University Daily Kansan / Friday. August 29, 1986
Sports
9
Renovation could help baseball recruiting
By RIC ANDERSON
Sports writer
Quigley Field, the home of the Jayhawk baseball team, is being changed.
But according to the Athletic Department, baseball coaches and players, the changes don't stop at the boundaries of the field.
For the first time since its construction in 1958, Quigley Field will be undergoing significant renovations, including new bleachers, a press box, concession stands and rest rooms.
Kansas head coach Marty Pattin said recently that the renovation would benefit the Jayhawk recruiting program.
The cost of this first phase has been budgeted at $115,000. These funds have been provided by a former Jayhawk baseball player who wishes to remain anonymous.
John Sanders, Nebraska baseball head coach, said, "No question about it, it'll help Marty.
Other Big Eight Conference coaches agree
"Obviously that's going to be attractive to new athletes," Pattin said.
"When you display any capital improvement, you can demonstrate to a recruit the university's commitment to the program."
"I think it's great that the University of Kansas has shown interest in baseball," Sanders said. "I'm always for the general up-building of programs across the country. To succeed, college baseball must be a collective effort."
After the renovations, Quigley Field will be similar to Nebraska's home stadium, Buck Beltzer Field, which seats 1,500 people.
But that isn't the only reason he is excited about Quigley Field.
"It'll be in play there," he said.
"There'll be more student interest."
phase project is completed. Funds for the project were donated by a former Kansas baseball great who wishes to remain anonymous
Sanders said the field would be quite a place to play if more students who were enthusiastic sports fans attended games.
"I remember a game in 1979," Sanders said. "It was one of those hot, muggy days and the spirits were really flowing. The fans got pretty wild and crazy, but it was fun. It was
good for the team."
Pattin said the new stadium also should boost attendance, which was about 200 fans a game last season, and that would have a positive effect on his team.
"We'll have a facility that will be attractive for people who want to come out and watch KU baseball," Pattin said. "And that's only going to help our kids inspired."
Scott Taylor, Arkansas City sophomore pitcher, said he thought the new stadium would bring out more people to games. And more people means more excitement.
"It if was filled, for baseball that'd be like play in Allen Field House." Taylor said. "One time we played Wichita State they had 2,300 people. They got rowdy, really making a lot of noise. It was great."
Improved stadiums have had an impact on attendances.
impact Gary Ward. Oklahoma State baseball head coach, said that although attendance figures didn't improve in 1981, the first year the Cowbies played on Allie P. Reynolds Stadium, they quickly picked up the next season. Ward said attendance had risen steadily ever since. The stadium seats 3,000 people in its two
tiers of bleachers.
Oklahoma State charges $25 for student season tickets, and with the new stadium, Jayhawk fans may face a similar situation.
The bleachers, which will be built by Southern Bleachers Inc. of Graham, Texas, will consist of a center seating section of 22 rows and two side sections of 14 rows each. These will run from dugout to dugout, with access ramps for the handicapped on each end.
The first phase of the renovation began the first week of August and should be completed by the time the Jayhawks play their first regular season game in the spring. This phase includes the building of new aluminum bleachers, which will raise the seating capacity at Quigley Field from 800 to 1,500.
Floyd Temple, assistant athletic director, said he thought the Jayhawks would soon become the last team in the Big Eight to start charging fans to come to games. If imposed, he said there would be a nominal fee charged and revenue would be used to balance the expenses of the program.
For the second phase of renovation, Walter J. Hicks Associates Architects & Planners, 2320 Mesa Way, will design rest rooms and concession stands to be placed under the bleachers. Funds for this phase of construction will come from the department. Hicks, a former Jayhawk baseball player, is acting as a liaison between the department and Southern Bleacher Inc. during the first phase.
A 32-foot long press box, a 30-foot high chain link backstop and a new sound system will also be constructed by Southern Bleachers Inc. during this phase.
Toronto within five games of Boston
Blue Jays climb closer to top
United Press International
CLEVELAND — Jim Clancy sur-
rendered nine hits, and Tony Fernandez and George Bell each had four hits last night to spark the surger-
tion Toronto Blue Jays to a 9-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians.
Toronto, the defending American League East champion, extended its winning streak to five games and the Blue Jays moved to within 4½ games of Boston in the AL East. Toronto has won eight of its last 10 games.
Clancy, 14-7, struck out five and walked none in pitching his fourth complete game. He lost his shutout bid in the sixth when Andre Thornton belted his 17th home run of the year.
The Blue Jays made it 2-0 in the third. Fernandez led off with a triple and scored on Willis Upshaw's single.
