THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2002
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 5B
Softball, rowing squads to hold try-out meetings
By Jeremy Krashin
Kensan sportwriter
For most University of Kansas students, dreams of getting a scholarship to a Division I school and being a Lynette Woodard-like superstar did not come true.
But those dreams don't have to be completely shattered.
The Kansas softball and rowing teams will hold mandatory meetings for all KU women who would like to participate in the teams' walk-on tryouts.
The softball team will hold its meeting at 6 p.m. today at the at Dolph Simons room in the Wagnon Student Athletic Center, adjacent to Allen Fieldhouse.
Tryouts are tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. August 28 to 30 at the Jayhawk Field, behind Hoglund Ballpark.
"We are looking for girls with a good work ethic, who are athletic and with a background in softball," assistant softball coach Aaron Clopton said. "They don't have to be polished softball players."
Clopton said girls who tried to walk-on to the team typically knew they would not be the stars of the team. But there have been two or three players who had a major impact on the team after starting out as a walk-on, he said.
The rowing team will hold its meeting at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, August 28 at Hadl Auditorium in the Wagnon Student Athletic Center. The tryouts will be held during the first two weeks of September.
Abby Rosdahl, assistant rowing coach, said they do not have a specific number of spots to fill because the number of walk-ons fluctuates from year to year.
There have been occasions in rowing when a girl who has never rowed before will walk-on and end up being a great rower, Rosdahl said.
"We may have a phenomenal walk-on who can jump straight to varsity." Rosdahl said.
Contact Krashin at jkrashin @ kansan.com. This story was edited by Christina Neff.
Eight returning softball players critical to team's success
It's always tough on a college team when it loses seniors to graduation — especially when it loses eight of them.
"We've obviously lost a great deal of talent," Bunge said, "but we feel like we have some returning players who can step in."
But that's exactly what Kansas softball coach Tracy Bunge has had to deal with.
Probably the biggest gap to fill will be the one left by Musser, who was named a third-team All-American by the National Fast Pitch Coaches' Association last year, the first Jayhawk to earn All-
Absent from last year's 33-25 team (7-11 in conference play) are centerfielder Shelly Musser, second baseman Amy Hulse, shortstop Courtney Wright, third baseman Megan Urquhart, catcher Katie Campbell, catcher/outfielder Leah Tabb and pitcher Kelly Campbell.
Quite a departure, indeed.
American merit since 1994. Musser also nabbed a spot on the All-Big 12 first team. Tabb earned a spot on the second team All-Big 12 squad.
Bunge said only eight players remain from last year's squad and it is up to these eight players to lead the team into the season.
"All the returning players we have will be critical to the team's success," she said. "How far we go in the year depends on the quality of leadership the eight players will provide for us. These eight people will field different roles. It's going to be important for this group to instill the work effort of this team. I have full confidence that they will lead this team in the right direction."
Especially pertinent to the team's mission of going in the "right direction" is the pitching staff, consisting of an experienced rotation of sophomore Serena Settlemier, junior Kara Pierce
"We've obviously lost a great deal of talent,but we feel like we have some returning players who can step in."
Tracy Bunge Kansas softball coach
and senior Kirsten Milhoan.
Coming to the aid of the depleted rosters are Mt. San Antonio College transfer junior outfielder Sylvia Pfeiffer and seven freshmen: infielder Annette Fierros; outfieldler Heather Stanley; catcher Melaney Torres; third baseman/outfielder Ashley Goodrich; infielder Destiny Frankenstein; outfielder Ashley Frazer; and infielder Jessica Moppin.
Bunge said all of the fresh faces have a chance at considerable playing time given the fact that
last season's lineup contained so many seniors.
"Each of them can play a vital role," Bunge said. "When you have six starters graduate you have a lot of open positions out there."
The team found themselves in sixth place at the conclusion of last year.
With a solid nucleus of returnees and what should be reliable pitching. Bunge believes her squad has the ability to turn several heads when Big 12 Conference play comes around by finishing in the top half of the conference and possibly taking home the regional title.
"The kind of players we have coming in and the players we already have are committed to taking this program to the next level." Bunge said. "The talent is there. Whether we have a young team or not, I think that it's a realistic goal."
Steven Schmidt
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