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Volume 128 Issue 35
kansan.com
Monday, October 27, 2014
COMMENTARY
Hosmer should be World Series MVP
With all due respect to ALCS MVP Lorenzo Cain, postseason home run leader Mike Moustakas, and save leader Greg Holland, there's only one Royal worthy enough to be named World Series MVP.
Before I mention who know this: He actively leads the postseason in batting average, RBI's, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS.
Sounds like Babe Ruth, but that man is actually Eric Hosmer.
The 2008 first-round draft pick hasn't been a bust since he began starting at first base in 2011, but considering former batting champion and World Series MVP Buster Posey was selected two picks after him at No.5, you could say more was expected of Hosmer.
Now in his first career postseason and two games away from a World Series title, Hosmer is finally getting a chance to prove he was worth the pick.
As I previously mentioned, Hosmer's .375 batting average. 10 RBI's. .474 on base percentage. .583 slugging percentage and 1.057 OPS are the best among Royals and Giants players.
This comes after a season in which Hosmer provided a stat line of .270/.318/.398. Not only are his postseason totals much more significant, he accomplished it against every team's best pitchers.
The question now is, what spurred this postseason hitting frenzy?
All indications point to the first baseman's strong performance at the end of the regular season.
In the final two weeks of September, Hosmer hit .327 while producing a 490 on base percentage and .571 slugging percentage, numbers much more indicative of his postseason play.
but in order to gain a World Series and MVP title, he'll have to continue swinging a hot bat.
Unlike the NHL postseason where MVP is selected for someone's play from every series, Major League Baseball chooses its MVP from the best World Series performance.
So if Kansas City does go on to win the World Series and there's still no Royal who outshines the rest, I beg the MLB to give the World Series MVP to Eric Hosner.
Not only because of his cool mohawk, but for his overall outstanding postseason performance.
— Edited by Ashley Peralta
Freshman middle blocker Kelsie Payne and junior outside hitter Tiana Dockery go up to block an attempted kill from a Texas Tech player.
KYLE PAPPAS
@KvlePap
Heading into Saturday afternoon's matchup with Texas Tech, Kansas volleyball (16- 6,4-4) hadn't lost a match to the Red Raiders since 2010. That remained unchanged afterward, as the Jayhawks downed a struggling Texas Tech squad in straight sets, 25-14, 25-19, 25-20.
"We beat a quality team today. To do it 3-0, I think maybe Texas is the only other team to do that to Texas Tech, maybe K-State," coach Ray Bechard said. "But it was just good from start to finish, I thought we felt like we were in control pretty much the whole time."
Texas Tech (15-5, 3-5)
jumped out to a 3-0 lead early in the first set before the Jayhawks finally got on the board with a kill from freshman middle blocker Kelsie Payne. Kansas continued to battle back as Payne contributed several timely blocks and key kills. Red Raiders coach Don Flora called a timeout down 5-8, but his team wasn't ever quite able to get back on track as the Jayhawks took the set comfortably, 25-14.
Though set two was more competitive, the end result was the same, as Kansas used a late run to take a two-set lead. Tied 14-14, the Jayhawks took eight of the next 11 points to take a 22-17 advantage. Junior outside hitter Tiana Dockery notched a set-high four kills
before senior outside hitter Chelsea Albers sealed the set with a hard swing that was too much for the Red Raiders' middles to handle.
"We had a lot more high energy than we did the other night [against Iowa State] and we went on strings of making plays rather than making errors," Albers said. "I think that we focused on not playing tentative and that's how we really exceeded the level tonight."
In the third set, Kansas shot out to a 4-0 advantage as it continued to get all of its players involved - its first four kills came via four different players. But Texas Tech showed its resilience, fighting its way back to a 13-13 tie behind a series of its
own kills from its front line That was as close to the lead as itd get though; several attack and service errors eventually doomed the Red Raiders, as the Jayhawks went on to take the match and the set, 25-20.
Albers and Payne were a nuisance at the net for Texas Tech all afternoon, as the Red Raiders' front simply couldn't seem to overcome the duo's clear height advantage. The Jayhawks had seven blocks in just the first set, ending the afternoon with 13.5 total.
"You know, you can talk about attacks, you can talk about a lot of different things, but blocking's the most intimidating fundamental in the game," Bechard said. "And when you start blocking teams, you can change the
game."
For Kansas, Albers finished the day with a game-high 10 kills while turning in a .381 hitting percentage. Payne contributed seven kills on a .429 hitting percentage as well.
