Volume 125 Issue 109
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
COMMENTARY Jayhawks steady despite schedule
kansan.com
or Kansas, it's another week. another cancellation.
The Jayhawks have rescheduled or canceled 10 games this season due to inclement weather.
With impromptu snow tours through Arkansas and Texas and several games played against NAIA Missouri Valley College, Saint Mary and soon Baker University, the Kansas baseball schedule has taken on the character of a puzzle, the missing pieces falling in place at the last minute.
Somehow, through the entire process of shuffling the schedule, the Jayhawks have maintained a rhythm and kept the train on the tracks. Looking through the standings in Big 12 conference play, it's Oklahoma in first with an 8-4 record, and the Jayhawks second at 9-6.
The Jayhawks have won three conference series for the first time since 2011 and have the opportunity to win three conference series in a row for the first time since then when they take on West Virginia this weekend.
This season's success may seem as unlikely to those surrounding Big 12 baseball as the never-ending Kansas winter weather. But the jayhawks have made their statement.
By beating TCU two games to one, saving a final game victory in the Oklahoma series and beating Oklahoma State and perennial power Texas, the Jayhawks have solidified their spot in the rankings.
They're contenders with a veteran middle infield that continues to play solid defensively, an outfield that has improved greatly since last season and a bullpen that rivals that of any bullpen in the Midwest.
"You start looking at the standings, and you start getting yourself setup to fail big time," coach Ritch Price said. "Our players are aware of the fact that if they have won Sunday, they'd be in first place today. Obviously, that would've been a great accomplishment with three series left, but the whole thing is about winning series, and we have to find a way next weekend to go to West Virginia and win."
Change goes unnoticed in the McCarthy Family Clubhouse. Good luck getting anyone to admit to giddiness or a sense of accomplishment to this point. For Kansas, it's time to grind.
With three Big 12 Conference series remaining the Jayhawks will play West Virginia, Baylor and Kansas State.
The Mountaineers are sitting in sixth with a 6-6 Big 12 record. The Bears remain in the thick of it with an 8-6 record and pose the most serious threat for Kansas looking forward. The Wildcats are on Kansas heels with their 7-5 Big 12 record.
For Kansas, the setting is prime for a strong finish in the conference. Ask Price, and he'll tell you it all starts on the mound where the Jayhawks are still searching for a Sunday starter.
With a few question marks remaining for the Kansas staff, the Jayhawks have nothing left to do but grind.
In a season as weird as the Kansas weather cycle, the Jayhawks are a solid threat for the top teams in the conference.
Edited by Madison Schultz
WINNER IS COMING
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Senior Alex Gutesha plays in the first round of the Big 12 Championship on Monday at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson. The teams played Prairie Dunes through a rain delay Monday morning.
GOLF OF THRONES
Jayhawks give away strokes as they take third place in first round of Big 12
CHRIS HYBL
chybl@kansan.com
The Kansas men's golf team was in third place after the first round of the Big 12 Championships Monday at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson. There were two rounds to the day, and the Jayhawks were able to completely derail their early success and
"Several of them just made careless mistakes," coach Jamie Bermel said.
shoot the worst second round of all participants and fall into a tied-forlast place with Iowa State.
"There are other teams out there, so it wasn't like we were the only ones playing in it."
The team was leading the now tournament leader Texas by one stroke after the conclusion of the first round, but the second 18 holes were a train wreck for the Jayhawks.
"Drove it in trouble, didn't get it out of trouble, 3-putting, just things we didn't do to play well."
"We had to count two eights on the last holes. There are just nine to 10 shots out there that you just can't afford to give away."
Plenty of Jayhawks gave away strokes Monday, but senior Chris Gilbert was not one of them. Gilbert's opening-round 69 made him the only player in red numbers for the first round. Gilbert, sits at 2-over on the round
"We forgot to tell them it was the second round," Bermel said.
JAMIE BERMEL Men's golf coach
two holes to play.
"We need to have everybody playing well," Bermel said. "I think of the 30 rounds Chris had played, he count all 30 rounds. For us to do well, he has to do
Gilbert sits nine strokes ahead of his nearest teammate Stan Gautier, who is currently T-29 at 10 over par. All Jayhawks, with the exclusion of Gilbert, are in the double-digit over-par category.
"He was just very consistent," Bermel said. "He drove it pretty well and obviously hit some great shots. He just managed his game very well and was overall just very consistent."
well."
The teams played Prairie Dunes through a rain delay Monday morning, after which Kansas seemed to fall apart. Play was suspended around 11 a.m. to rain, and when play resumed, the Jayhawks' significance in the tournament dwindled. Finishing has been trouble for the Jayhawks for the entirety of the season, and Bermel said the weather was no excuse for the Jayhawks this time.
Senior Chris Gilbert was one of the few to have a very consistent first round with 69, which made him the only player in red numbers for the first round.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
"There are other teams out there, so it wasn't like we were the only ones playing in it," said Bermel.
The Jayhawks didn't finish in weather that was almost perfect.
From noon to 6 p.m., the weather was ideal. However, the day would finish in the worst conditions.
"The weather was a little breezy, then we got the rain," Bermel said. "Then, for probably five hours, we had perfect conditions."
"I was joking late in the second round that this was the quiestest this place has ever been." Gilbert said. "Then a couple holes later, the wind picked up to about 40 miles per hour, and the temperature dropped 20 degrees."
Kansas will have nowhere to go but up when it resumes second round play today at 11 a.m. The third round of the Big 12 Championship is schedule to tee-off at 1 p.m., but with slight snow flurries predicted from 6 a.m. to 2
p. m., delays can be expected
— Edited by Jordan Wisdom
BASEBALL
Jayhawks cancel game amid forecasts for snow
Kansas baseball is suffering yet another weather cancellation with the unseasonably cold weather this spring.
With snow and cold temperatures in the forecast for Tuesday night's 6 p.m. first pitch against Oral Roberts, Kansas Athletics caught the game, saying it would not be made up.
Kansas is playing another rescheduled game against Baker Baker University Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Hogflund Ballpark.
The cancellation marks the 10th game canceled or postponed due to weather.
Trevor Graff
SOFTBALL
Doubleheader against UMKC moved to April 24
Tuesday's doubleheader against UMKC has been moved to April 24 due to impending inclement weather.
UMKC's website statis that the aforementioned weather is "possible low temperatures and snowfall in the Kansas City area."
Additional conflicts means that the doubleheader will be moved to Arrocha
The UMKC Kangaroos have also had difficulties with weather. The team has had 18 games canceled due to inclement weather, including 10 conference games.
Ballpark in Lawrence, but the two games will still be played at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. The scheduled matchup between the two schools isn't the first Kansas game that was moved or canceled to inclement weather. The two previous cancellations were a doubleheader against Missouri on Feb. 21 and a non-conference matchup against Nebraska in Lincoln on April 17.
Kansas has won of 19 of its last 20 games against UMKC and is 18-0 against the Kangaroos in Lawrence.
Kansas enters the matchup with an overall record of 27-13 and a 4-5 record in the Big 12. UMKC enters with a 16-17 record overall and a 5-3 record in the Summit League.
Chris Schaeder
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