SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 2005
PAGE 1B
HURL THE SCREWBALL
JASON ELMQUIST
jelmquist@kansan.com
Jayhawk baseball satiates sports fans
For sports fans, the football season is truly over until late July. The NBA is starting its second season of the year that will not reach the pinnacle until June. As for the NHL, well, we are still wondering when — or if — another season will begin. NASCAR does not count until mid-September, so it is time to get out and support your boys in blue.
Hal! No, I am not talking about THOSE baseball boys in blue from Kansas City. I am talking about a team that actually has an above-500 record. A team that plays its home games within stumbling distance of any tailgating location in Lawrence: the KU baseball team.
What is so great about this Kansas team is that admission to home games is free with a KUID, and there is no need to camp out for a week for the best seats. Unlike the football and basketball games, there is no need for binoculars unless you want to follow a Gus Milner or AJ. Van Slyke home run over the Blue Monster looming in center field. Did I mention the occasional "Quarter Dog Day?"
So the team has a 25-20 overall record and is last in the Big 12 standings. Fans don't let those types of stats hurt the turnout at a football game.
Of course, at football games, guys' animal instincts are fulfilled by watching 300-pound guys hit each other. But you never hear about women digging any of that stuff. But with baseball, chicks dig the long ball, and you will see your fair share of home runs at a baseball game.
We defeated Kansas State in football and swept the Wildcats in basketball; why not take baseball from them as well? This weekend, the foes from the farmland will come in to take a crack at our boys. If the Jayhawks defeat them in baseball, Kansas fans can turn to their Manhattan counterparts and say, "At least your girls can play sports."
For those sports fans who are admired by the cameraman at basketball games or those who would like to get some face time, there will be three games televised by the ESPN network. When Texas visits during the first week-end of May, ESPNU will air the first two games and ESPN will show the series finale on May 8.
WWW.KANSAN.COM
The first game of the series, on May 6, will be a "Quarter Dog Day." On a Friday night, full of beer, what sounds better than getting four hot dogs for a dollar?
So, for those of you who are drooling about wanting to see a live sporting event but just do not have the cash, the car or the patience of going to a Royals game, head to Hoglund Ballpark — catch some rays, catch a game, grab a quarter dog and pray for lots of foul balls. If all else fails, watching a foul ball crash through the windshield of a car parked next to the ballpark will always brighten up the game. Unless it's your car.
- Elmquist is an Osawatomie sophomore. His major is undecided.
BASEBALL: 12-11
Kansas City bash
Brian Lewis/KANSAN
Senior catcher Sean Richardson slides into home plate safely during the first inning of Kansas' match-up with New Mexico State last night. Richardson hit a two-run double down the left field line during the same inning. The Jayhawks defeated the Aggies 12-11.
Kansas comes out ahead in high-scoring contest
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Kansas baseball team fell behind and rallied throughout the game last night before finally defeating New Mexico State 12-11.
BY MATT WILSON
mwilson@hansan.com
KANSAN SPORTSWRIETER
On a night when the temperature at Community America Ballpark dipped near 40 degrees, the bats were anything but cold. The two teams combined for 23 runs on 19 hits.
The Jayhawks started the scoring in the first inning when senior catcher Sean Richardson doubled with two outs, driving in two runs and giving Kansas an early lead. Junior first baseman Jared Schweitzer then followed the double with an RBI single, pushing the lead to 3-0.
Brian Lewis/KANSAN
New Mexico State quickly responded with four runs in the second inning. Jayhawk senior lefthander Mike Zagurski surrendered two walks, a single and loaded the bases for Aggies
junior catcher Brandon Lance. Lance drove all three runners home with a double to deep center field. Lance then scored as a result of the first of Kansas' four errors, a botched ground ball by freshman third baseman Erik Morrison on a tough play in the hole between third and shortstop.
Senior pitcher Mike Zagurski throws a fastball during the first inning of last night's victory against New Mexico State. Zagurski pitched for four innings in which he allowed six hits and four strikeouts.
Kansas exploded in the third inning to regain the lead. Without the aid of an extra-base hit, Kansas scored five times. Aggies senior righthander Joseph Hampel helped the Jayhawks' cause by walking four batters and surrendering two singles. An Aggie error only added to the high-scoring inning, where the Jayhawks sent 11 batters to the plate.
throwing error while retrieving a double hit by Aggie senior right fielder Mark Aranda.
New Mexico State regained an 11-8 lead in the top of the seventh inning, highlighted by a two-run home run by Lance.
