Sports
University Daily Kansan / Wednesday, September 9, 1987
13
Jenny Splittorff, left, freshman pitcher for the KU softball team and the daughter of ex-Royals pitcher Paul Splittorff, turns to fire the ball toward first base. The team was practicing at Jayhawk Field yesterday afternoon. Splittorff also plays first base for the team.
Pitcher tries to make name for herself
By MIKE CONSIDINE Staff writer
Staff writer
Jenny Splitterff is destined never to be known as simply Jenny Splitterff. Or even freshman Jenny Splitterff.
"It's never Jenny," Splittorff said. "Its always 'the daughter of the ex-Royals pitcher.'"
Royals pitcher. Yes, the pitcher-first baseman for the KU softball team is Paul Splittorff's daughter. The same Paul Splittorff who established six club records, including most career victories, in 15 years with the Kansas City Royals.
taylas "I really think it puts pressure on
her, but it depends on how she handles it," said softball coach Kalum Haack. "So far she's handled everything very well.
everything.
"She hasn't been faced with anything yet where her name's been an item," he said. "She doesn't think anything of it and neither do the girls on the team. Neither do I."
Splittorff was recruited by former coach Bob Stanclift out of Blue Springs High School as a pitcher.
"Even if I didn't play softball, I would have come here," she said. "I love the campus. And I wanted to stay close to home."
stay close to home.
Although Splittorff was recruited as a pitcher and is one of three pitchers on Haack's squad, he said he thought she's likely to make her biggest contribution in the field.
would have known how good I could have gotten."
Springs High School "I had offers from Division I schools, but I wanted to go as high as I could go and see if I could compete," she said. "If I had gone to a school that was smaller, I never
"I think she's going to help us best at first base," Haack said.
As a pitcher, she's more a Paul Splitterff-type than a Dennis Leonard time.
Type.
"She's not an overpowering pitcher, more of a finesse, off-speed pitch er. She's not going to strike many people out." Haack said. "She has good location and good control. Just like her dad. They're very similar."
Splittorff began playing softball at age nine.
"The reason I started was because all my friends were playing," said Splitterff, who started pitching at 14. "I just grew to love it. So I stayed with it after most people dropped out."
She said that being around baseball all her life gave her a little better knowledge of the game than her teammates.
Swimmer hopes of returning to KU squad
Staff writer
Bv ROBERT WHITMAN
if no barriers get in the way, Dionne will return to the University in January to begin class work and be a part of the women's swimming team.
Until that November day in 1985 when she was in an automobile accident, Karen Dionne was a student at the University of Kansas and a member of the KU women's swimming team.
team.
The accident that nearly killed Dionne and killed KU swimmer Tammy Pease occurred on U.S. Highway 75 near Independence, Kan. The car that the two were riding in a hit a scissor spot in the road, went out of control and struck another car.
Dionne was comatose for nearly five months, but is on a road to recovery that could lead her back to the University.
She was released from New Medico Rehabilitation in Wauchula, Fla., on
August 14. She was there for more than 11 months.
"From someone they said wouldn't live, from someone they said wouldn't wake up, from someone they said wouldn't walk, from someone they said wouldn't talk, she's fought all the way back," KU swimming coach Gary Kempf said. Kempf he visited Dionne at her home in Bartlesville, Okla., about two weeks ago.
Dionne said she planned to return to the University for the spring 1988 semester. She said she was not sure what classes or how many hours she would take.
would take.
She said she was taking two classes this semester at Bartlesville Wesleyan College, kinesiology (the study of human movement) and development psychology.
once she returns to the University, there is a place for her in the women's swimming program, Kempf said.
"I can't tell you how, but she'll be an integral of the program," Kempf said. "But she'll work with me on the women's swimming program wherever we need her."
we need her. Dionne said she was swimming on her own in Bartlesville for about half an hour a day. She said she planned to swim for about one hour a day at the local YMCA soon.
As far as swimming competitively again, Dionne said, "That I don't know. I'd always like to, but I don't think it's possible. I'm out of shape. I've been out of the sport for two years.
"If I swim, there's always a place for me. If I don't, I'll be doing something, either coaching or whatever."
Kempf said he was not ready to give up on Dionne as a swimmer.
