SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday, January 20, 1993
9
Jayhawks swing into preseason baseball
Photo courtesy of Kansas Soorts Information
Kansas coach Dave Bingham shouts instructions at the Jayhawks during a practice. The baseball team, with 20 letter men returning from last year's squad, holds its first practice of the spring today.
High school recruits fill voids left by Kansas' senior starters
Jayhawks get oral commitments from quarterback, tailback
Mark Button
5,196 yards and 68 touchdowns.
Those are the combined totals for two of Kansas' top high school recruits' senior seasons.
Mark Button Kansan sportswrite
The college football recruiting season is approaching its end, and Kansas is beginning to fill the gaps left behind by last year's seniors.
Quarterback Chip Hillery and running backs Maurice Douglas and Monte Cozzens are three of the seven offensive starters that will not be returning for the 1983 season. The absence of these three leaves a void to fill in the Jayhawks' backfield.
Charles Henley, Columbus, Ohio, running back, and Issac Byrd, St Louis quarterback, have both decided to attend Kansas.
So far, Kansas recruiting efforts have produced oral commitments from two All-State high school teams who have the potential to fill this void.
Henley, a 5-foot-11, 185 pound tailback, was named the Division II running back of the year and made Ohio's first team. All-State squad.
He rushed for 2,582 yards and 3 touchdowns for Brockenhaven High
School last season. As a defensive back, he grabbed nine interceptions, two of which he ran back for touchdowns.
But Henley is coming to Kansas stricty as a running back.
"My defensive back days are over," he said.
Henley chose to run for the Kansas offense, rejecting in-state powerhouse Ohio State.
"I really liked the campus," he said of KU. "I feel I can make a big impact from the start."
Henley is familiar with making big impacts. In a game with cross-town rival Columbus East, Henley rushed for 366 yards and 6 touchdowns on 28 carries. He also intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown.
Henley's coach, Greg Miller, said Henley is capable of making a big impact. He said that Henley has fullback power and can run a 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds, a time that is more common for receivers than power running backs.
Henley said that Douglas and Cozzens, who are both from Ohio, made favorable impressions on him during his visit to Kansas.
Kansas team returns 20 lettermen
"I met them both and they talked to me about the success that Ohio players have had at Kansas," he said. "It helped me with my decision."
Christmas came about a month late for Kansas baseball coach Dave Bingham.
By Brady Prauser
Kansan sportswriter
Henley already has met NCAA academic requirements. He said he plans to major in accounting.
While Henley might help fill the run-in back void, recruiters also have laughed.
However, he is not complaining about its late arrival or the gift she will receive when the Jayhawks begin spring practice today in Anchutz Sports Pavilion. Any coach would have to get returning starters at eight o'clock, 20 returning lettermen and all but one of last season's starting pitchers.
Then there is the offense. The Jayhawks return players responsible for more than 95 percent of last season's runs, hits, and RBI.
Tingham has that arsenal and more. The jahawks lost only two players with injuries and playing time last season, starting with Curtis Schmidt and releiver Jae Bacon.
"We've worked for four years to be in this position," he said. "The players are very mature at this point in time. We're looking for this to be a very veteran team. We really know what these kids are capable of."
Bingham said he was pleased that his recruiting efforts had produced a large quantity of upperclassmen.
Byrd, 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, was named the St. Louis High School Player of the Year. Bob Trowbridge, Byrd's coach, said that the quarterback also is capable of making a big impact for the 'Hawks.
"Being named St. Louis player of the year is a big deal." Trowbridge said. "There are about 200 high schools in the St. Louis area, which includes the East St. Louis area. And he was considered the best."
Monroe, a junior centerfielder, led the Jayahawks in six offensive categories last season, including a .370 batting average and 31 stolen bases. Niemeyer, a senior outfielder, led Kansas in BRL. His classmate Wuychek, a first baseman, led the team in at-bats and home runs.
Bingham particularly knows the capabilities of Darryl Monroe, Jeff Schoenfeld.
Not only do Bingham's players carry big sticks, they also are good with the glove. Last year's team recorded the third-highest fielding percentage ever at Kansas and broke the record for double plays.
Byrd three for 1,952 yards and 20 touchdowns last season for Parkway Central High School. He also rushed for 642 yards and 13 touchdowns.
"We'll throw a fairly multi-dimensional offense at our opponents," Bingham said. "We'll run, bunt, and also swing the bat."
Monroe said he was looking forward to assuming a leadership role in the outfield and helping the lawfayhs improve on last season's seventh place conference finish.
Bingham said Rory Tarquinto, senior right fielder, also would contribute to a versatile offense.
Shortstop Dan Rude and third baseman Brent Wihhelm are mainstays with Berblinger on defense. A defense adept at turning the double play should make the pitching staff happy.
"We have enormous talent on the field," Monroe said. "If we go out and play the way we are capable of, we can play with anyone in the country."
sights
Trowbridge said Byrd is hard to keep with his decision to come to Kansas.
After a 14-4 start, its best in more than 25 years. Kansas was plagued by injuries and finished at 25-28.
"A lot of people compare him to Randal Cunningham. "Towhreider said
Senior second baseman Jeff Berlinger also is an integral part of the offense. Although he missed 25 games after breaking his right thumb last season, Berlinger still was second on the team in stolen bases and tied for second in home runs. As a sophomore he was named to the second team All-Big Eight in 1991.
"He (Byrd) didn't think he would like Kansas as much as he did," Trowbridge said. "But he had a very favorable visit and liked the coaching staff and facilities."
Senior Jimmy Walker and juniors David Meyer and Chris Corn will anchor the starting pitching rotation, Bingham said. They accounted for more than half of last season's vico-
Byrd chose Kansas over Indiana, Colorado, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.
