Section B · Page 4
The University Daily Kansan
Friday, January 30, 1998
Softball team prepares for season
Exhibition in field house highlights season's practice
By Laura Bokenkroger
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Michelle Huber, Merrigan, catches a throw in time to force out the runner. The softball team will play its season opener in two weeks. Photo by Geoff Krieger/KANSAN
Expectations are high among the Kansas softball players as they prepare for their season opener two weeks from today.
After posting a perfect 11-0 record in the fall season, the Jayhawks are ranked No.9 in the country and have set their sights on a repeat appearance in the NCAA Tournament — and, ultimately, a trip to the College World Series.
Last year, the Jayhawks surprised a lot of people when they advanced to the NCAA Tournament regional. There, they dropped a 1-0 pitchers' duel to South Carolina, narrowly missing a chance to advance to the College World Series.
Returning eight starters from last year's group, including six seniors, the Jayhawks will field a more experienced and confident team. This year, the Jayhawks aim to improve on last season's record of 38-23, and the leadership of the six seniors will be a big key. Bunge said.
"Last year was the first time for a lot of these players to make the NCAA Tournament," head coach Tracy Bunge said. "They got a taste of championship play, and they got really close."
Although cold weather limited practices to Anschutz Sports Pavilion for the first two weeks, the Jayhawks were able to take it outside this week. It was a welcome change, since the glaring lights in Anschutz often make the ball difficult to see inside.
"There's a big difference from seeing the ball inside and outside," Bunge said. "The biggest influence is with the outfielders. It's really easy to lose the ball in the lights inside, and seeing it off the bat is a big deal for them."
The Jayhawks, who finished third in the Big 12 Conference last year, start their season Feb. 13 at a tournament in Minneapolis, Minn. The first home game is not until late March, but they already have begun to recruit fans.
In an exhibition during halftime of the Kansas men's basketball game against Texas Tech on Saturday, junior pitcher Sarah Workman threw pitches up to 64 mph to senior catcher Kristina Johnson.
Kansas football coach Terry Allen and Kansas mascot Big Jay attempted to hit the pitches but missed, which demonstrated how fast the ball traveled.
Bunge said she hoped the exposure would bring more fans to watch the Jayhawks play this season. The halftime exhibition also allowed the team to have some fun.
"It was a good time," Workman said. "I think softball, in general, is just fun, and when you get to show people what it's all about, it's a good time."
The capacity crowd of 16,300 at Allen Field House was quite a bit larger than the audience Workman is used to at Kansas softball games, and she said she was nervous at first.
"That topped my biggest crowd by about 14,000 people," she said. "I guess just the thought of it makes you nervous, but once you get down there, it isn't that bad."
Coach Tracy Bunge, right, talks with assistant coach Carla Marchetti during a break in practice. The softball team practiced at Memorial Stadium yesterday. Photo by Geoff Krieger/KANSAN
Swimmers ready to dive into final home meet
The Kansas swimming and diving team will see where it stands going into the Big 12 Championships when it takes on conference rival and nationally-ranked Nebraska tonight at Robinson Center.
The Nebraska women are ranked seventh in the nation and the men are 16th. The Kansas men are ranked 21st and the women are 26th.
"There's a big rivalry and a big respect level," coach Gary Kemp said. "You've got two really good teams, so there's a big level of respect for both teams."
The Jayhawks are using this meet to measure what can be expected at the Big 12 Championships in February.
By Erin Thompson Kansan sportswriter
"A win this weekend would mean we're moving in the right direction for the conference championships;" Kempf said. "But right now, we're concerned with getting ready for the conference championships and not getting ready for this weekend."
Last year, Kansas swam at Nebraska and did not find the waters friendly. The men lost 151-89, and the women fell 183.5-97.5.
"Last year they killed us at their
place," sophomore Tyler Painter said. "We always swim better at our pool. It would be good for the team to beat them."
Kempf did not necessarily agree that Robinson provided an advantage.
"I always like to go home," he said. "But the bottom line is it's 25 yards long and every Wetty."
body's basically got the same conditions."
The Javhawks are expecting a tough
meet tonight. Nebraska has several All-American swimmers, including Adam Pine.
Pine finished second in the 100-yard butterfly and ninth in the 100-yard freestyle last year at the NCAA Championships.
The Cornhusker women finished eighth at the NCAA Championships last spring.
Tonight will be the last home meet for the Jayhawks this year. Before the meet begins all the seniors will be recognized.
"Our program is very family oriented," Kemp said. "Any time we can honor the seniors who have been involved in the program it is exciting."
Tennis teams' spring season brings ranked competition
By Erin Thompson Kansan sportswriter
Mother Nature was kind and brought a little bit of spring early to Lawrence this week.
This weekend, the spring season officially begins for the Kansas tennis program.
Both teams have strong schedules this season that include several ranked opponents.
The men take on Arkansas tomorrow at Alvamar Racquet Club. The women have two matches this weekend at Alvamar. They play Wichita State today and Missouri on Sunday.
Hunt: Senior to return to action after redshirting
The men are hoping to gain some respect for their program, which has been overlooked in the past. Last spring season, the team was initially ranked ninth, but their ranking fell to 27th nationally. After the fall season, they climbed
The women will play three teams who finished the fall season ranked in the top 10 nationally. Women's head coach Roland Thornqvist said he was not concerned with the opponents' rankings.
"At the time we made the schedule, a lot of those teams weren't ranked as high as they are," Thorngvist said. "Even if they're ranked, with the quality of our team, we should be able to handle it."
back to 24th and hope to continue moving up in the polls.
"We're trying to play the best schedule we can." men's head coach Mark Riley said. "You can only move up in the polls by beating ranked opponents. We have a good team and wanted a tough schedule to challenge them."
The men are expecting a challenge from Arkansas tomorrow. The Razorbacks have the No. 3 doubles team in the nation and consistently compete in the Southeast Conference, which is considered one of the best tennis conferences in the nation.
"The only way to get respect is by winning at a national level," Riley said. "We play nationallyranked Arkansas and then a tough Minnesota team. We need to do well in the first few matches to establish ourselves."
The women are not expecting as much of a challenge this weekend. Wichita State has good players, but they do not have Kansas' depth. Thornvist said.
Both Kansas teams will be led by experienced senior classes. The men have four seniors returning, among them All-Americans Enrique Abaroa and Xavier Avila. They also have their lettermen returning from last year's team that finished second in the Big 12 Conference Championship.
The women will be led by seniors Kylie Hunt, Christie Sim and Maria Atajoglou. Hunt returns after red-shirting last season with an injured knee. In 1996, she was the Big Eight player of the year, all-American and was the NCAA singles runner-up.
The teams have their sights set on the Big 12 Championship and qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. "We're shooting for the Big 12 Championship," Thornqvist said. "I think if we achieve that we can prove we can play with anyone."
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