The Red Raiders were led by sophomore middle blocker Lauren Douglass' eight kills and .727 hitting percentage, though Texas Tech as a team finished the afternoon with a dismal .075 hitting percentage.
That's a good team, 15-5. That completes the first round of Big 12, winning four of our last five." Bechard said. "So, certainly we feel like we have a little momentum going."
Edited by Drew Parks
Soccer notches record 10th home victory
LIZ KUHLMANN
@LizKuhliannUDK
two goals by junior midfielder Liana Salazar gave No. 15 Kansas (15-3-0, 5-2-0) a 2-1 victory against Iowa State (6-10-0, 0-6-0) on Friday and pushed the team into program history, as well. With 10 wins, the team set a KU record for the number of home games won in a single season. How fitting the deciding game happened on senior night, too.
with intensity and speed, and tonight was no exception. Kansas kept up a pressured offensive attack throughout the majority of the first half, dominating possession and keeping a tough Cyclone defense on its toes and its keeper working in the box.
For us, it's like thanking the fans for giving us this amazing support. This is just the result of a great atmosphere."
LIANA SALAZAR
Junior midfielder
"Their goalie was amazing," Salazar said of Andrea Swanson's 13 saves. "We have to give her credit. She was very good tonight."
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Salazar said this historic game reflects the success of this year's team and the fans that support it.
"This is amazing," Salazar said. "When we play at home we can feel the people. People like to come here, enjoy and watch the game. For us, it's like thanking the fans for giving us this amazing support. This is just the result of a great atmosphere."
The Jayhawks pride themselves on starting games
Sophomore midfielder Tayler Estrada winds up for a shot against Iowa State on Friday. Kansas won 2-1 on senior night.
Within minutes of the game starting, an ISU defender tripped senior forward/midfielder Jamie Fletcher from behind as she made an attempt on goal. The resulting penalty kick allowed Salazar to drill a sharp shot into the upper right hand corner of the net for her 10th goal of the year.
few close calls when ISU got too close to the box.
"I thought the kids did a good job of executing what we told them to do," coach Mark Francis said. "I'm a little bit disappointed we didn't score more goals. We obviously had some good opportunities. I think I would've liked to have been more efficient."
While ISU defense put up a fight, its offense lagged behind in shots, 14-4 at the end of the first half. This did not change as the team entered the second half, and the Jayhawks quickly picked up where they left off — aggressively attacking on offense. Once again, the Jayhawks controlled the ball for the majority of the half, and their defense thwarted a
"I practice PK's every single day!" Salazar said. "I think now that everyone knows where I'm going to shoot, I have to change it up a bit ... My team is helping me score, they have all the credit."
Salazar's second and final goal of the night arrived with four minutes left in the game. On a fast-paced breakaway from midfield, Salazar shot the ball from far out into the lower left hand corner of the goal past a diving ISU keeper to give Kansas a 2-0 lead.
"She's scored a lot this year," Francis said. "Of course, it's been a few games since she's scored. That second goal was a really good goal; that's a goal scorer's goal. She got in that situation and placed it in the far corner. Really good finish by her. I think for her it's good for her confidence to score again but also good for our team."
"Little bit disappointed with that goal," Francis said. "It would've been nice to have gotten the shutout. But the most important thing tonight was that we won."
ISU was determined to get on the board, however, and moments later forward Koree Willer put in her first Big 12 goal of the season and cut the lajhawks' lead to one.
At the conclusion of the game, the program held its annual Senior Night ceremony and honored six senior leaders: Jamie Fletcher, Ali Kimura, Kelsey Lyden, Kaitlyn Stroud, Caroline Van Slambrouck and Haley Yearout. These six helped Kansas to 42 victories in four seasons and four straight Big 12 tournament appearances. They have an accumulated 234 starts and more than 22,000 minutes of play.
"It means a lot [to win on senior night]" Salazar said. "I [arrived at Kansas] with them when we were freshmen because I redshirted. So it's
sad to see them go because they've been with me since the beginning. But they deserve this win. They've been a huge part of the program."
With only one game this weekend, the Jayhawks will be able to rest and recover for their final regular season game against Oklahoma on Friday.
"Right now we have to go to OU and win there and be ready for the Big 12 Tournament," Salazar said. "We can win the tournament, so I think we are going to rest this week and be ready to go."
Edited by Emily Brown
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