games from Missouri tomorrow and turn the season around in the Big 12 Tournament.
"I like pressure," Hubler said. "I feel that I'm more focused because I want to come through in the clutch. If we're in a tight ball game, I want the ball to be hit to me."
Hubler said her dad was the greatest influence in her life.
"Whenever I have a bad day or a bad game, he's always been there to get me up," she said. "He taught me how to play. I grew up on the ball fields with him, and he coached me, too."
Hubler said her biggest thrill came during her sophomore year in a game against Big 12 rival Oklahoma. In the late innings, with the bases loaded and two outs, she dove to catch a line drive and turned it into a double play bycatching the runner at first. The Jayhawks went on to win the game.
Senior experience in those situations will help the Jayhawks as they try to extend their season into regionals.
The Jayhawks take on the Missouri Tigers at noon and 2 p.m. tomorrow at Jayhawk Field. If the Jayhawks win both games, they could improve their seed in the Big 12 Tournament, which begins May 1.
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JAYHAWKER YEARBOOK
The 1998 Jayhawker Yearbook will be distributed in the main lobby of the Kansas Union April 28-May 1.
Those who have pre-ordered must show KUID. The Jayhawker will also be available for purchase at $30. 10-5 Tues.-Fri.