Inside Sports
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Sports
The Kansas City Royals dropped their 1998 home opener to the Baltimore Orioles, 11-7, yesterday at Kauffman stadium.
WIZARDS
Pro Basketball
Washington Wizard's forwards Juwan Howard and Chris Webber find themselves in legal trouble.
SEE PAGE 6B
Wednesday
April 8,1998
Section:
B
Page 1
Kansas Baseball
The weather continued to play havoc with the Kansas baseball team. Last night's game against Fort Hays State was cancelled because of rain.
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Kansas hurting for forwards, bench players
By Tommy Gallagher
tgallagher@kansan.com
Kansan sportwriter
When Paul Pierce announced that he would enter the NBA Draft last week, finding a small forward who could play immediately quickly became a priority for Kansas coaches.
Nick Bradford, who shot only 13.3 percent (2-for-15) from threepoint range this season, could start for the Jayhawks next season. But unless the Jayhawks sign a small forward during the late signing period, which begins today and lasts four weeks, Kansas could have no true backup at the position.
Coach Roy Williams said the loss of Pierce would not change whom Kansas coaches recruited
"If a kid were to decide in September that he's going to go pro after that season, then you can do something in recruiting," Williams said. "But a huge, huge majority of players have already made decisions on where to play."
Indeed
Kansas unsuccessfully recruited a bevy of small forwards during the early signing period, including JaRon Rush (UCLA), Quentin Richardson (DePaul), Michael Miller (Florida) and Tayshua Prince (Kentucky), all of whom were McDonald's All-Americans.
Johnson visited Xavier last weekend, and he also scheduled visits to Florida State and Kansas later this month, according to Hoop Scoop, a college basketball recruiting publication.
The Jayhawks' best prospects to provide a scoring punch that would replace Pierce include Rashard Lewis, a 6-foot 10 forward/center from Ailf Elsik (Texas) High School, and Ashante Johnson, a 6-9 forward from Canada (Calif.) Junior College.
Lewis, a McDonald's All-American, and Johnson both possess the skills of a post player combined with the finesse and shooting touch of a guard. Both could see action at small forward despite their tall height.
Another possibility could be Texas guard Luke Axtell, who visited Kansas last weekend. The 6-9 player has been granted a release from Texas, but Axtell has not determined whether he will stay.
And Chris Owens, a 6-6 guard from Tulane University, said he probably would transfer during the offseason. Owens, who is from Greg Ostertag's high school in Duncanville, Texas, listed UCLA and Kansas as his favorite.
The list of prospects who could provide some needed depth for the Jawhawk next season is long.
Kansas top Prospects
Luke Axtell
Luke Axtell
University of texas
Go-foot® shooting guard/
small award
Kansas, Texas
Tremendous range and a smooth stroke. Axtell can score from anywhere on whether he will transfer from Texas or settle with a new coach.
Dominguez (Gaif), high school 6-4 shooting guard Kansas, Florida State, Oregon, New Mexico State Gibbons was one of the hottest shooters in the nation in the United States in ball handling and shooting skills, but he has yet to qualify academically.
Michael Carson
Brandon Dean
Ouachita Parish(La.) High School 6-1 point guard
Michael Carson, a 6-4 shooting guard from Dominguez High School in Los Angeles, was a teammate of Tayshaun Prince and provided solid defense and steady shooting.
Kansas, UCLA, Kentucky, California George Washington, NBA Gadzuric said UCLA was the favorite from the very beginning, but impressive showing at postseason camps have grown. The NBA has the body to play pro now.
Kansas, Florida State, Louisiana State, Arkansas
Likely will not sign with Kansas. Has no visits scheduled with Kansas and named three favorites March 24 to local media; Arkansas, FSU, and LSU
Dan Gadzuric
Caleb Gervin
Cathedral city(Calif.) High School 5-1 point guard
Governor Dummer(Mass.) Academy 6-11 center
Brandon Dean, a 6-1 point guard from Ouachita Parish (La.) High School, averaged 31 points and 10 assists per game, but he has not scheduled a visit to Kansas.
