Monday, February 2, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 5
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Professional possibilities put player on mound
By John Wilson Kansan sportswriter
Les Walrond can hit the ball harder and throw the ball farther than anyone on the Kansas baseball team.
Walrond's raw athletic ability has allowed him to split time between the mound and outfield during his first two seasons, but this season he will focus on pitching.
"It's hard to be sharp in all the different skills needed to throw and hit and play the field," Walrond said. "It's easier to be successful when you put almost all of your practice time into one position."
chances to move to the mound
After batting .335 with six home runs and 37 RBI as a right fielder in 1997, Walrond decided it would be best for his professional
"My dad and I talked it over this summer," Walrond said. "I will have a better chance playing at the next level as a left-handed pitcher than just another position player."
Coach Bobby Randall said the decision to move Walrond to the mound was related to his potential.
"He could be as dominating a pitcher as any in our league," Randall said. "If he throws strikes, he is a lefty firing the ball in there at 91or 92 miles per hour, which is tough to beat."
Randall said Walrond's biggest problem on the mound involved throwing strikes.
"Les has made the transition from thrower to pitcher." Randal said. "He hasn't yet shown he can throw strikes consistently at this level, but his control has improved a great deal in the last year."
Walrond said he was applying his weaknesses as a hitter to his advantage on the mound.
"I try to throw pitches that I wouldn't expect as a hitter," Walrond said. "Most hitters would expect to see a fast ball in a 3-1, so I'll catch them off guard with a change-up."
Randall said Walrond was still one of the top hitters on the team, and that he would get some
"This guy was really productive for us last year," Randall said. "He had some clutch hits for us."
at bats as designated hitter.
Walrond had two game-winning home runs last season: a two-out, three-run shot in the bottom of the eight inning against Baylor University's Kris Lambert and a pinch-hit, two-out grand slam in the seventh inning against Oklahoma State.
Despite Walrond's hitting skills, Randall said a six-inning no-hitter last fall in a scrimmage proved to him that Walrond could be a starting pitcher.
"That outing was the best I saw this fall by any pitcher anywhere," Randall said. "That game proved to me what a special pitcher Les could prove to be for us."
Les Walrond takes a lead from third base at practice. Walrond hopes to excel on the mound this season. Photo by Geoff Krieger/ KANSAN
Swimmers look to Big 12 Championship after Cornhusker defeat
Kansas Men's swimmer Kostaki Chiligiris, senior, bursts toward the finish line. He took first place in the 200 individual medley and the 200 back stroke at Friday's swimming and diving meet. Photo by Holly Groshong/KANSAN
By Erin Thompson Kansan sportswriter
Men's, women's teams pleased with performance in final home competition
Despite being swept Friday night by nationally ranked Nebraska, the Kansas swimming and diving team was pleased with its performance and is looking forward to the rest of the season.
"We're hungrier now than we've ever been in our lives (for a Big 12 Championship)," coach Gary Kempf said. "We needed a jump start and we definitely got a jump start."
The men fought all night to hold off the Cornhuskers but lost 126-121 after being out touched in the final event.
The No. 21 Jayhawks led the No. 16 Cornhuskers 117-113 going into the final event, the 400-meter freestyle relay. Kansas came up short despite the standing room-only crowd urging them on.
"That's what athletics are all about," Kempf said. "You can make it or break it in one event. Sometimes it goes down to the final inch."
During the race, about 20 swimmers
crowded around the pool and began banging crimson and blue kick boards against the side. Kansas lost the event by only sixteen hundredths of a second.
"It was so loud I just wanted to win it for the crowd," said Kostaki Chiligiris, anchor of the relay. "It was a good time and an exciting atmosphere."
In his final home meet at Kansas, Chiligris took home two first places in the 200-meter individual medley and the 200-meter backstroke.
"It was kind of sad, kind of sentimental," Chiligiris said. "But there's a lot more swimming left in the year."
The Jayhawks dropped to 3-2 overall and 1-2 in the Big 12.
The 27th-ranked women had a tougher battle against the seventhranked Cornhuskers and lost 176-120.
Senior Kristin Nilsen won three events in her final home meet as a Jayhawk, the 100- and 200-meter
"We're hungrier now than we've ever been in our lives (for a Big 12 Championship). We needed a jump start and we definitely got a jump start."
Gary Kempf Kansas swimming coach
breaststroke and the 200-meter individual medley. Nilsen said she was pleased with how she and her teammates performed.
"It'll boost our confidence going into the Big 12 and the NCAA championships," she said. "We're going in the right direction and we have the heart and emotion to do well."
The Kansas women fell to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the Big 12.
The Jayhawks finish the regular season at Iowa State on Saturday. The women's Big 12 Championship is Feb. 19-21 in Austin, Texas and the men's is Feb. 28-28 in College Station, Texas.
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