"Her swimming career is probably over," he said, "but I've learned never to give up on her, though."
ing physical disabilities that would prevent her from swimming again, but that she still had pain in her hip when she tried a flip turn in the pool.
"I'm getting around fine. Dionne
is I'm running a mile of miles
girl!" I yelled, anything.
Dionne said there were no linger-
There is also no lingering fear of cars or driving. She said she was taking a driver's education class at the college for her childish school district especially for adults.
"It's kind of like a review," she said.
Dionne said she drove on back roads with her parents in the family car to become accustomed to driving again.
She said her driver's license had been renewed just before the accident and it had not expired yet.
"It was weird being in a car after all that time," Dionne said.
She said she thought she would be afraid of driving again, but wasn't.
Brett helps Royals gain ground in 4-2 victory
The Associated Press
ANAHEIM, Calif. — George Brett hit a two-run homer and singled home a tiebreaking run, and Mark Gubicza won his first game in over a month last night as the Kansas City Royals defeated the California Angels 4-2.
Reliever John Davis quelled a seventh-inning threat by striking out Brian Downing with two on and went on to get his second save.
California Angels 42-21 Brett's 19th homer gave the Royals a 2-1 lead in the first. He singled in the seventh and drove in Willie Wilson from third base, snapping a 2-1 tie.
In the California second, Wally Joyner singled and took third on a single by Jack Howell before scoring as Bill Buckner bounced into a force play.
and wilt to get it wet. The Royals jumped on starter Jerry Reus in the first inning as Kevin Stree drew a one-out walk ahead of Brett's blow into the right field seats.
The Angels made it 2-2 without getting a hit in the sixth. Downing and Devon White led off with walks and advanced on Johnny Ray's grounder before Downing scored on another infield grounder
Wilhelm Wilson ironed his Gublerzia and pitched four-fit ball for 6% innings and overcame seven walks for his first victory in Aug. 2, snapping a six-game losing streak.
bv Jovner
by Joyner.
With Willie Fraser, 9-9, on the mound, Wilson singled to lead off the seventh. Wilson stole second and stopped at third on Seitzer's single before scoring as Brett punched another single into left field.
told
In the eighth, Wilson singled home the game's
final run.
The Royals had a season-high six stolen bases in the game.
With the victory, the Royals gained a game on the division-leading Minnesota Twins, who lost 4-3 to the Chicago White Sox.
Coordinator's plans help KU football team take show on the road
By CRAIG ANDERSON
Staff writer
The KU football team may have begun concentrating on their opening game against Auburn last week, but Shirley Nieder has been preparing for the game since March.
Nieder, an administrative assistant in the business office of the Athletic Department, works as the travel coordinator for the football team. She has planned football road trips for the Jayhawks since 1974.
The preparations began six months ago when Nieder began contacting hotels in the Auburn, Ala., area to see if she could reserve the 75 to 80 rooms that the football traveling party would need. Nieder said the closest hotel she could find was a Holiday In Holdhome in Montgomery, an hour's drive from Auburn.
A final decision on the Holidome, she said, was made after haggling on the price of the rooms. The final price agreed to was $45 a room, per night.
"The hotels obviously want to make money so they want to get us for as much as they can," she said. "I'm usually able to talk them down to the price I want."
to the care room.
Once at the hotels, Nieder said the players were given room keys immediately so they could go right to their rooms. While at the hotel, she said players and coaches avoided any frivolous expenses and lived on the bare necessities.
"No players are allowed to make any long distance phone calls," she said. "They don't eat steak dinners
for means:
Because of the distance to the football stadium. Nieder arranged for buses to take the team to and from Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium. She said she completed those plans during the summer. The Alabama State Highway Patrol agreed to escort the team wherever it went on the road trip.
for meals."
Nieder said the football team would travel by airplane to its games with Auburn and Colorado. She said whether a flight was chartered or commercial depended on which was less expensive. Kansas will take a chartered plane for its trip to Auburn.
Adrian
We all the travel plans had been finalized, Nieder then talked with Coach Bob Valesente to make out a time schedule. The schedule included the team's plans from the time it left the Jayhawker Towers on Friday morning to its arrival at Forbes Field in Topeka after the game.
Though the schedule may be given out to members of the traveling party, it is always subject to change. Nieder learned yesterday morning that Valesente had decided to move his team's practice from the Alabama Christian Academy in Montgomery to Jordan-Hare Stadium.
ery to join them.
