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WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 3, 2012
SOCCER
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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Freshman forward Courtney Dickerson races to beat the UNLV goalie to the ball on Aug. 26 at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex. The Jayhawks defeated the Rebels 3-0.
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Freshman duo makes its mark
Freshman forward Ashley Williams goes in for a goal during Sunday afternoon's game at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex. The Jayhawks lost 1-2 in overtime.
NICOLE EVANS
nevans@kansan.com
While five freshmen entered the ranks of the Crimson and Blue this year, two players have wasted no time in leaving their marks in the record books as jayhawks.
Forwards Ashley Williams and Courtney Dickerson's impressive playing has helped the squad gain a record of 8-3-1. Hailing from Albuquerque, N.M., and Peculiar, Mo., respectively, the forward duo has ingrained themselves to become prominent members of the team with their aggressive, goal-scoring style of play.
Both players have played in every match the Jayhawks have competed since the start of the season.
Dickerson has created many plays for the Jayhawks, maintaining a presence over the field by constantly getting to the ball. She has scored six points from two goals and two assists, and she has had 12 shot attempts, five of which placed on the goal.
“It's a team sport, and you have a bunch of girls backing you up in everything you do,” Dickerson said. “It's like another family and my heart is really in it.” As a player for Raymore-Peculiar High School, Dickerson also made her presence felt. She had back-to-back seasons where she collected 20 goals, a feat that made RPHS history. Dickerson received two honors while there: Offensive Player of the Year for three years and Most Outstanding Player during her debut year. Dickerson has potential to gain the same honors as a Jayhawk, especially if she continues to stay involved with the run of play.
"It would be great to play soccer [after college], but I'll do whatever
God has in store for me," Dickerson said.
Dickerson's teammate Williams is a natural athlete, playing different sports while growing up. She played for Volcano Vista High School, obtaining 88 goals and 36 assists in her career. She won a state title her junior year, and was honored with All-State first team three times, as well as All-District first team four times. Despite being a multi-sport athlete, Williams chose to continue
to play soccer for a surprising reason.
"I wasn't as good at soccer as I was basketball or track, and I liked the fact that I wasn't as good," Williams said. "So I kept playing it so I could get better, and I just loved soccer a lot more."
Williams continues her trend in earning honors in her first year as a Jayhawk. As a starter, Williams became the third Big 12 athlete named Offensive Player and
She is also second in scoring for the Jayhawks with seven goals and has taken 15 shots on goal compared to 25 overall, hounding the box whenever she can. She also has two assists and 18 points, and scored one of the Jayhawks' two penalty kicks this season, the other going to senior forward Whitney Berry.
Newcomer of the Week within the same week earlier in the season.
"I definitely want my team to win the Big 12 as a whole and keep going up from where we're at," Williams said. Watch both of these playcreating forwards on Friday when the Jayhawks host West Virginia at 4 p.m. at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex.
BASEBALL
Tuesday is DOUBLE Stamp Day
New Marlin signee Adam Greenberg heads to the dugout during practice before a baseball game against the New York Mets in Miami. Greenberg signed a one-day contract and was to bat as a pinch-hitter in the game.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Miami Marlins sign 'One at Bat' rookie for season's last game
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MIAMI (AP) — Only hours before getting his second chance in the big leagues, Adam Greenberg admitted he was nervous. Not about facing one of baseball's best pitchers — but about some pregame antics his new Miami Marlins teammates had in store for him.
Greenberg signed a one-day contract to play Tuesday night as a pinch-hitter in the Marlin's game against the New York Mets, who planned to start 20-game winner R.A. Dickey.
The game was Greenberg's first since he stepped to the plate for his major league debut in 2005 and was hit in the back of the head by the first pitch he saw - a 92-mph fastball that derailed his career.
Greenberg, 31, took part in batting practice and said he was overwhelmed by the positive reception from his new teammates, who planned to treat him like any other rookie. Catcher John Buck said Greenberg would don a USA Speedo, blue tennis shoes and pink goggles for a pregame performance in the clubhouse.
"I've got to go sing and dance in front of them like a real rookie," Greenberg said. "That, to be honest, is what I'm more nervous about."
The 5-foot-9 Greenberg said he hoped the game marks only the beginning of a career comeback. He didn't play in the minor leagues this year and hasn't been with a major league organization since 2008, but he still harbors
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hopes of a big-league job.
Several Marlins played with Greenberg in the minors as he struggled to recover from his beating.
"Hopefully there is going to be a lot more of this. This is good stuff." Greenberg said at a pregame news conference. "I want to show everyone I can play, although you can never really truly do that in one at-bat, especially if it ends up being against Dickey"
"He was a good player, and for it to be ruined on one pitch is a tough blow, if you will," Buck said. "But he has fought back. This is one of those good stories for young kids and what baseball is about — enduring to the end, and making the most of your opportunity."
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The Greenberg signing was a rare feel-good story for the last-place Marlins, who have endured the most disappointing season in the franchise's 20-year history. They gave Greenberg jersey No. 10, a more prestigious number than the No. 66 he recalled wearing in Chicago Cubs spring training.
The outfielder made his big league debut with the Cubs in Miami on July 9, 2005, and was hit by a pitch thrown by Marlins left-hander Valerio De Los Santos. He suffered a concussion that caused vision problems, vertigo and headaches lasting hours at a time, and it was nearly two years before he regained full health.
"I was concerned more with the quality of my life than playing ball," he said. "It was a tough time."
He married, started a healthsupplement business and played in the independent Atlantic League. A recent online campaign known as "One At Bat" lobbied for Greenberg to get a second chance in the majors, and the Marlins last week offered him an opportunity to play in the next-to-last game of their season.
For seven years, Greenberg was one of only two players to be hit by a pitch in his lone big-league appearance and never take the field. The other was Fred van Dusen with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1955.
Van Dusen flew down from his home in Franklin, Tenn., to attend Tuesday's game and joined the rest of the crowd applauding Greenberg's comeback.
"Life throws you curveballs," Greenberg said. "Mine threw me a fastball at 92, and it hit me in the back of the head. I got up from it, and my life is great."
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