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Wednesday, August 24, 1977
University Daily Kansan
Jayhawk infield undergoes facelift
By JASON NUSS
Sports Writer
The Kansas Jayhawk baseball team, hoping to rebuild an infield that has lost three-fourths of last year's starters, signed eight players to letters-of-intention during the sum-
Gone from last year's infield are first baseman Carl Heinrich, second baseman Ron Macdonald and shortstop Jeff Watson. The Giants' leading hit at .311, the only returne,
MacDonald may be the most difficult to replace. He was last year's team MVP and second team All-Big Eight performer before he was drafted by the New York Mets in the 17th round. He signed with the New York Mets Class A farm system. He hit 134 bats, runs and hits, and finished with a 34 average, second highest on the team.
"ITS ABon if you can have a shortstop or second baseman who can hit as well as MacDonald," KU coach Floyd Temple said. "He's so hard, he's good at ball and nobody but wilt as well as he did."
Henrich, last year's captain and first baseman, hit 315 and earned full fielder.
Watson's eligibility expired last semester. He attended K-State for one semester before spending two years at Kansas City, Kansas. The student hit only 28 on year but drew 35 walks.
Also gone from last year's 22-13-1 team are catcher Brian Moyer, who transferred to Emporia Kansas State College, and pitcher Brian Rhodes and outfielder Mien Monslow who graduated. Moyer won 80 and led in earned runs for the team in home runs. Monslow finished with a 19 average but handled 87 chances without an error in center field.
THE JAYHAWKS, aided by eight new scholarships, signed four junior college admissions.
The increase in scholarships brings the total allotment for baseball to 13, the maximum number allowed by the NCAA. However, Temple was cautious in assessing the effect the increase in scholarships would have on his team this year.
"Just because you have more scholarships doesn't mean you'll and the players," Temple said. "It's just like if you throw a bat that it doesn't mean it's not mean that you'll get the biggest bass."
However, Temple said the increase in scholarships, along with other changes made in the program, could help make KU's program a leader in the conference.
TEMPLE SAID KU was considering building a new baseball stadium. The stadium, which would be funded by a surplus in the athletic department budget, would be built around the playing surface of Quigley Field. located south of Allen Field House.
Temple said there were three things essential to building a good baseball program.
"First is a good educational institution, which we've always had," he said. "KU is second to none in educational opportunities. Second is the finances for scholarships."
which we now have. And third is good facilities, which we're seeking to improve upon."
Temple said he had lost some recruiting battles because of KU's lack of facilities and baseball tradition. However, he said he had lost the ability to the attitude of KU officials toward baseball.
"CLYDE WALKER (KU's athletic director) wants to field the best possible program in all sports and it's evidenced by the desire for a new stadium and the complete refinishing of the dressing rooms." Temple said, "the rooming facility facilities are as good as anyone's."
Temple said the scholarship funds also provided a graduate assistant coach. Stan Hall, an assistant at Oklahoma Baptist University last year, will join the KU program to train students in his third base coaching responsibilities to concentrate on managing the club.
Temple used several of the new scholarships to sign infiltrators in hopes of filling the vacated spots. Four of the eight signees are infiltrators.
MONTY MARLIN, a transfer from Garden City Junior College; Steve Jeltz, a Lawrence High graduate, and Roger Worthington, a graduate in independence. Mo, have infield experience.
Brian Gray, from Newton High, may fill the graduation of first baseman Hirsten Bighur.
Marlin, a product of Derby High, started at shortstop for Garden City, the Region VI junior college champions. He hit .360 last year.
"It was very crucial that we sign Martin in view of the loss of Watson," Temple said. "He is a good fielder but we'll just have to see how he打 Big Eight pitching.
JELTZ' MAIN assets may be his speed and he stole. 33 of his first 34 attempts this summer for the Lawrence American team while compiling a 389 batting average.
"Steve has two pluches in a good arm and outstanding speed," Temple said. "He needs some gloves work but in time we feel he can develop into a good basketball player."
Temple also said he might switch Jeltz from shortstop to second base.
Riley, who started for Truman, the Missing Champions, could give the Hawks aways to play.
Gray led the Ark Valley league in hitting with a 459 average and RBIs with 21 in 19 games. He was a unanimous all-league selection, even though last year was his only year of high school baseball. He spent several springs playing tennis for Newton High.
TEMPLE ALSO landed outfieiders Leon Vickers from Ranger, Tex., Junior College; Vic Harris from Eastern Oklahoma Junior College; catcher Dan Graham from Raytown, Mo., and Dan St. Clair, a pitcher from Garden City Junior College.
Vickers will be transferring to KU after only one year at Ranger, where he hit .375. Temple hopes Vickers will add some hitting opportunities, which was "less than satisfaction."
Harris, has the potential to deliver power
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"St. Clair will add some depth to our pitching staff." Temple said. "Along with Dave Rusch, Terry Sutcliffe, Clay Christiansen, Rick Bogdan and Kevin Kerschen, St. Clair should fit in to give us a good crew of pitches."
Graham is a good defensive catcher with a sound arm, Temple said. The Raytown South High product hit .435 this summer in Kansas City's Casey Stengel League. Originally Temple had hoped Graham would enroll at a junior college before coming to KU, but after the loss of Moyer he signed Graham.
Temple thinks St. Clair, a right-handed pitcher from City Junior College, will take up some of the slack felt by the graduation of Brian Rhodes.
ST. CLARI compiled a 7-3 mark at American Christian College in Tulsa as a freshman and finished with an 11-2 record last year at Garden City.
Rusch and Sutcliffe led the Jayhawk staff with five wins appice. Kerschen posted a 2.81 ERA, tops on the team. Bodgman compiled a 3-0 mark, and Christiansen, a hard-hitting
The Jayhawks return several veterans who should provide balance. Ice, a Lawrence native who hit 351 last year, and senior catcher Andy Gilmor will be key players, Temple said. Gilmor set a school record with 31 RBIs and hit 292.
throwing sophomore, finished with a 3-5 record.
KU also is looking for Monty Hobbs to return to form. The senior outfielder was bothered by a bad knee and hit .220 in only 17 games last season.
"Usually we can count on picking up a few good walk-one. Temple said. They have it."
"You'll have to ask."
AL80 RETURNING from last year's outfield as sopromates Tony Scardino and Scot Wright, senior Stan Messner. Wright hit, 212 in 42 games and Scardino hit a more, 156 in 36 games. Messner saw duty both as a pitcher and right-fielder last year. Messner was 3-1 on the mount and hit, 125 at the plate.
temple also said he hoped that several walk-ons would help the team.
Temple said any KU student interested in trying out for the squad should report to Allen Field House at 4 p.m. next Wednesday.
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