THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN SPORTS
NBA | 7A
Bench boosts Thunder back into series
WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2011
Kevin Durant got Oklahoma City off to a fast start, but it was bench points that helped the Thunder defeat the Memphis Grizzlies in Oklahoma City and even the Western Conference semis at 1-1.
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AVOIDING SHOCK
Sophomore second baseman Kevin Kuntz uses for first baseman Zac Eagle after getting the out at second from Wichita State batter Micah Green at Hogun Ballpark on Tuesday evening. The Jayhawks defeated the Wichita State Shockers 7-4 during game one of this week's doubleheader. The two teams have a rematch tonight in Wichita as Kansas hoops to reverse its woes on the road this season.
Howard Ting/KANSAN
Jayhawks on the rebound
BY MIKE VERNON
mvernon@kansan.com
For the Jayhawks, the little plays made the biggest difference in last night's 7-4 victory against Wichita State.
Senior right fielder Casey Lytle made a game-saving catch for Kansas (21-24), with the bases loaded and only one out for Wichita State (28-20) in the seventh inning.
The Shockers had cut a 6-0 Kansas lead to 7-3, and as a deep fly ball bellowed toward the right field fence, it appeared the Shockers were going take an even bigger chunk out of the Jayhawks
lead. Lytle then stretched his shoulder as far out as it could go, while diving to make the catch, only allowing one run to score off the sacrifice fly.
"I told everybody in the dugout they needed to touch Lytle when he came back in," coach Ritch Price said. "The guy probably gets to third if he falls down and doesn't catch the ball. It could have been 7-7."
At the plate, Kansas smacked eight singles — often in bunches — and moved its runners over throughout the game, giving them three more runs than the Shockers, even though they were out-hit 11 to 10.
"We managed to get hits at cru
cial times", senior designated hitter Jake Marasco said. "You win games with back-to-back hits".
Following Jimmy Waters' lead-off walk in the fourth inning, junior catcher James Stanfield hit a single to left from a defensive swing on a perfectly executed hit and run, moving Waters to third. Stanfield then stole second base, enabling him to score off a double that jake Marasco hit into the gap in right-center, giving Kansas a 2-1 lead.
"That's one thing we've been struggling with — two-out hits," senior shortstop Brandon Macias said. "Jake came through big time with two outs and got everything going."
With runners then on first and second, junior first baseman Zac Elgie loaded the bases with a perfectly placed bunt down the third baseline — a rarity for the 6-foot-2, 200-pound power hitter.
The Jayhawks then opened the fifth by loading the bases with no outs off of two singles and sophomore third baseman Jordan Dreiling getting hit by a pitch. Waters then broke the game open by hitting a line drive single to center field that scored two.
"We had three sacrifice bunt opportunities Sunday that we didn't get down," Price said. "We actually worked on it today before the game, and re-emphasized it to those guys that are supposed to
be successful with it. It's got to be a part of our offense, especially with the home run being taken out of college baseball with the bat change."
The Jayhawks continued with their small bat ways in the fifth, scoring another run off a ground-out and one more from a sacrifice fly.
The 6-0 lead built by stringing hits together proved to be too much for the Shockers to handle. Kansas now travels to Wichita tonight, in a 6:30 game two showdown with the Shockers.
Edited by Corey Thibodeaux
BOXING
Welterweight champion visits Lawrence
BY KATHLEEN GIER
kgier@kansan.com
Ortiz grew up in Garden City. He followed the Jayhawks for years and would have attended the University of Kansas for college, but life took him down another path.
A 5-year-old Victor "Vicious" Ortiz looked down at his wristwatch, a gift from his big sister. There was a Jayhawk in the middle and a basketball on the second hand that rotated around the face. Ortiz fell in love with the bird on his watch.
Professional boxer and the current WBC Weatherlord Champion Victor Ortz, left, meets with City Commissioner Hugh Carter, right, Tuesday evening at 23rd Street Brewery, Ortiz, a Garden City native, will be going up against Flood Mawveater on September 16th.
