8B
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
BASEBALL
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2007
Croatians visit for game with Hawks Nine KU pitchers lead the way with two-hit shutout; offense provides eight runs in first fall action
BY SHAWN SHROYER
shrover@kansan.com
It didn't take long to realize that Kansas' exhibition game with the Croatian national team wasn't a typical Sunday evening game at Hoglund Ballpark.
If the Croatian national anthem and the mass of fans waving Croatian flags and beating Croatian thunder sticks didn't give it away, Kansas junior Nick Faucer's first at-bat did.
Faunce led off for the Jayhawks in the bottom of the first, but before he could step into the batter's box, Croatian catcher Romeil Agladius shook his hand.
"He just shook my hand and said, 'Nice to meet you and good luck.'" Faunce said. "It was kind of astounding because I wasn't expecting that. Usually you go in expecting your opponent to be bitter towards you, somewhat. They were just so happy to be here."
That moment set the tone for the evening as two teams from opposite
sides of the Atlantic took the field with the final score as the last thing on their minds.
first live action of the fall season
The Croatians were playing their final game before competing in the European Championship and Olympic Qualifier in Barcelona, Spain, later this week, while a newlook Kansas squad was getting its
Throughout the week, Kansas allowed Team Croatia to use its facilities and gave its visitors Jayhawks. T-shirts before the
game in exchange for Croatian flag pins. But the Jayhawks' hospitality stretched only so far, as they coasted to an 8-0 victory that saw nine Jayhawk pitchers combine for a two-hit shutout.
"It was awesome. It made it feel like springtime again," senior outfielder John Allman said.
Although the game was played with wooden bats, that did little to keep Kansas from putting up five runs in the first three innings. Allman drove in the first run of the game with a groundout in the first and finished the game 1-for-2 with two runs batted in, a run scored and a walk.
"We've been hitting with wood in the beginning of the fall here, so it wasn't too bad of an adjustment," Allman said. "But it does change the game a little bit. You've
got to play a little bit more small ball"
Czyz
Junior catcher Buck Afenir and junior first baseman Justin Ellrick matched Allman's RBI output with a two-run double each. Of the newcomers, freshman Jimmy Waters looked best at the plate, leading the Jayhawks with two hits and a run
But it was the Kansas pitching staff that put on an impressive clinic.
scored.
Junior Nick Czyz got the start and threw the first leg of a no-hit bid that lasted 6 2/3 innings. A different Kansas pitcher took the mound each inning.
Sophomore Wally Marcel, senior Andres Esquibel, freshman Brett Bochy, sophomore Max Ellenbecker and sophomore Thomas Marcin pitched the next five innings, surrendering no hits and one walk while striking out four.
Not until senior Matt Lane had recorded two outs in the seventh did Team Croatia get its first hit, when shortstop Jason Popishil sent a low line drive to left field that found the grass before Allman could trap it.
"I was just trying to keep that no-hitter going, so I tried to dive and sell it to the umpire, but it didn't work out," Allman said.
Lane recovered, though, retiring the next bater. Senior Hiarali Garcia struck out the side in the eighth before junior
Kansas pitchers
| | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | AB | BF |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Czyz, Nick | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Marciel, Wally | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Esquibel, Andres | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Bochy, Brett | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Ellenbecker, Max | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Marcin, Thomas | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Lane, Matt | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Garcia, Hiarali | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Smyth, Paul | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
— KUathletics.com
Paul Smyth brought the game to a close, helping Bochy earn the victory.
After the game, there was nothing but the utmost respect expresse d between Price and Croatian manager Krunoslav Karin. Karin thanked Price for giving his team the opportunity to better prepare for the upcoming tournament, while Price was honored to oblige.
Price said. "They were thrilled to be here, and they loved the University of Kansas and the facilities. The guys told me it was the highlight of their trip.
"I wished them good luck. I said, 'Hey' like to see you guys play in the Olympics. That'd be really fun. Take a part of us there with you.'"
>> FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE
Baseball tryout is more than just a story idea
— Edited by Tara Smith
Shawn Shroyer, baseball beat writer and sports columnist, is writing a series of articles about his experiences while participating in open tryouts for the Kansas baseball team.
It's funny how after four years, you almost miss hearing the words: "Now, turn and cough."
It isn't that I enjoy a complete stranger handling my bollocks, but there was a time when each summer physical signified the beginning of another sports-filled school year. But three and a half years have passed since I've been part of a team that played for more than a KU Rec Services T-shirt.
BY SHAWN SHROVER
KANSAN SPORTS COLUMNIST
SSHROER@KANSAN.COM
So, in my last year of eligibility, I'm trying to walk onto the Kansas baseball team.
MY MENTOR
What's been most interesting to me since I made my decision to try out is how those around me — from my friends to the Kansas coaching staff — have reacted.
The first person I consulted was a good friend of mine, Jesse Newell If his name sounds familiar that's because he's kind of the inspiration for my endeavor. Two years ago he tried out for the men's basketball team and documented his experiences for the Lawrence Journal-World.
Although Jesse tried to remain nonchalant going into his tryout, as a lifelong Kansas basketball fanatic, it wound up being one of the highlights of his four years at Kansas.
As for me, I can't say I grew up a diehard Kansas baseball fan
I'd never given a second's thought
to Kansas baseball until my first campus visit. But since I started covering the team in the fall of 2005, it's become a part of my daily life.
In the spring, I eagerly await the release of the team's new media guide as if it were the latest Harry Potter book. For the record, I've never touched a Harry Potter novel. The last two Junes, I watched the MLB Draft Tracker live, taking pride in every Jayhawk who was selected as if they were my teammates.
When I got Jesse's blessing, I'd taken my first step toward actually joining the team.
REALITY CHECK
"Just don't embarrass yourself."
just don't embarrass yourself.
Those were the words of Kevin Frady, volunteer assistant coach for the baseball team, after I asked for permission to go through with this. Suddenly, the only thought running through my head was, "Damn! The pressure's already mounting."
He was half-kidding — or at least I think he was — but either way, it was something I needed to hear. Missing the cut in these walk-on tryouts is one thing, but looking inept in front of the Kansas coaches and a group of my peers after all this hype would sour the experience.
Frady's advice has run on a continuous loop in my mind as I've prepared for this feat of strength that lies ahead of me.
GONNA TRY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS
"What if you make it?"
I've never had five little words form such a loaded question. But that's the response I've received from nearly every friend I've told about my intentions to go through with this.
I try to reason with them. I try to explain the new NCAA rule that limits rosters to 35 in the
spring and point out that Kansas already has 39 players on its fall roster. Not only do I have to beat out everyone at the tryout, I have to be better than five players already on the team
"But what if you make it?"
Sometimes you just can't reason with friends. So, I tell them, "If Coach Price hands me a uniform, I'll never take it off."
I say that mostly to humor the m, but there's an awful lot of truth in it, too.
Thanks to my friends, I realized I was looking at this from the wrong point of view. Here I was, thinking this would just be something to get a few stories out of and tell people I tried, but what's the point in trying if I don't think I can make it?
It reminds me of a line from the movie "Snatch" where Jason Statham's character thinks to him self, "But if I lose — Well, I don't even want to think about losing."
Neither do 1
That's why he's the coach.
Perhaps no one has been as giddy about my decision to try out as coach Ritch Price.
Maybe he's just overwhelmed with anticipation of me making a fool out of myself, but one way or another, he's genuinely excited. And he, of all people, has provided the best advice.
"Have fun with it," he said.
That's what all this boils down to — having fun. That's what baseball is all about. No other sport on earth offers the pure joy baseball does. The smell of the outfield grass. The texture of the infield dirt. Gripping the laces on a baseball. Leaning in and taking one for the team. Only baseball players fully understand these simple pleasures.
And that's why Coach Price is so good at his job. No matter how complicated things seem, he reminds you of what really matters. Next week I'll find out if I have what it takes to play for him.
THE NEW B.M.O.C.
(Big Money On Campus)
Edited by Tara Smith
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