Sports
University Daily Kansan / Thursday, September 13, 1990
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Injured softball pitcher Jill Bailey watches the team practice. Bailey is recovering from knee surgery.
Injured players ease back into team practice routine
Wahaus ready to return; Spitaleri, Bailey must wait
Bv Derek Simmons
Kansan sportswriter
Things are beginning to look up for the walking wounded of the Kansas softball team
Yesterday, two players injured in the preseason attended their first practice since surgery, and another player was injured later after an injured knee last September.
Softball
Catcher Erin Wahas ruptured the anterior ligament in her left knee in one of the first games last fall, and Couch Kalum Haack said Wahas was ready to start in the Jahwacks opening Saturday at Iowa State.
"She's at 90 percent right now," Haack said. "She still needs to work on her timing, but she's found ways to compensate for that other 10 percent."
Mark Cairns, assistant athletic trainer, said Wahua had made significant progress in the last three weeks.
"We've been working on the over all strength these past weeks,"
Cairns said, "and she's made huge leaps forward.
"I didn't see her play last fall, but from what I've heard her speed is back to about normal. Her quickness isn't quite the same, but that will come with competition. She's ready to play."
Camille Spitaleri, the Jayhawks' All-American third baseman who had shoulder surgery Sept. 6, said she was eager to return.
"I tried to talk them into it," she said, "but the trainer said 'Not quite vet.'"
"I if catch her throwing at all in the near future, she knows I could get awfully mean," he said.
Spitaleri had cartilage fragments removed that were caused by overuse of her throwing arm.
Cairns repeated that advice.
Haack said Spitaleri was expected to miss the fall season, but the damage to her shoulder had been less severe than originally thought.
trimmed a little of the rotator cuff "
"It turned out that there was nothing wrong with her bicep tendon," Haack said. "They just cleaned up the cartilage and
During surgery, doctors discovered a small tear in Spatella's rotator cuff. Spatella said trimming it would make it quicker, more recovery through
Pitcher Jill Bailey, who had surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament of her left knee Sept. 4, watched practice from the dugout.
Bailey, who is using crutches, said yesterday was her first day in school since the surgery.
"I also had therapy today, and
"I mark (Cairns) bent my knee for the
first time." she said. "It hurt so
little I kicked him with my good leg.
Cairns said her reaction was expected.
"This was the first time she had done anything with the leg," he said. "Unless you've had surgery on a knee, you would never muscles forget how to move."
"They all have great attitudes," he said. "They are all eager to get back into competition, and they will do so within reason to get back quickly."
Kansas seeks vengeance against Louisville Cards
By Rob Wheat
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
Kansan sportswriter
Like the beginning of a Dickens novel, this tale of two receivers was a fitting theme for the Jayhawks' heartbreak loss against Louisville in a teenage ago — a loss they will seek to erase Senate against the Cardinals.
Football
It was the best of times for wide receiver Quintin Smith, who had 11 receptions for 221 yards and four touchdowns, a Big Eight Conference record for touchdown receptions in a game.
Smith set the school record for receiving yardage and tied the school record for the number of receptions in a game. He also was named college football player of the week by the Sporting News for his efforts.
But it was the worst of times for wide receiver Kenny Drayton, who was missing during the first of two failed punts because he was being coached on the sidelines for missing down reception one down earlier.
Punter B.J. Lohsen noticed Dray-
ton's absence and ran to the line to tell the snapper, Dave Marcum to wait. But the ball was snapped, and it bounced off Lobsen's leg.
Kansas coach Glen Mason said it was a coaching mistake the staff could only learn from.
"We rallied though, and if I remember, the Cardinals ended up kicking a field goal that we blocked." Mason said. "But we had a freshman long snapper who felt responsible, and instead of us saying 'forget it,' we let it go and he snapped another bad one."
The second failed punt happened in the fourth quarter on the one-yard line after Marcum snapped it low, and the ball bounced to the side, where Löhsen fell on it. The Cardinals scored making it 24-21 and never gave up the lead, eventually winning the game 33-28.
"I guess it would make somebody's funny highlight film, but we didn't think it was too funny," Mason said. "But this is a new chapter. What could have happened last year will depend on what will happen this year."