And Lohnnie Tape, a 6-7 forward from Rancho Santiago (Calif.) College, has been described as a sharpshooter, though the junior college ranks have not challenged him defensively.
Inside, Kansas remains an option for Dan Gadzuric, a 6-11 center from Governor Dummer (Mass.) Academy. But Kansas fans should warn against being too optimistic about landing him.
Gadzuric told *Hoop Scoop* that should he not attend UCLA, he likely would enter the NBA Draft. But Gadzuric said that decision would depend upon his performance in the Magic, Johnson Roundball Classic.
In that game, Gadzuric was 5 for-8 from the floor. He recorded 10 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, and he restated after the game that UCLA remained the distant favorite.
6-1 point guard Kansas, Louisville, Florida State Considered one of the best athletes on the west coast, AAU coaches allegedly tamished Gervin's academic, preparation among college coaches because he did not play in summer leagues. Could be a steal.
Ashante Johnson
Rashard Lewis
or not to wear
Kansas, Kansas, Florida State
a football, athletic, all three schools
seem to be a fit for his playing style.
Johnson backed up Keith Vorn at
Utah for two years, one as a redshirt
freshman.
Alef-Elisi(kTexas) High school 6-10 forward/center Kansas, Florida State, NBA Lewis has not qualified academically. He recently told recruiting analyst Kyle Gurley that he sure he would enter the NBA Draft.
Canada(Calif.) Junior college 6-9 forward
Tulane University
6-6 small forward
Kansas, UCLA, Arizona, Texas Tech,
Texas Christian
Owens was recruited by Williams and
became a member of high school
but became dissatisfied with his decision.
He is not quick, but his game resembles
that of Paul Pierce.
Chris Owens
Lohnnie Tape
But not every prospect can be accounted for.
Rancho Santiago (Calif.)
Junior College
6-7 small forward
Kansas, Iowa State, Arizona State
Tape has been described as a good
desperate case deeply in
the junior college ranks. He has not
scheduled visits with any school in
consideration.
Rancho Santiago (Calif.)
"We're recruiting two guys whose names have not been in the paper." Williams said. "I love it."
Williams said that he despised the attention given to recruiting prospects each year by the media, but said last week that a couple of the Jayhawks' recruiting targets had eluded the spotlight.
'Hawks split doubleheader
Softball team loses first game wins second
Third baseman Sarah McCann, Kansas City. Mo., senior, slides safely into second base. The Kansas softball team played a doubleheader Tuesday against the defending national champions, the Oklahoma City Chiefs. Photo by Jayce Wiber./KANSAN
By Laura Bokenkroger Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas softball team split a doubleheader yesterday against Oklahoma City, the NAIA defending national champions.
It was the Jayhawks' fourth consecutive split and the seventh in their last eleven doubleheaders.
"We just haven't been mentally sharp for both games in a double-header," coach Tracy Bungle said. "It frustrates me more than anything. I deal with physical mistakes much better than mental mistakes."
The Jayhawks scored first. Third baseman Sarah McCann scored on a single by shortstop Michelle Huber.
Oklahoma City jumped to a 3-1 lead in the second inning of the first game and held on to win 3-2.
But Oklahoma City exploded for three runs on four hits in the second inning and never trailed again.
The Jayhawks took advantage of an Oklahoma City error to pick up another run in the fourth innning, but the Chiefs won 3-2. Pitcher Jessi Kowal picked up the loss, dropping to 9-13 on the season.
The Jayhawks looked like a different team in the colder second game.
After changing uniforms from shorts to pants, the Jayhawks took the field. They fell behind in the second innet but trailed for only one inning.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Jayhawks scored four runs on four hits and took the lead 4-1.
Second baseman Lezli Leathersied off with a trip to center field, then
scored on a double by center fielder Julie True. McCann singled to left field, bringing True home for the 2-1 lead.
The Jayhawks had runners on second base and third base after left fielder Sara Holland singled and advanced to second on a throwing error.
The Chiefs wanted a forced out and intentionally walked Huber to load the bases with one out. But Chiefs pitcher Jennifer Mallon walked Kansas first baseman Shannon Stanwix, bringing McCann home.
