SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday, April 29, 1992
11
Crunch time
After finishing last season at the College World Series,the Kansas softball team is fighting to qualify for postseason play
By Mark Button Kansan sportswriter
With only a four-game series against Iowa State left to play, the Jawharks are uncertain of whether they will play in the postseason.
It has been an up and down season for the Kansas softball team.
After last weekend's series against Oklahoma State, when Kansas lost three of four games, the Cowgirls have seemingly wrapped up the Big Eight Conference title. In past seasons, the conference champion was determined by a postseason tournament. However, the conference did away with the tournament this year, making the regular season the basis for the Big Eight title.
Oklahoma State, 14-2 in conference play, looks to be the first school to be crowned champion under the new format.
Kansas. 11-5 in the conference, sits in second place. Although only the Big Eight Champion is guaranteed a spot in the NCAA Midwest Regional Tournament, the Jayhawks control their own destiny. Following a conference call with the National Softball Selection Committee, which is responsible for inviting the teams to the regional tournaments, Kansas coach Kalum Haack said the Jayhawks were in second place in the region. Texas A&M is in third place. Therefore, if Kansas sweeps Iowa
State, the Jahawks will advance to the regions.
The champion of that tournament then represents the Midwest Region in the NCAA Women's College World Series, played annually in Oklahoma City. Last year it was Kansas that advanced to the World Series.
This year, Kansas' season began with a trip to College Station, Texas, and the Texas A&M Aggie Invitational. Kansas was the defending champion of the tournament, claiming victories in all nine games it played the previous year.
Kansas won its first game 4-3 against Centenary, a Louisiana school. Junior pitcher Stephani Williams earned her first victory for the 1993 campaign.
The Jayhawks then lost back-to-back games to Southwestern Louisiana and Illinois State.
Southwestern Louisiana outlasted the Kansas 5-4 as Williams evened her record to 1-1. Senior pitcher Jill Bailey got the call against Illinois State and took the loss 6-3. Senior left fielder Ty Saxby hit the Jayhawks' first home run of the season in the losing effort.
However, this is where the 1993 Hawks first showed their ability to rebound from tough losses.
In the second day of the Aggie Invitational, Kansas blanked Texas &M 3-0. Williams claimed the victory, allowing only two hits.
The Jahawks went on to defeat conference rival Nebraska 4-1 and Haack's alma mater, Sam Houston State, 1-0 in the semifinals. Williams won both games, advancing her record to 4-1.
In the championship game, Kansas had an opportunity for revenge, as it faced Illinois State. The Jayhawks successfully defended their title, crushing the Redbirds 9-0. Kansas pounded out 10 hits, including a home
run by sophomore first baseman Lora Richardson.
"I thought it was a real good start for us," Haack said. "I think they'll start calling it the Kansas Invitational at Texas A&M.
"I was curious to see how we would do with such a young team, and it was great to start the season with a tournament championship."
Kansas' team is extremely young. The team roster includes five freshman, three who start, and three sophomores, two of whom start regularly.
The Jayhawks also have competed in the 1983 season without three-time All-American third baseman Camille Spiteri and All-American shortstop Christy Arterburn. The two dominate the Kansas record books, and as seniors last year, they led the team to the College World Series.
Following the Aggie Invitational, Kansas returned for its home opener against Wichita State on March 13. However, the doubleheader was postponed because of rain.
The following week brought spring break for the students of Kansas. As many students did during the break, members of the softball team traveled.
Kansas spent the break playing in sunny Southern California.
The Jahawks began their break by disposing of 8. Massachusetts 7-0 and DePaul 8-0 in the first half of a doubleheader in Fullerton, Calif. Williams picked up both victories, posting a no-hitter in the DePaul game. DePaul came back in the second game. Bearing Kansas 4-3.
Kansas then played what Haack and many of the players considered its best two games in the young season
Kansas and seventh-ranked Califor
Story continues, Page 12.
After scoring a run, sophomore right fielder Joy Herrera awaits the arrival of a teammate. Herrera, from Corona, Calif., is one of four lays away from the Golden State. Her teammate, freshman pitcher Beth Robinson, also hails from Corona.
Senior catcher Erin Wahua rounds third base and heads for home to complete an inside the park home run.
Freshman second baseman Bonnie Capp tags out an opponent. Capp has made only four errors this season.
KANSAS SOFTBALL HIGHLIGHTS
Photos by Irene Lanier
Freshman designated hitter Michelle Duthil lays down a bunt during a game against Nebraska.
Junior pitcher Stephan Williams' season already is full of highlights. On March 22, she pitched a no-hitter against DePauw. That game was part of a 48% scoreless innings streak. Her record is 24-8 with a 0.96 earned run average.
Senior catcher Eri Wahwa is having her best season as a jayhawk. She leads the conference in hittin with a .391 average and is second in runs batted in with 29. From April 17 to 24. Wahwa has nine game hitting streak, going 19 for 27.
Senior centerfielder Shane Coole's .372 batting average is second best in the conference. She leads the Jayhawks in steals with 19.
Kansas coach Kalum Hack consults with freshman shortstop Katie Morgan between games in the Nebraska series.
■ Williams, Wahaus and Cole were named to the Phillips 66 Academic All-Big Eight team.
Big Eight standings*
league overall
Oklahoma St. 14 2 44 7
Kansas 11 5 26 12 1
Iowa St. 7 5 14 20
Missouri 8 8 28 13
Nebraska 2 10 13 22
Oklahoma 2 14 21 27
This weekend's games:
Kansas at Iowa State
- as of April 27
NCAA Top 20
Kansas is ranked 1.3th in this week's NCAA softball poll. Oklahoma State is fourth. No other Big Eight Conference teams are ranked.
rank team record pts. pr
1. UCLA 38-3 120 1
2. Cal Northridge 36-5 114 2
3. Arizona 32-7 108 3
4. Oklahoma St. 42-7 102 4
5. UNLV 29-11 94 7
6. Florida St. 46-5 92 6
7. Long Beach St. 36-12 83 5
8. SW Louisiana 49-5 74 10
9. Iowa 33-8 73 9
10. California 32-16 69 8
11. Fresno St. 28-17 60 15
12. N. Illinois 30-11 52 12
**13. Kansas** **28*12** **49** **13**
14. Sacramento St. 27-16 49 11
15. Cal St. Fulleton 26-16 38 NR
16. Texas A&M 38-14 28 NR
17. Hofstra 25-9 13 NR
18. Michigan 27-9 12 NR
19. Arizona St. 30-22 11 18
20. Virginia 32-12 11
Source: NCAA
KANSAN
The team congratulates senior catcher Erin Wahua with high fives during one of the games in the Nebraska series. Wahua was 10-for-11 with nine RBI during the series. She leads the Big Eight Conference in batting average with a .391 mark and is second in RBI with 29.