Mason said that he was not sure what to expect from the team in Louisville based on the Jayhawks two previous games because everything went wrong against Virginia and right against Oregon State
Defensive tackle Dana Stubblebird said that the Jayhawks were ready to play Louisville Saturday and that even if the Cardinals tried to double team him, he still would be looking for the quarterback.
"I'm prepared for them to key on me, especially after the Oregon State game, seeing how well we were coming off the ball." Stubblefield said. "I'm ready for what they throw at me. We'll bring our best 11 and they'll bring their best 11 and whoever wins the game, will win."
Stubblefield, a Cleves, Ohio,
native, lives an hour away from
Louisville and reserved 40 tickets for
hiking, friends and former coaches
Both Stubblefield and Drayton were recruited by Louisville, but only Stubblefield visited the campus. Drayton said that was an incentive to win Saturday but that he was more eager to pick up where Smith left off.
"Quintin had a lot of good things last year for us," Drayton said. "He really came around in the Louisville game and helped us out. And hopefully I can step up and do what he did last year."
New crew coach tries to beef up heavyweight rowing competition
By Juli Watkins
Kansan sportswriter
As the Kansas crew team prepares for another season, it is encountering a few changes, including a new head coach, Rob Catloth.
Cathol has been the coach of the Kansas women's crew team for the past four years, but this season he is replacing Dan Jewett. Also new to the coaching staff are Chris Oster, assistant men's coach, and Kelly Wells, assistant women's coach. The three are former members of the
Coltah, who rowed for Kansas from 1981 to 1985, said Kansas had a strong men's heavyweight boat when he rowed for the club.
He said he was trying to rebuild that strength in the varsity men this season.
"I want them to do the best they can," he said. "My philosophy is for the team to train the best they can to be the best that they can be to improve their performance level. If they should they should be very competitive."
Catloth said the heavyweight boats
were the premier events in a regatta. Kansas has had a strong lightweight boat the past few years but it has lacked heavyweight men.
"We've had a hard time getting the big guys out the past few years," he said.
Caloth said that about 200 students tried out for crew this fall. About 55 of them are on varsity squad and the rest race novice.
Catloth said the women's varsity team would be at its best this season.
"Right now they're the number two team in the Midwest behind Wisconsin, which is a fully funded team like the Ivy League schools." Catloth said. "They are in the top 20 or 25 in the country."
Kathy Yehle, crew team president,
said Kansas was at a disadvantage
because it was not fully financed by
the University.
"The way it hurts us is we lose a lot of good people because they can't afford to pay to row," she said. "Other universities can get people who don't have to pay to row, or they can't pay for pretty much anything."
some money from Recreation Services. Each team member pays semester dues of $100 and must pay his own travel expenses.
This money helps cover expenses such as coaching salaries, United States Rowing Association fees, insurance and boathouse rental.
Catloth said the team received
Crew participants are selling concessions at home football games to raise money for the team.
Crew also will sponsor a fund raiser called Rent-a-Rower in November.
Rent-a-Rower will replace the crew's seven day, 24-hour hourage previously held in front of Wescoe Hall. Team members will send letters to Kansas alumni and staff and hand out fliers to advertise. Crew members will be "rented out" at $4 for an eight-hour period on these days. They will do whatever the person needs them to do.
"They can rake leaves, clean out the garage or the basement, paint the house, whatever needs to be done." Catloth said.
Kansas' first regatta of the season is the Head of the Rock, Sept. 29, in Rockford, Ill.
Sports briefs
Chiefs cornerback signs
KANAS CITY, Mo. — Super Bowl aspirations outweighed personal differences Tuesday as Albert Lewis, the three-time All-Pro cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs, ended his 51-day holdout.
Wathan is re-hired as Royals manager
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — John Wathan, whose team was a preseason favorite in the American League West but lost its ninth straight game Tuesday night, was rehired yesterday, manager of the Kansas City Royals.
"I feel like I've been accepted back into the family for another year," said Wathan, 40, who has been with the Royals organization since he was
The nine-game losing ski is two short of the franchise record. It plumed the Royals 10 to 67 and sixth place in a division which they expected to win after huge investments in free-agent pitchers Mark Davis and Storm Davies inflated their hopes to the highest in the major leagues.
