12 Tuesday, August 26, 1986 / University Daily Kansan Students to try out for baseball team By RIC ANDERSON "I just thought I'd give it a shot." Ask any of the 60-odd men who attended the Jayhawk baseball walk on tryout meeting yesterday why he was there, and that probably would be his answer. Todd Fowler, Winnetka, Ill., freshman, said that was why he was there. He said he decided to try out after a friend made the team as a walk on last year. Fowler, a right-hander who can play first base, catcher and left field, said he was eager to bring his talents to the team. "I'm a pretty consistent bitter," he said. "I can get a piece of the ball. Also, bunting is a strength." The high point of Fowler's career so far was playing for his high school team, which made it to the sectional finals. But, he said, he always reaches higher. "If you play college ball, it's one more achievement," he said. Pat Murphy, a transfer student from Tarkio, Mo., said playing college baseball meant something different to him. "Being on a Big Eight team, even as a role player, you get publicity," he said. Role player refers to a position such as designated hitter or pinch runner. Murphy isn't new to trying out for baseball teams. "I tried out for the Mets, Royals and the Cubs this summer, and I spent two years as a college player at Baseball Tarkio College," he said. Murphy said the professional clubs he tried out for had spoken to Jayhawk baseball head coach Marty Pattin about him. "I feel like maybe I have an edge," Murphy said. Not all of the men at the meeting had as much experience. "I've never played baseball, but I've played softball for a long time," said Tim Nisly. Hutchinson junior. However, Nilsly said, he thought he could make the transition from softball to baseball and perhaps make the team. "I think I have as good a chance as some of these other guys, just because I'm a little bit older," he said. "It'd be great if I made it. I think it'd be a lot of fun," he said. "I'd have to do some playing with my priorities, though. Right now I have classes that I'd have to change if I made the team." Tryouts begin at 4 p.m. today at Quigley Field. The second session is scheduled for Sept. 5, and players who have shown they have what it takes to make the team will be asked back to practice with the Jayhawks. Al Feresheti, assistant coach for the Kansas track team, demonstrates proper javelin form. Feresheti went through a drill with Dain Kerny. Lyons freshman, and Melvin Rohr, Ellsworth freshman, yesterday near Memorial Stadium. McEnroe to challenge at Open United Press International NEW YORK β€” Now that he has convinced himself he can't win the U.S. Open, John McEnroe would like to prove that he, too, can be wrong. The Open begins its arduous two-week run today at the National Tennis Center. No one can deny that Big Mac is back. Although he is seeded in the middle of the pack at No. 9, MeEnroze is receiving far more attention than any of the 256 other singles players. Just how ready McEnroe is for this ultimate test may be determined today. He is scheduled to play an opening-round match against a fellow New Yorker, Paul Anacone. McEnore defeated Annacone in straight sets last week in the Hamlet Challenge Cup at Jericho, N.Y., but Annacone is a strong player, ranked 20th in the world, and represents a particularly difficult first-round opponent. McEnroe is playing in his fourth tournament after a six-month sabbatical, during which he got married and became a father. He is as demanding as ever on himself, yet he is trying to convince himself he no longer has to be No.1 to find peace. "Your priorities change and you do things differently," he said recently. On another occasion, he said, "Once you've been No. 1, it's not easy losing to guys you shouldn't lose to. Part of the problem was that I was trying to come back better than ever. Now I feel the sooner I lower my expectations the better off I'll be. I won't be as frustrated." After the first match of his comeback, when he struggled to beat Marko Ostoja at Stratton Mountain, Vt. McEnroe said, "My odds of winning the Open went from 2-1 to a million to one." More recently, he stated, "I have to be realistic I wouldn't give myself a chance to win. In the back of my mind I thought I'd come back and play better than I have. But I'm not in sync. Maybe I took it for granted that I'd be just as good as before. Although he is a four-time Open champion with a match record of 50-5 in the national championship, the 27-year-old left-hander insists he is not ready to win this year. "When you haven't played for six months, you find your concentration level is in and out. In the past I could question line calls and get it back, but now I can't." College season kicks off tomorrow Tragedy follows Alabama coach United Press International EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. Alabama Coach Ray Perkins returns to Giants Stadium followed by traced again. Perkins coached the New York Giants from 1979 to 1983. During that time, defensive tackle Troy Archer died in a car accident and running back Doug Kotar developed a brain tumor that later killed him. This is Perkins' first visit to Giants Stadium since leaving the National Football League to coach his alma mater. But Alabama, which meets Ohio State tomorrow night in the Kickoff Classic, opens the college football season against a grim backdrop. On April 28, running back George Scruggs was killed in an auto accident. Sunday, starting defensive end William Ryles was declared brain dead after collapsing at practice last week because of a blood clot in the brain. "It's been a difficult week, probably the most difficult week of my life." Perkins said yesterday at a news conference. "I've gone through some tough situations before. I went through two tough situations here with the Giants with two players. But this has been the toughest week because this happened on the football field and the other three didn't." As for Ohio State, Coach Earle Bruce dismissed two players for the season Thursday and suspended another for tomorrow's game Two seniors, starting safety Terry White and reserve tailback Roman Bates, were removed from the No. 9 Buckeyes. Starting outside linebacker Derek Isaman, a sophomore, was suspended. sopportune. "No one likes to do this," said Bruce, who did not specify his reasons for the removals or the suspension. "One of these young men (White) is a tremendous football player, but he decided to go another way and he is no longer with us." In 1981, Perkins guided the Giants to their first playoff appearance in 17 years. Near the end of the next season, he announced he was leaving to succeed Bryant at Alabama. "I came here to carry the Giants to the Super Bowl," he said. "We didn't do that. I think they're doing all right without me and I'm very happy for them." β€œIt’s nice to be back. It brings back some good and some bad memories because we had some good and bad times here.”