New Mexico State began chipping away at the 8-4 Kansas lead in the fourth, scoring one run off a sacrifice fly by Lance. One inning later, the Aggies scored two more runs after Jayhawk freshman second baseman Ryne Price committed a
The Jayhawks mounted one final charge in the bottom of the seventh when Price singled with two outs and nobody on base to start a rally.
SEE BASH ON PAGE 4B
Van Slyke selected Player of the Week
For the fourth time this season, the Kansas baseball team has landed a player as the Big 12 Player of the Week.
Junior outfielder A.J. Van Slyke was named player of the week yesterday after an explosive week at the plate. In the last three games, Van Slyke was 6-for-11 and scored six times. His two homers in those three games lifted his slugging percentage on the week to 1.273.
Van Slyke blasted his eight home run of the season in game one against Texas Tech last weekend. That tied him with fellow outfielder Gus Milner to lead the team. His 42 RBI on the season leads the team.
This is the second player of the week award for Van Slyke. He first made the list on March 1. Miliner and junior outfiteler Matt Baty were given the award earlier this season.
This marks an improvement on last season when no Kansas players received the recognition.
Van Slyke went 1-for-4 with two RBI against New Mexico State last night.
- Alissa Bauer
LAST NIGHT'S BOX SCORE KANSAS (26, 29)
Player AB R H RBI
Matt Baty, cf 4 1 0 1
Ritchie Price, ss 3 2 0 1
A.J. Van Slyke, if 4 1 1 2
Gus Milner, rf 2 2 0 1
Sean Richardson, c 5 1 1 2
Jared Schweitzer, 1b 2 1 2
Andy Scholl, ph/1b 1 0 1 0
Mike Dudley, 1b 1 0 0 0
John Allman, dh 1 1 0 0
Brock Simpson, ph/dh3 0 0 0
Ryne Price, 2b 3 2 1 0
Erik Morrison, 3b 4 1 3 1
Totals 33 12 9 10
NEW MEXICO STATE (22-18)
Player AB R H RHB
Vince Rodden, cf 5 2 1 0
Jason Long, ss 5 0 0 0
Xardiel Cotton, 2b 4 1 2 1
Mark Aranda, rf 3 2 1 0
Luke Hopkins, 1b 5 1 2 1
Derek Maytubby, lf 5 0 0 0
Adam Harvey, dh 4 2 1 0
Cole Monale, 3b 4 1 1 0
Brandon Lance, c 4 2 2 6
Totals 39 11 10 8
HR Lance (2)
Score by innings R H E
New Mexico State 040 121 300 11 10 2
Kansas 305 000 40X 12 9 5
Win: Sharpe (2-0)
Loss: McFadden (1-1)
Save: Clyz (5)
Source: Kansas Athletics Department
Source: Kansas Athletics Department
VOLLEYBALL
Andi Rozum, Loveland, Co.,Junior, tries to spike against men's club member Mike Skogmo, Buffalo Grove, Ill., freshman, last night at the Horeisi Family Athletics Center, west of Allen Fieldhouse. The women's team played the men's club to benefit Habitat for Humanity. The volleyball game raised about $300.
Kellv Hutsell/KANSAN
Sexes face off in charity match
KU Habitat for Humanity gains $276 from game
BY JESSICA FERGEN
jfgeren@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
It was an epic battle of the sexes, played out on the volleyball court.
The Kansas volleyball team took on the men's club team in three games at the Horeisi Family Athletics Center, west of Allen Fieldhouse, and won two games to one. The match, which began at 7 last night, raised $276 for the KU Habitat for Humanity chapter.
Both teams enjoyed success during the 2004-2005 year. The
women made it to the second round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row and posted a 19-12 record. The men were invited to the NIRSA Division I-AA National Tournament for the first time in more than a decade.
"There was a lot of respect or both sides," senior Adam Ferrari, men's club team president, said. "I think we all knew that they were a good team but we underestimated them."
In the first match both teams came out swinging. Point for point, the men and women exchanged hits, but neither team could take a convincing lead. Freshman Emily Brown and redshirt freshman Caitlin Mahoney combined for a stuff to tie the score 12-12, but the
here was a lot of respect on both sides. I think we all knew that they were a good team but we underestimated them."
Adam Ferrari Men's club team president
“T”
men countered with a stuff from graduate student Matt Cook and freshman Lee Grignon.
SEE SEXES ON PAGE 4B