SPORTS
PAGE 1B
TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2005
WWW.KANSAN.COM
BASEBALL
Kansas balances on edge
Kansas File Photo
Junior first baseman Jared Schweitzer swings during the Sunday game against Texas. Texas defeated Kansas 16-5 at Hoglund Ballpark.
Big 12 Tournament seed uncertain for Kansas, others
BY MATT WILSON
mwilson@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
As the pieces to the puzzle that is Big 12 baseball begin fall into place these next two weeks, the Big 12 Conference Tournament picture is no clearer than it was in early March.
Although the top four teams have solidified their standing in the league race, the bottom half is a logjam. Kansas shook up the equation with a series victory against Texas last weekend. Kansas is now 8-12 in conference play, which puts it in the eighth and final spot in the Big 12 Tournament. Only 10 schools have baseball teams, and of those only eight make the conference tournament.
Kansas is one-half game behind Texas Tech for seventh and one-half game in front of Texas A&M in ninth. That creates an interesting scenario for
the last six games of the year.
For Texas A&M to leapfrog either Kansas or Texas Tech, Texas A&M would have to go through two of the toughest teams in the league. Texas A&M will be host to Baylor this weekend, and then travels to Austin to take on Texas in the season's final series.
Coach Ritch Price said he felt good about his team's chances
Kansas State, which is four games behind Kansas in the loss column, has just one conference series remaining. K-State takes on nationally-ranked Nebraska in Lincoln.
The Jayhawks seem to have an easier road ahead, at least relative to the Aggies and Wildcats. They resume the Border Showdown next weekend at Missouri, and then finish their season slate against the Cowboys in Lawrence May 20 through 22. Both teams are in the top five in the conference's standings.
BIG 12 CONFERENCE STANDINGS
These are the Big 12 Conference baseball standings after last weekend's games. The top eight teams will play in the conference tournament May 25 through 29 in Oklahoma City.
<table><thead><tr><th rowspan="2">School</th><th colspan="3">Big 12</th><th colspan="3">Overall</th></tr><tr><th>W</th><th>L</th><th>T</th><th>W</th><th>L</th><th>T</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Baylor</td><td>15</td><td>6</td><td>0</td><td>31</td><td>17</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Nebraska</td><td>14</td><td>7</td><td>0</td><td>39</td><td>10</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Texas</td><td>14</td><td>9</td><td>0</td><td>39</td><td>11</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Missouri</td><td>12</td><td>9</td><td>0</td><td>32</td><td>16</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Oklahoma State</td><td>10</td><td>11</td><td>0</td><td>30</td><td>18</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Oklahoma</td><td>9</td><td>12</td><td>0</td><td>26</td><td>21</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Texas Tech</td><td>8</td><td>11</td><td>0</td><td>29</td><td>18</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Kansas</td><td>8</td><td>12</td><td>0</td><td>33</td><td>22</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Texas A&amp;M</td><td>8</td><td>13</td><td>0</td><td>28</td><td>20</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Kansas State</td><td>8</td><td>16</td><td>0</td><td>25</td><td>22</td><td>0</td></tr></tbody></table>
of going to the tournament after the series win over Texas last weekend.
Source: Big 12 Conference
"We moved up into solid content," Price said. "Most
importantly, if we just continue to win series,we can control our own destiny."
SEE BALANCES ON PAGE 6B
INSIDE THE PARK
JACK WEINSTEIN
iweinstein@kansan.com
Seniors help teams improve
Graduation is looming.
Enough about me. Many of the athletes we've watched this past year will be leaving us to pursue professional careers, whether in sports or in some other capacity.
In just 12 days, thousands will walk down the hill, and a few people will walk into Memorial Stadium to sit through the hours of pageantry. Although I am graduating with my first degree, those of you who wished to see me go will be disappointed. I will be back next semester filling the same role at the Kansan.
Let's take a look back at the accomplishment of some of the athletes that have donned the crim son and blue, representing the University o Kansas with class over the last four years.