With the change, Nieder said she would have to reroute the buses to take the team to Auburn instead of Montgomery, as had first been planned. She said she would have to talk with Valesente to revise all the travel times.
Pieper expected to be ready to face Auburn this Saturday
By a Kansan reporter
Kansas senior offensive tackle Bob Pieper took part in all contact drills during the Jayhawks practice yesterday. Lynn Bott, director of sports medicine, said he expected Pieper to be at full strength for Kansas' opening game this Saturday against Auburn.
Auburn.
"Pieper looks excellent," he said.
"He went through all the drills with no problem at all."
The KU defensive line is still a concern, Coach Bob Valesente said. He said the Jayhawk front four is unproven and will be tested by a strong Auburn offensive line.
"Von Lacey hasn't had much experience at defensive tackle," he said. "All the guys are working hard, though."
brugio
Nine non-redshirt freshmen will travel with the Jayhawk varsity to Auburn. Running backs Frank Hatchett and Maurice Hooks, offensive linemen Dave Dunne and Jason Shepherd, tight end Wolf Blaser, second team linebacker Kyle Schenker, safety Michael Page and linebacker Tony Barker will all make the trip. One two freshman quarterbacks, Lance Flachsbarth or Kevin Verdigo will also suit up for the opening game.
It's a kick
Fred Sadowski/KANSAN
Jon Gregor, goaltie for the KU Soccer Club, kicks the ball out and away from the goal while practicing with the club yesterday evening at Shenk Complex, 23rd and Iowa streets.
Most Big Eight teams seem solid at quarterback position
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The most vital position on any football team — the quarterback position — seems to be fairly solid at most Big Eight schools heading into the 1987 season.
Colorado's veterish wishbone operative, Mark Hatcher, has cleared up his academic problems and is open Saturday when he visits the season. He visits Oregon. Coach Bill Brennan had professed plenty of confidence in Hatcher's backups in the event that his only experienced wishbone quarterback was unavailable. But McCartney was not at all hesitant when asked yesterday if Hatcher was his starter.
"You bet he is," McCartney said in the Big Eight's weekly telephone news conference with head coaches.
Second-ranked Nebraska, which hosts No. 3 UCLA on Saturday, will be under the direction of junior Steve Taylor, whose 157 yards rushed last week against Utah State set a school record for single-game rushing by a quarterback.
Missouri's wishbone will also be in capable hands, assured Coach
"Ronnie Cameron has been playing the best football of his life." Widenhofer said. Cameron, a quick, sturdy junior, has been injury-prone since he arrived at Missouri, however.
Woody Widenhofer.
"But so far he's been injury-free, and he's playing very, very well." Widenhofer said. But if Cameron should falter — or even if he doesn't — the Tigers may well see SMU transfer John Stollenwerck running their new offense.
"Cameron is probably a little
quicker in the open field and his passing arm is probably a little stronger", said Widenhofer, whose Tigers open their season at home Saturday against Baylor. "But Stollenwerck is probably a little more accurate as a passer."
But only because he's a fifth-year senior," said Walden, this year's only
Iowa State and Kansas insist they have two quarterbacks apiece. Iowa State coach Jim Walden said yesterday he will start the season against Tulane on Saturday with Brett Sadek under center.
newcomer to the Big Eight's coaching ranks. Fourth-year junior Derek DeGennaro will also see action, Walden said.
"We don't have a No. 1 and a No. 2 quarterback." Valesene said. "We have a No. 1 and a No. 1-A. I feel very comfortable with our quarterback situation. It's nice to know that there
Even though he's settled upon underclassman Kelly Dohoeh as his starting quarterback Saturday against Auburn, Kansas coach Bob Valesente insisted that senior Mike Orth will be heard from.
will be a quarterback with me along the sideline who's capable of going in there and turning the game around."
Walden, Valesente and Widenhofer are no doubt hoping that one quarter-back will step in and claim the position the way Gary Swim did Saturday for Kansas State. Replacing Tim Hanson starting the second half, Swim, a junior college transfer, three touchdown passes to John Williams, rallying the Wildcats from a 16-deficit to a 22-19 lead in a game they eventually lost to Austin Peay 26-22.