Twenty years after receiving his wristwatch, he wears a Jayawk on his boxing shorts along with his newly-acquired belt that pronounces him Welterweight Champion of the World.
At the age of 13, he wiped out the field at boxing nationals and was given the Outstanding Boxer Award and the gold medal.
He went to the Olympic trials, but turned pro at the age of 17, which made him one of the youngest pro boxers at the time.
Ortiz, a newly-minted champion, is fresh off his fight with the previously undefeated Andre Berto, which he won by unanimous decision on April 16.
Ortiz was in contact with Brian Hanni from Rock Chalk Sports Talk and decided that he wanted to stop by the show during a tour of Lawrence Tuesday night.
His emotion was wrapped up into one word.
"All the credit goes to him for wanting to give back to all the fans that are supporting him," Hanni said.
"Excitement," Ortiz said. "That square with the ropes is my office. I love it."
Local fans showed up for the event, which was hosted by 23rd St. Brewery.
"It is awesome to have the opportunity to get his autograph," Jacob Pool, Lawrence resident, said. "He is a great fighter and I appreciate everything he does to give back to the community."
His overall record currently sits at 29-2-2. Of his 33 fights, every opponent has touched the mat.
Next, Ortiz will face Floyd
Mayweather Jr. The details of the fight are still being worked out, but Ortiz said contracts should be signed soon.
"I have been striving for success, to be that All-American and
to be all that I can," Ortiz said
Ortiz sported a Kansas hat and a Rock Chalk Sports Talk T-shirt while he gave autographs, signing everything from pictures to Kansas memorabilia at the event.
He ended his appearance with a simple message.
"Rock Chalk Jayhawk, baby"
Ortiz said.
Edited by Amanda Sorell
COMMENTARY
Twitter lesson from Osama's death
BY COREY THIBODEAUX cthibodeaux@kansan.com
There are two ways to participate on Twitter Join the conversation
or start it.
Keith Urbahn, chief of staff for former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, started perhaps the conversation of the year. On May 1, 2011 at 9:24 p.m. CST, he tweeted the following:
Reportedly, this was the first leak. Urbahn admitted in following tweets that it could have been misinformation or just a rumor, but to the delight of America and many nations around the world, it was true.
"So I'm told by a reputable person they have killed Osama Bin Laden. Hot damn."
He is not a journalist. He just happened to come upon some information and shared it. If the information is good enough, it can spread like wildfire no matter who you are.
1
Some of you should be able to see these athletes on campus or around Lawrence. Think about it. Onlookers have the power to shape how these figures are viewed and discussed.
Just think about the leads you could provide if you immediately post about a brawl you saw between athletes. If you catch a coach or player in the midst of a heroic act, that needs to be shared because society needs those stories, too. And please, leave out the petty gossip and foundationless rumors. No one benefits from that.
Some people have yet to realize the power they possess. You don't have to be a journalist to break news about athletics. Be the one who starts the conversation.
The "#kubball" hashtag is the biggest Jayhawk sports cesspool on Twitter. Filter out all the journalists and spam, and the remainder consists of "rah-rah, Rock Chalk" or some clever quips, which are appreciated. But there isn't a substantial topic worth talking about.
"Overheard (athlete) say he is going pro to his teammates.
{#hashtag}
We've reached a period where this is lacking in the sports realm.
Good tweet examples
"I saw (athlete) work out today not once, not twice, but thrice." #hashtag"
Give us some meat.
Bad example:
“(Athlete) just sat on some gum!!! Lol”
This whole social networking age is like having eyes open at all times, but how much do you really see when consulting these sites? For the recent national events, we see it all from every angle. Even the average person is contributing, reflecting and responding while putting these events into perspective.
But whether it is local sports or even the ones on a national scale, it looks a little blurry right now.
—Edited by Caroline Bledowski