Volume 125 Issue 114
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
kansan.com
COMMENTARY Alcohol should be sold at events
Kansas State Athletics quite literally made a splash last week when it announced it would sell beer to anyone of age at its six remaining baseball games.
"We updated our athletics alcohol policy in order to allow us to implement a test program allowing beer sales at all remaining baseball games this season," Scott told Robinett.
It's possible for this to happen right here in Lawrence if the right people want to make the change. Kansas State's senior athletics director for operations, Casey Scott, told Kellis Robinett of the Kansas City Star that the move was in accordance with the Wildcats' university policy and procedures.
It's smart to test an idea that could raise revenues for the athlet ic department, increase fan interest for the program and also, dare I say, make games more fun.
I would like to commend them for this splash.
In case you didn't know, Kansas baseball is having its most competitive season in the three years I've been in Lawrence. I admit, its 25-18 record and spot at number five in the Big 12 rankings isn't exactly mind-boggling. But just four games ago, the jayhawks appeared to have a legitimate shot at obtaining a second-place finish in the conference.
The six-game trial is a smart move for Kansas State. It gives the administration a chance to see if its fans are mature enough to handle beer being sold at a collegiate sporting event. I'm willing to guess they'll behave accordingly.
And why not? Fans should be able to enjoy themselves at the Hog on a weekend, and players deserve to have more fans cheering them on.
Edited by Dylan Lysen
Believe it or not, Kansas Athletics should take a look down I-70, and at the very least consider selling beer at baseball games.
Now, Scott did tell Robinett that Kansas State is not considering selling beer at future football or basketball games. He did say selling beer at all baseball games is under consideration for next season.
I find it hard to believe that Kansas couldn't have similar results for its Friday and Saturday home games if it sold beer at Hoglund Ballpark where everyone's outdoors and there's already an intimate feel.
Now they've lost those last four games and have a season teetering between normally average and abnormally outstanding. It needs its fan support now more than ever. Selling beer at games could help the lahwacks get that support
Kansas State's first series where beer was made available to any fan over the age of 21 was against TCU. The Wildcats' played their second game of the series at 4:05 on Saturday. The temperature was recorded at 58 degrees that day. 2,957 fans showed up to the ballpark.
Kansas' last Big 12 home game was a series-deciding match with Texas. The Jayhawks won 4-3. There were 1,189 fans in attendance.
EXTRA-INNING WALK OFF
GEORGE MULINIX/KANSAN
Sophomore starting pitcher Robert Kahana attempts to pick off the runner on first. Kahana gave up five hits with five strikeouts. Before last night's game, Kahana maintained an ERA of 3.93 and had 22 strikeouts.
Jayhawks overcome squirrelly game to defeat Wichita State in extras
TREVOR GRAFFE
tgraff@kansan.com
Baseball fans couldn't write a more fitting end to Kansas' 1-0, eleventh-inning victory over the Wichita State Shockers.
A single, hit batsmen, bunt single and sophomore right fielder Dakota Smith's walk off RBI single in the bottom of the eleventh sealed the victory in what will go down as the prime picture of oddity in the 2013 season at Hoglund Ballpark.
"It feels good." Smith said. "We lost one to them last year that I felt pretty bad about because I ended up losing a ball in the outfield to lose it. Tonight I helped the team win and it really just feels good."
With Shockers' sophomore catcher Tyler Baker on second base, a rebellious campus squirrel entered the field of play. Kansas senior shortstop attempted to scoop the squirrel out of play before Tyler Baker, with a deft flip of the helmet, trapped the squirrel and escorted it to safer ground behind the third base dugout.
The madness started in the fourth inning as an unexpected substitution entered the game at shortstop.
"That was pretty crazy," Smith said. "I thought it was pretty funny. It was a good time."
Smith's answer was cut short with the customary shaving cream pie to the face in an atmosphere that took a much looser turn after the end of the day.
West Virginia.
K ans s a pitching fared well in the 11 inning debacle. Soph o more right-handed pitcher Robert Kahana went a career-high eight innings,
Kahana said. "It just took a little adjustment. I was choking the ball at first. I just moved it to my finger tips and I can feel the ball a lot easier."
The oddity continued in the fifth inning with what would have
"I can tell you there's a lot of guys in that clubhouse who got a sense of getting that monkey off their back."
"That was crazy," Kahana said.
"When he picked it up in his helmet and ran off the field with it, I didn't expect him to put on the same helmet. That was crazy. I was staying far away from that squirrel."
giving up five hits while striking out five in the shutout.
Kahana didn't mind running through a solid Wichita State line-up, but he would have nothing to do with a rogue squirrel.
Kahana's successful night came in the wake of grip changes.
"I just had a grip situation."
RITCH PRICE Kansas coach
a bewildered state.
been a grand slam hit high over the left field fence by Kansas senior first baseman Alex DeLeon. The initial home run call from home plate was overturned leaving many in
"I saw two things tonight that I've never seen before," coach Ritch Price said. "First, I compliment their catcher. When he picked up that squirrel in his helmet, I didn't think he could even do it. I thought it was one of the funniest things I've seen in baseball. Then there was the grand slam called fair then taken off the board. I've never seen that in my entire career."
The Jayhawks got a much needed morale boost in the victory against Wichita State. The
Shockers swept Kansas in last season's two-game series. After the West Virginia trip over the weekend, a sense of relief could be felt in the Kansas clubhouse.
tonight were the same guys that struggled in West Virginia. It was huge for those guys' confidence level and hopefully that carries over to the weekend."
"I can tell you there's a lot of guys in that clubhouse who got a sense of getting that monkey off their back," Coach Price said. "The same guys that clutched up to win
The Jayhawks face Baker University tomorrow at 5 p.m. in Hoglund Ballpark.
- Edited by Dylan Lysen
In the top of the fourth a happy squirrel delayed the game for several minutes. The squirrel took a ride in Wichita State player Tyler Baker's helmet and watched the rest of the game from the stands.
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
SOFTBALL
KELSEY WEAVER/KANSAN
The Jayhawks welcome Chaley Brickey, a freshman from Haltom City, Texas, back to home plate after a home run. Brickey scored the only run in the Jayhawks' first game of April 27 against Baylor.
Maggie Hull and company to face off against Wichita State
JOSEPH DAUGHERTY
jdaugherty@kansan.com
Kansas (30-15, 5-7) will face the Shockers (18-29, 9-12) Wednesday night at Arrocha Ballpark Wednesday at 6 p.m. for just one game. The Jayhawks lead the all-time series with the Shockers 69-17. Wednesday's game will mark the 87th time the teams have faced each other. The last time the Shockers beat the Jayhawks was April 28, 2010.
The Jayhawks come into this game leading the Big 12 in batting average for the 12th straight week, hitting .344. No other team has
The Shockers are hitting .248 with 69 doubles and 29 home runs
led the league in batting average this season. Freshman Alex Hugo has hit three home runs in the last five games and also holds the freshman home run record with 14, while senior left fielder Maggie Hull sits for the Kansas career RBI crown. One more RBI will break the current record, 135, held by former Jayhawk and current softball color analyst Liz Kocon. Maggie Hull is also continues to sit atop the Big 12 in batting average, hitting .451 for the season and is on pace to break her own record of .409 for a season.
Y
as a team. Junior center fielder Erin Carney leads the team with a .299 batting average and .430 slugging percentage. The Shockers were selected to finish 9th in the Missouri Valley Conference this season.
"I think they are a good mix. Their record doesn't indicate how strong of a team they are," coach Megan Smith said. "They have good pitching, they have some speed in their lineup and a little bit of power too, so definitely a good mix."
Edited by Madison Schultz