Bingham said he and pitching coach Wilson Kilmer were working for a fourth starter to replace Schmidt, a teammate of the four man rotation.
ties
" college baseball is so much dependent on pitching," he said. "To lose a guy of that caliber leaves big shoes to fill."
Senior Tom Stewart likely will be the closer out of the bullpen, with freshmen Clay Baird and Scott Tittrington also used in relief roles.
Soult also will see action as design nated hit when he is not pitching.
Bingham said senior David Soult, sophomore Mike Greene, and freshman Jamie Splittoff are candidates to fill the shoes vacated by Schmidt.
Notes:
Bingham said the Jayhawks in practice would outline specific team goals for the season, but one particular goal already was established.
"We always start the year with the understanding that we're shooting for the College World Series," Bingham said. "But we have a lot of steps along the way. The post season is always what everyone plays for. There is a level of credibility you achieve when you extend your season."
Pearson's in leaner, meaner and now has four years to play
The Jayhawks open their season Feb. 12 at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix.
■ Bingham, in his sixth year as head coach, needs just two victories to reach 700 for his career. In five previous seasons at Kansas, he has compiled a 140-156 record. Bingham was previously head coach at Emporia State University, where his teams won 558 games and the NAIA National Championship in 1978.
Kansas football player Nate Flohr joined the team as an outfielder. Bingham said Florel, who was drafted by the New York Mets out of high school as a pitcher, could see action at that position for the Jayhawks.
Sean Pearson spent much of the nine basketball season playing pickup games at Robinson Center, working with the Library and loading up on park food.
By David Dorsey
Korean sports writer
Now the 6-foot-5, 210 pound guardforward is putting the excess weight and frustrations behind him as he begins adjusting to his new classification of freshman.
"I'd like to get out there and press because it's a lot of fun," he said. "Right now I'm happy. When the time comes around, I think TB be able to step forward as a leader because of my past experience in high school."
Kansan sportswriter
Although he was able to sit on the bench during home games last season, he was not allowed to practice or travel with the team. He worked at the library to help his parents pay for his education. He now is in the first year of a four-year scholarship.
Calvin Rayford, sophomore guard, also failed to meet Proposition 48 guidelines but was unaffected by the new ruling. Rayford and Pearson were intramural basketball team called "Champions" won the intramural championship.
Pearson has averaged nine minutes and six points a game this season, but he said he does not worry about playing time or scoring.
A battle to condition his body begin in September during the preseason when Pearson weighed in at close to 30 pounds.
lines or at home in front of the television during Kansas basketball games
Pearson, who sat out last season under the guidelines of the NCAA's Proposition 48, entered this season classified as a sophomore. After last season's convention in Dallas however, the swimmer become the Jayhawks only freshman.
Pearson responded by dropping almost 20 pounds. He worked out on a Stainmaster exercise machine during his free time and did extra running afterpractice. He said his ideal weight would be 206.
The new ruling accepts American College Test scores of 17 or higher, retroactive to 1990-91. Pearson's senior year in high school. The old rule accepted scores of 18 or higher, which left Pearson sitting on the side.
Kansas coach Roy Williams described Pearson as having a "rather large rear end."
"It was tough at times," Pearson said about his year of ineligibility "But Calvin and I were both in the same suit," she added, go shoot around and play together.
He urged the newcomer to drop off the weight and trim down the out.
his team to a 28-1 record.
Pearson already knew what it was like to be on a winning team. His senior year at Nazareth Academy in LaGrange, III, he averaged 24 points and nine rebounds a game and lead
Paul Kotz / KANSAN
Kansas junior Tim Davidson executes a dive during a meet. Davidson has emerged as one of the Jayhawks' top divers this season.
Kansan sportswrite
By Matt Doyle
Jayhawk diver plunges into meets
The junior diver has progressed throughout the season and has turned in some of his best performances in recent meets.
Tim Davidson hopes this season's slow start ends up with a big finish.
"I had difficulty adjusting back to the school schedule coming back from summer break," Davidson said of his fall performance. "I was also trying to incorporate some new dives into my routine that weren't scoring as well as they are now."
Davidson is the Jayhawks' top dier in the one-meter and three-meter events. He posted his best score of the season in the one-meter event with 297.30 points in last Saturday's meet against Drury. His top performance in three-meter competition came at the University of Illinois Dual Meet Extravaganza in November with a score of 317.55.
Those two scores already have qualified Davidson for the NCAA Zone diving meet March 11-13 in Austin, Texas. Davidson will attempt to qualify for one of the nine available spots at the NCAA National meet March 25-27 in Indianapolis.
"Tim has been diving really well this season," said Kansas diving coach Jon Fearon. "He has been much more confident than he was earlier in the year."
Davidson hopes he can perform much better at the Big Eight Championships and NCAA Zone meet than he did a year ago.
Last year at the Big Eight Championships he placed third in the three-meter despite hitting the board with his arms on one dive. Still, Davidson pointed that the Jayhawks finished in the team competition to Nebraska.
Davidson struggled with his three-meter dives at the Zone meet, which cost him a return trip to the NCAA National meet. He placed 29th at Nationals as a freshman in 1991.
"The scores are combined from both the three- and one-meter events at the Zone meet to determine which qualifies for nationals," Davidson said. "I was consistently one to one and a-half points lower on all my dives in the three-meter I dived better in the one-meter event, but the three-meter performance really affected my chances of making NCAA's."
Fearon said he believes last year's setbacks will help Davidson the rest of this season.
"Every meet has been a mission for Tim this year," he said. "He is one of the best in the country, and there's no doubt in my mind that he belongs on the national caliber list."