Fernandez led off the game with a single, took second on an infield out and scored on Bell's single to right.
Chicago 6. Texas 2
Doubles by Rick Leach and Fernandez gave Toronto another run in the fourth.
The Blue Jays chased starter Ken Schrom, 11-6, in a two-run fifth. Lloyd Moseby scored with a single, stole second and scored on Bell's double to rich. Rich Yett replaced Schrom and Bell scored on Leach's double to give Toronto a 5-1 lead.
CHICAGO — Ron Hassey hit a two-run double in the first inning and Steve Carlton and two relievers combined on a seven-hitter last night to lead the Chicago White Sox to their first victory this season against Texas, a 6-2 decision over the Rangers.
Carlton raised his American League record to 2-2 and 5-1 overall. The 41-year-old left-hander allowed six hits, walked four and struck out four in 6-13 innings. Bobby Thigpen pitched $2\frac{1}{2}$ innings for his second foul. Texas starter Jose Guzman, who gave up six runs in $5\frac{1}{2}$ innings fell to 9-12.
The Rangers had won the first nine meetings with the White Sox this season.
Oakland 5, Baltimore 4
OAKLAND, Calif. — In the first game of a double-header, Dave Kingman hit a two-run homer with two out in the ninth inning yesterday to give the Oakland A's a 5-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.
Dave Leiper, 2-2, pitched one inning for the victory.
Alfredo Griffin led off with a single off of reliever Don Aase, 5-5. Aase then struck out Carney Lansford and Jose Canseco before Kingman hit an 0-1 pitch over the left-field fence for bis 30th home run.
Oakland had scored two runs in the eighth to come within 4-3. With two out, Kingman singled to knock out Baltimore starter Mike Flanagan. Ase walked Dusty Baker and surrendered Donnie Hill's single to load the bases. Pinch hitter Bruce Bochter singled in two runs before Ase walked Dwayne Murphy and struck out Mike Davis to end the surge.
Minnesota 6, Milwaukee 2
MILWAUKEE — Gary Gaetti had four hits, including his 27th homer, and drove in four runs yesterday to help lead the Minnesota Twins to a 6-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.
Friday's Games (All Times EDT)
Ballimore (Davis 9.11 and Halaban 6.0) at Oakland Plank 3.7 and Stewart 7.1, 2.4.
p m
Minnesota (Smithson 9-12) at Toronto / Stieb
Nevada
12:35 p.m.
Cheverly Drive, Condett 12-9) at Boston (Seattle
7-10), 7:35 p.m.
7. 101, 7. 35 p.m.
Texas (Hough 11-8) at Chicago (Cowley 8-8).
8 p.m.
Langston (11: 0 1), 10: 35 p.m.
Detroit (Tanana 10: 6) at California (Mc Caskill 14: 7), 10: 35 p.m.
8 p.m.
Milwaukee (Higuera 16.8) at Kansas City
(Leonard 6-10), 8:35 p.m.
(Leonard 6:10) 8:35 p.m.
New York (Gudryd 6:10) at Seattle
London 10:35 p.m.
Saturday's Games Cleveland at Boston
Minneapolis at tucked
Texas at Chicago, night
New York at Seattle, 2 night
Detroit at city, night
Detroit at California, night
Saturday's Games
Wildcats set to open season
Kansas State's new head coach says first game is critical
United Press International
MANHATTAN - The Kansas State Wildcats already have a must game.
"Our game against Western Illinois is going to be the biggest game we will play all year because this program and this community needs one coach and that is a win," said head coach Stan Parrish.
"There may never be a bigger game for us. We must get off to a good start. It will give our program credibility with our players. We've got to win on Aug. 30, period."
Tomorrow, Parrish will lead the Wildcats onto the field for the first time as K-State's head coach. The Western Illinois Leathernecks will help K-State celebrate its earliest football game on record.
Parrish mincews no words on the importance of beating the Division 1-AA Leathernecks and Western Illinois head coach Bruce Craddock knows there's a change in the K-State air.
The Wildcats went through two coaches last season — Jim Dickey and Lee Moon — and won just one of 11 games. K-State has had only one winning season since 1970.
Parrish was hired to turn that
around. He has pushed team concept with strict discipline and military-like practices.
"With the great enthusiasm that has been generated by coach Parrish and his staff and the winning tradition that has been brought to (Kansas State)," Craddock said, "I'm sure the players, students, administration and townpeople are excited about this season.
"I don't think for a moment they won't be ready to play the Leathercunks."