General Manager John Schuerohlz said during a news conference that Wathan had signed a one-year contract through 1991.
"With what's happened this year, I don't think I deserve a multi-year contract." Wathan said with a smile.
But Mark Davis, the 1989 National League Cy Young winner, has been ineffective from the beginning. Mark Davis lost his job as bill palmon stopper at midseason and is now 1-7 with a 5:94 and only 2见 saves. Storm Davis, who pitched in relief Tuesday night, is 1-7 with a 4-7 ERA.
In addition, crippling injuries to such important players as pitchers Mark Gubicza and Bret Saberhagen
and off-years by others helped doom the season and lead to speculation that Wathan was through
"It's been a frustrating year for all of us," Wathan said. "I feel particularly bad for Mr. (Ewing) Kauffman after the commitment that was made to improve our club. I’ve been in this organization for 20 years since I first signed. We’ve spent my entire life with the Royals. I couldn’t be happier have the confidence to renew my membership to our organization. Hopefully, it will be the only organization I will know my entire career in baseball."
"I don't know if there's ever been a manager re-hired in the midst of a nine-game losing streak," Wathan said. "Somebody said we ought to check with the Elias Sports Bureau to see if this is a record of some sort."
Wathan, a catcher, first baseman and general utility operative during his career, became manager at the New York Yankees when Billy Gardner was fired
"It was bizarre in the sense that our expectations over the ability levels of our team were upended," he said. "It was bizarre in the sense that what we viewed as a very strong team, top to bottom, never had a chance to jell on all cylinders throughout the season."
Schoerhulz, who predicted a 100-victory season coming out of spring training, repeatedly used the word twice in describing the californian吨.
money," said Lewis, who remains under contract for the final three years of a four-year contract he signed before last season. "After sitting in the booth and watching our team play Sunday, I feel my best opportunity for (the Super Bowl) is here."
leah-1. LinearSpecial to the KANSAN
Joel Bacon, Wellington sophomore, practices his pitching.
Lewis, along with All-Pro cornerback Kevin Ross, did not report to training camp and missed the entire preseason schedule. Ross signed one week before the Chiefs' opening game Sunday.
"As I've stated all along in this situation, it was never about
Walk-on tryouts over; new pitcher designated
By Rob Wheat
Kansan sportswriter
Baseball
The young walk on pitchers threw as hard as they could while the coaches sat behind home plate and took notes.
One by one they were shot down by the radar gun which told the coaches that the pitch was not fast enough.
Yesterday was the last day of walk-on tryouts, and most players were thanked for coming. But pitching coach Wilson Kilmer stopped one player to find out if he had plans for that evening.
The Kansas baseball team added right-handed pitcher Jib Eacon, Wellington sophomore, to the roster yesterday and had him practice with the team last night at Hogland-Mauin Stadium.
Coach Dave Bingham said he wasn't expecting to find any players, much less someone who would play right away.
"I tried out last season and didn't make it, so this was my last shot," Bacon said. "But I promised myself if I had a good summer playing in Wichita that I would owe it to myself to try one last time. I was so excited that I called my dad as soon as I got home."
“Chances were remote of us keeping anyone, and if we did it would have been only one or two at the time.”
The instructor has an above average slider and
Former All-Big Eight Conference pitcher Curtis Shaw was a walk-on in 1988 and was drafted by the Oakland Athletics this summer. Bingham said he had not been looking for a player like Shaw during practice, but said he was impressed by how hard all the players worked.
throws a good fastball at 82-83 miles per hour, so he's getting his stuff ready to practice tonight."
"These guys have worked really hard trying to impress us as coaches." Bingham said. "They play with so much intensity and under so much pressure to do all the right things; it's great to see the guys out there working hard to make the team."
Jason Patche, Lawrence freshman, said playing baseball this summer in Lawrence had helped prepare him for tryouts.
"Most of these guys were stars in high school," Patchen said. "I think it's surprising for some of them to find out the guy next to him is just as good, I just want to have a good day to prove I can be consistent."
Patchen hit the only home run during the three-day tryout period, but said the thing he wanted to show was that the coaches was his consistency.
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"I've heard they've kept four players in the last six years, and that the first base position is pretty solidified. Patchen said. "But it's so many people's last chance to play college ball. So many people can't let go."