Pitcher Christy McPhail picked up
an RBI with a hit to left field, which brought Holland across the plate for a 4-1 lead.
The Chiefs brought in Dolly Johnson to pitch in the top of the sixth inning, and she struck out three consecutive Jayhawks.
In the top of seventh inning, Johnson hit a solo home run over the left field fence and cut the lead 4-2. McPhail struck out the next two batters to secure the 4-2 victory for the Jayhawks.
"We lack intensity in the first games sometimes, and we fall behind and
never catch back up." Leathers said. "We find it in the second game."
The Jayhawks play Oklahoma and Oklahoma State this weekend in Lawrence.
"We need to cut down on the mistakes," Bunge said. "We made mental mistakes, like base-running mistakes, that took us out of run-producing situations, and we can't do that. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State make their share of mistakes defensively, but they pound the ball and just outscore their opponents."
Dimmick catches on to game nuances
By John Blakely Wilson
Kansan sportswriter
The lights go down after Kansas baseball games and most players hustle into the locker rooms, ready to get home after a long day at the diamond.
Josh Dimmick lies on the edge of the infield doing push-ups and sit-ups while the others rush off.
"It started out as a way to stay in shape during the season when we weren't lifting," Dimmick said. "I guess it has turned into a superstition."
Dimmick: Work ethic propelled him to clean-up hitter.
Dimmick starts the season with 20 sit-ups and push-ups each and adds one for each game. He will be up to 54 after the home game at 7
tonight against Kansas State.
His work ethic rocketed Dimmick from a positionless freshman who started just six games to Kansas' clean-up hitter and everyday catcher. He spent long days learning the nuances of catching and developing a powerful swing.
"It has been fulfilling to watch Josh grow from a young player into the leader on this team," Randall said. "The young players respect him for how hard he works."
Dimmick set his sights on being a college quarterback coming out of Wharton (Texas) High School, but the only Division I athletic scholarship offer came from the Kansas baseball team. He wanted to play at a high level of competition rather than chasing down small-school success on the gridiron.
Dimmick registered just 36 at-bats his
"It has been fulfilling to watch Josh grow from a young player into the leader on this team. The young players respect him for how hard he works."
Baseball head coach
As Dimmick progressed physically, he jumped into the everyday lineup. He emerged as the designated hitter in 1996 and then became the everyday catcher last season while putting up solid numbers, averaging about five home runs and 50 RBI each season.
Dimmick has continued to develop this season. He already has equaled his career home-run high with five and is on pace for about 80 RBI. Randall also said Dimmick called all the pitches last weekend at Baylor, a job usually reserved for the manager or pitching coach.
freshman year and struggled to a .222 average. He worked in the weight room daily and added 25 pounds of muscle to what has become a 6-foot-3-inch, 215-pound frame.
"He called intelligent games this weekend," Randall said. "We usually wouldn't put that kind of pressure on a player, but we trust his knowledge of the game."
Dimmick is a genetics major and has a 3.91 grade point average. He hopes for a future in baseball but also plans on a master's degree and medical school.
"Baseball doesn't come easy for him, but he invests so much into it," Randall said. "Josh is the kind of person you live to coach."
Senior Christie Sim lunges for the ball. Sim won her last match against Oklahoma on Sunday. Photo by Augustus Anthony Pizza/KAAN/SAN
The 13th-ranked women's tennis team will play Nebraska at 3 p.m. today in Lincoln with a chance to extend its Big 12 record to 7-0.
Women's tennis team hopes to extend streak
The team, 14-2 overall, moved up two spots in this week's national rankings after defeating Oklahoma and Oklahoma State last weekend at Robinson Center.
Coach Roland Thornyqtist said the team hoped to win the next six and be 18-2 when it faces ninth-ranked Texas on April 19.
Kylie Hunt, the team's top singles player, is questionable for today's match. She missed last Sunday's competition because of an inflamed lung.
Hunt is expected to be back in action by this weekend. Today's men's match against Drake at Robinson Center was canceled by Drake. The men's tennis team jumped 27 spots in the rankings to 39th this week after losing a close one (4-3) to Colorado last weekend.