Men's Basketball
Guard Aaron Miles finished his career as the all-time assist leader at Kansas and in the Big 12 Conference with 953.
Guard Keith Langford ended his career as the sixth-ranked scorer in Kansas history with 1,812 points.
Forward Wayne Simien was a consensus first team All-American in 2005, the winner of the Senior CLASS Award and one of five finalists for the Wooden and Naismith Awards given annually to the nation's top player.
to the nation's top players.
Miles, Langford, Simien and guard Mike Lee helped lead Kansas to consecutive Final Four appearances and a trip to the Elite Eight during their four-year careers.
Defensive end David McMillan was instrumental in helping lead one of the most dominant defenses in recent Kansas history. He finished his senior season with seven sacks, including three in the season-ending victory against Missouri, and 13 tackles for loss. He was selected in the fifth round of this year's NFL Draft to the Cleveland Browns.
Tight end Lyonel Anderson and fullback Austine Nwabusi both signed NFL free agent contracts. Anderson signed with the Cincinnati Bengals and Nwabusi signed with the New York Jets.
Football
Goalkeeper Meghan Miller added to her career KU records in her senior season. She holds most career goalkeeping records, including most shutouts (30), most games started (87) and the best record for a KU goalkeeper (60-25-3). Miller also was a 2004 first-team All-Big 12 Conference
Junior Luke Trammell practiced yesterday at the Alvamar Golf Club. Trammell took over for senior golfer Andrew Price in mid-March after Price had to sit out with a left-tand fracture. Since then, Trammell has played in six events with the team and has started in four consecutive tournaments.
Soccer
SEE WEINSTEIN ON PAGE 6B
Junior fills leadership void
MEN'S GOLF
Luke Trammell helps lead Kansas during Price's injury absence
BY TIM Hall
hall@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
When senior golfer Andrew Price was forced to sit out in mid-March with a fracture in his left hand, junior Luke Trammell stepped up and filled the leadership position.
In the fall, Trammell played in one event, the Kansas Invitational at Alvamar Golf Club, in Lawrence. But this spring he has played in six events and has started in four consecutive tournaments since the loss of Price, whose last March tournament appearance was an 18th-place finish in the Louisiana Classics Invitational on March 8.
Stephanie Farley/KANSAN
He sat out the next three tournaments before competing in the Big 12 Conference Championship April 29 to May 1.
After Kansas coach Ross Randall decided to take him to the UTSA Invitational in San Antonio and the Louisiana Classics as an individual, Trammell was able to build some tournament experience that helped him receive the starting nod.
"I really don't feel like I'm playing any better than the other guys on our team," Trammell said. "I think that I got lucky to have the opportunity to play, and I made the most of my opportunity."
On April 9 at the Courtyard by Marriott Intercollegiate, Trammell tied his roommate, junior Pete Krensich, for the team's low score. Trammell shot rounds of 72 and 73 for a two-round total of 145, and he finished the tournament in a 27th-place tie.
Trammell made his first start at the Stevinson Ranch Invitational in Stevinson, Calif., where he finished in a tie for 23rd place with a three-round total of 227 and helped the Jayhawks win their third tournament championship of the season.
Since then, Trammell has started in every tournament for the Jayhawks. Most recently he played in the Big 12 Championships in Trinity, Texas, where he finished in a tie for 39th with his three-round total of 234.
Trammell has held a steady stroke average of 75.50, and has been a reliable starter who consistently fires rounds in the 70s.
While Price was out, the Jayhawks won one tournament and finished second in another, but
Trammell said that losing a player like Price always hurt.
"He's a guy that we really need on our team," Trammell said. "Any guy that can go out and tie the
lowest round in Kansas golf history is a guy that will help our chances to win."
On Feb. 11, at the Taylor Made Walkoloa Intercollegiate Golf
Tournament in Hilo, Hawaii, Price shot a final-round score of 63, which tied former Kansas player Ryan
JEE JUNIOR ON PAGE 6B
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