Friday, March 20, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 3
Baseball at home for break
Team ready for better weather and Big 12 season start
By John Blakely Wilson Kansan sportswriter
While many University of Kansas students are burning on tropical beaches or skiing down Colorado slopes, the Kansas baseball team will play nine games in seven days, all in Lawrence.
"It's a great spring break if you love baseball," head coach Bobby Randall said. "This is a huge stretch for us to establish consistency before jumping into the Big 12 season."
The Jayhawks begin a three-game weekend series with Iowa state (5-9) today. The team then will play a doubleheader on Tuesday against Rockhurst, a game on Wednesday against Washburn and a three-game series against Oklahoma from March 27-29.
The Iowa State series always brings back fond memories for Randall, who compiled a 366-366-1 record as the Cyclones' head coach from 1985 to 1995.
"I'll always have a warm spot for Iowa State," Randall said. "I enjoyed those years, but I'm also glad I'm here."
Randall said the Iowa State series was important because it was the Jayhawks' Big 12 Conference home opener.
"This is a critical series to get us playing the way we desire to," Randall said. "We have Oklahoma next weekend and will play conference teams the next seven weeks. Now is the time we need to be playing well."
The weather may have hurt the Jayhawks' rhythm in March, when wet conditions caused postponement or cancellation of seven of 13 scheduled games.
"It seems like we've had five opening games because of all the starts and stop in our schedule," Randall said. "I'm looking forward to spring break because it will give us a time to evaluate players in games."
Pitching is an area that needs to be improved. Relief pitching killed a probable Jayhawk victory on Wednesday against Arkansas, when the bullpen gave up nine runs in four innings. Pitcher Chad Schuster said relievers simply needed to throw strikes.
"That umpire had a huge strike
zone, and we were having trouble getting balls over the plate even then," Schueter said. "Guy's just need innings and time in game situations to work themselves out."
Randall and pitching coach Wilson Kilmer have Lew Wairnd, Rusty Philbrick and Chad Schuster slated to start on the mound this weekend.
Walrond has been getting to bat as designated hitter lately, and has excelled. He slammed a home run last weekend and knocked in two runs on Wednesday. Randall said Walrond was one of several options at designated hitter.
"If Les continues to hit the ball to all fields and does not try to pull everything, he'll get a lot of at bats," Randall said. "
Randall said he was tired of talking about weather problems.
"We haven't discovered as much as we'd like about our club because we haven't gotten out on the field and played games," Randall said. "The weather was a story, now it's a nuisance."
Women's tennis to take on Waves
Kanson sportswriter
The Kansas women's tennis team will seek a break from the dreary weather that has plagued Lawrence this week when it heads to California during spring break.
By Erin Thompson
The No. 17 Jayhawks will travel to Malibu, Calif., next Friday to face No. 14 Peperdine.
The Waves could present tough competition with three players ranked nationally in the top 50. They are 12-4 overall, with all losses to teams in the top 20.
Kansas coach Roland Thornqvist said the Jayhawks could come back to Kansas with two wins.
down there with two wins in our minds."
The Jayhawks then travel to Los Angeles to play Southern
KANSAS TENNIS
California. USC is No. 24 in the nation and 8-6 overall.
Kansas is continuing a trend of traveling to warm spots during spring break. Last year, the Jayhawks traveled to Las Vegas, but they came home with an 0-4 record during spring break.
By Carolyn Mollett Special to the Kansan
The Jayhawks will take this chance to see action on outdoor courts.
"We'll try to make the transition from inside to outside." Thornqvist said. "We'll have to deal
Waterskiers to seek wake during break
with the heat. We're going down there a couple of days in advance to get some conditioning outside."
The site of the NCAA Women's Central Regional Playoffs has been announced. The Jayhawks will play in Provo, Utah, home of Brigham Young University. In tennis, the top 10 teams in the nation receive a bye and do not have to play in the regional tournament.
Thornqvist said the Jayhawks would try to skip Provo by breaking into the top 10 and heading straight to South Bend, Ind., where the national tournament will be held.
"Our goal is not to have to play in the regionals," he said. "We've been playing well, and we're focusing on making it straight to South Bend."
During spring break, 13 of the club's 39 members will travel to the Cory Pickos World Ski Center in Destin. Fla., about 20 minutes from Panama City, Fla.
Members of the Kansas water skiing club feared last semester their group was slowly sinking.
Now, members say, their heads are above water, and they are headed for a spring break ski vacation.
"We've really turned the club around," said Laura Lohrmann, Elkhorn, Wis., senior and former club president.
Club president Jimmy Spillman, Andover junior, said the club had doubled its size this semester.
"If enough people at the University knew there was a ski club, more people would try to join," Spillman said. "It's just a matter of getting everyone to know."
Members of the club will take two cars and a U-Haul for the 17-hour drive.
"The easy way to sell our vacation is because it's so close to Panama City." said Jeff Clennon, Wilmington, Il., junior and team captain. "You can actually go and party with regular spring breakers."
Clennon, who has attended the Florida ski school, said Cory Pickos was an impressive waterskier. Pickos is a 22-time world record holder in the trick water skiing event and the head instructor of the center.
Other school instructors are U.S. water skiing team members, Clennon said. Club members will be able to ski five sets each day and can be critiqued between sets, he said.
Clennon said the Kansas water skiing club had the most advantages of any water skiing club in the region, including skis, a boat, wet suits and access to McKan Lake off Kansas highway 10 east of Lawrence.
The club also plans to purchase a lake board this spring, the newest trend in ski equipment.
This spring, the team will compete in three tournaments, including a home tournament in late April.
Come see why students love our FURNISHED I Bedroom Apartments
- SUNDANCE 841-5255
* TANGLEWOOD 749-2415
* HANOVER PLACE 841-1212
* CAMPUS PLACE 841-1429
Close to campus! Some have lofts! Reserve Yours Today! MODELS OPEN DAILY MASTERCRAFT MANAGEMENT 842-4455
"Building Community"
SKYDIVE KANSAS
"Get A Higher Education Open Weekends year round For a free brochure call
(913) 640-DIVN Or 357-4423 GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE!
Congratulations KU Women's Basketball March ON!
Your Hometown Steak House for over 30 Years Serving Hand Cut Steaks 7 Days a Week 2176 E.23rd St. 843-1110