While there is no doubt the Wildcats will be fired up, how well they have adapted to Parrish's passing offense will be the key.
Randy Williams, a junior from Jacksonville, Fla., has hit just 87-of 202 passes in his previous two seasons at KState, but he will guide the Wildcats' pass offense. The K-State receivers will feature a lot of new faces including transfers Todd Cowings, Clark Brown and John Williams.
Running the ball probably will be an offghtguard for Parrish.
The offense is untested and will be going against a defense that has seen more passes than it probably would like to admit.
that the Leathernecks also run a wide open offense.
would like to thank The reason the Western Illinois defense is familiar with the pass is
Crickdock, whose team passed for 229 8 yards a game in 1985 and finished 5-5, will look to sophomore quarterback Paul Singer as a leader. Singer hit 115 of 208 passes for 1,601 years last year and was the top freshman quarterback in Division I-AA.
In addition, Craddock said, "We have excellent receivers who possess big league speed and ability."
It's a chance for Craddock's Leatherns to teach a Division One opponent the passing game, but it is also a chance to see just how well Parrish has ingrained his system.
"I think it is very important when you take over a program that has not been successful, and ours to say the least has not been successful, and establish good working habits with your players and establish what you consider is a winning effort," Parrish said.
"The attitude of the football team is very good. I think they think they have a chance," he said. "Our goal is to win the football games that we have a chance to win. I think we can win."
Field house gets facelift, map for floor
By a Kansan sports writer
When basketball fans in Allen Field House look down at the court this season, they will see something different.
The field house floor recently underwent a facelift and the design was changed.
A map of Kansas will replace the large Jayhawk at the center of the court, and the lettering was moved from the sidelines, where it was often covered by press tables, to the playing surface.
Lankford Enterprises of Stillwell completed the $8,500 two-week project Wednesday. The court will be ready Monday after a three-day setting period.
The floor is resurfaced every eight to 10 years, Floyd Temple, assistant athletic director, said yesterday. This is the first time the floor design has been changed.
Temple said he had thought of a map for the center of the court after he saw North Carolina's floor. Men's basketball head coach Larry Brown liked Temple's idea, and it was started about three months ago.
"I think it's a good that the whole state gets a little publicity," Temple said referring to the Kansas map. "It really looks nice."
Roanna Brazier, KU women's softball pitcher, slides into third base. Brazier, who played for the St Louis Express this summer, is one of several players who play softball all year. The KU women's softball team practiced yesterday at Javawk Field.
Mark Porter/KANSAN
Year-round softball appeals to players
By ANNE LUSCOMBE
Sports writer
For the Kansas women's team, playing softball is like a job.
From the middle of August to the middle of May, the players show up for practices and games. Some are paid in the form of scholarships.
Then comes summer and a three-month vacation. But for some team members, the summer is spent playing more softball.
Off season play is not required, nor is it particularly encouraged by softball head coach Bob Stanclift. He said he would prefer his players to come back mentally fresh for the fall season rather than burned out from summer games.
Since the addition of the fall season, Stanclift said he had seen more players take advantage of summers off.
"I leave it up to them because we train for nine months and it's such a long season," Stancliff said yesterday. "It's good for a lot of them to get away. I see nothing wrong with that."
He doesn't discourage them either. Many of his players enjoy the game so much they wouldn't think of not playing during the summer, he said.
Treating softball like a job is a built-in response for sophomore pitcher, Reenie Powell. She played on a
Senior pitcher Sherri Mach, whose summer team, the Houston Comets, made it to the women's open division nationals, said she thought that by laying off even for a week during the summer she would be out of touch and out of practice.
"My life has always revolved around softball," Powell said. "You have to look at it as a job in college, but in the summers you can have more fun."
Having fun while playing softball during the school year is a plus, but it doesn't happen all the time, said freshman pitcher Genny Honea. The players have to work hard to earn their scholarships, she said.
North Kansas City team, &T Express, during the summer with sophomore outfielder Lori Hannah and former Kansas players Tracy Bunge and Jill Larson. Larson was the first Jayhawk to be named to an All-America softball team.
Collegiate players join summer teams for the same reasons as professional baseball players play winter ball, to improve their game, said Gary Taylor, a women's open division coach. Taylor, L&T Express head coach, has had several Kansas players on his team in past seasons in addition to the three he coached this year.
He said he has seen a lot of improvement by Kansas players during the summers. Freshmen can improve their playing abilities by taking advantage of summer teams.
Senior outfitter Jill Williams, who during her college career has played every summer, said some players were just out to have fun.
With summer play completed, the Jayhawks will have nine months before they play just for fun.