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friday,may 7,2004
6B the university daily kansan
sports
FOOTBALL: Big 12 predictions
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Missouri will not because of an increased schedule strength. The team must play at Texas and Nebraska, while Oklahoma State, Kansas State and Kansas travel to Columbia, Mo.
This team could be much improved and still finish 4-4 in the Big 12. Brad Smith is one of the most exciting players in the conference, and he heads an offense packed with speed and talent.
talent. This may be the fastest team in the Big 12, and a team on the rise, but this isn't the year for it to take the North.
Another team on the rise that could suffer because of harsh scheduling. The Jayhawks must find a quarterback to make the offense run smoothly.
The rest of the offense is talented and deep, and this may be one of the better jayhawk offensive lines in the past five years.
8) Kansas
The defensive tackle position is a worry without depth, but the defensive ends, led by John McCoy, were a pleasant surprise in the spring.
Linebacker may be the best position on the team, and the defensive backs are worlds better than they were last season. This team could surprise if teams take it lightly.
9) Texas Tech
Texas Tech will be flinging the ball as usual this season, but who the quarterback will be remains to be seen.
to be seen.
The battle is between Robert Johnson, the top-ranked junior college quarterback in the nation, and Taurean Henderson, a versatile running back and a great receiver out of the backfield.
Tech will use him even more with the graduation of Wes Welker, Carlos Francis and Mickey Peters.
The defense will have holes yet again, but Adell Duckett is the Big 12's top returning pass rusher.
10) Colorado
Full of talent, something just isn't right in the water in Boulder, Colo. With the scandals and last season's poor play, it will be difficult to gain confidence in a conference this strong. Joel Klatt is a heady quarterback, while Brian Calhoun and Bobby Purify form an outstanding running back tandem.
Several playmakers graduated, including the two top receivers, Marwan Hage on the offensive line, Gabe Nyenhui, defensive end, Sean Tufs, linebacker, and Medford Moorer, safety. They will all be difficult to replace.
11) Iowa State
11 Iowa State shouldn't be nearly as bad as it was last season. For starters, the team signed five running backs to boost the run game, the best of which is Jason Scales. The quarterbacks should improve, and the team added Terrance Highsmith from a junior college. Highsmith is a versatile athlete who can play several positions.
The defensive line will be strong, but the defense behind it is shaky. Much of the receiving talent left after last season. Iowa State should improve, but not enough to move out of the North cellar.
Baylor is in the second season of rebuilding under coach Guy Morriss, and the team is much better than it was two seasons ago. Key recruit Dane King should instantly upgrade the quarterback position.
quarter in. The team needs a better player at pretty much every position, but it should get better with time. The speed of the Bears is improving, but it is not quite at Big 12 level yet
When Morriss gets this team more talent, both Texas Tech and Baylor will be exciting to watch as they throw the ball all over the field. Until then, this team is a bottom feeder.
12) Baylor
— Edited by Nikki Nugent
Phillies'manager Larry Bowa was ejected from the game in the ninth inning after a close call at home plate.The Phillies lost to the Cardinals 7-4.
St. Louis'relievers shine in 7-4 victory
Courtesy of KRT
The Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA — St. Louis manager Tony La Russa expected a high-scoring game where the bullpens would get stretched thin.
Instead, the Cardinals' relievers kept it under control.
Hector Luna's three-run homer capped a five-run first inning and the Cardinals got three scoreless innings from five relievers for a 7-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.
the end. The Cardinals quickly ended Randy Wolf's 21-inning scoreless streak and improved to 9-3 on the road.
"It looked like it would be a 12 10 game," La Russa said. "Our bullpen had a great series. This is a tough park to pitch in. This is a tough lineup. You can only pat them so much. This is May and they're going to be out there until the end."
It's their best road start since they were 10-2 in 1946. They won the three-game series thanks to nine scoreless innings overall from the bullpen.
Jeff Suppan (3-3) pitched six shaky innings, allowing six hits and four runs. But the Cardinals
got a break in the first inning on an error and another misplayed ball which helped score four unearned runs.
searched balls.
Jason Isringhausen got four outs for his fourth save. He came in the eighth with runners on first and second and two out, and got pinch-hitter Jason Michaels to strike out looking.
Michael's was furious over the call and was quickly tossed by plate umpire Dana DeMuth, who
"I was arguing more about Michaels' call, to be honest," said Bowa, tossed for the 18th time as Phillies manager.
also ejected Phillies manager Larry Bowa in the ninth when he came out to argue after a close call at the plate.
Primes manage the
The Phillies offense continued to
sputter, with six starters hitting, 250
or worse. Now Philadelphia goes
on a 10-game road trip at Arizona,
San Francisco and Colorado.
"We're definitely going to have to score some runs," Bowa said. "We have to swing the bats. I don't mean just home runs. We have to generate some offense."
have to generate Philadelphia even had trouble with its gloves. The Phillies entered as one of top fielding teams in the National League, but a couple of miscues in the first cost them.
cost them.
After an error by second baseman Placido Polanco, Wolf gave up two straight singles. Scott Rolen got the second hit up the middle when Polanco and shortstop Tomas Perez collided behind second base.
second base.
Edgar Renteria followed with bloop single to right to make it 2-0 and, after the second out,
Luna hit the three-run shot to left.
It was Luna's third hit in 12 atbats this year — but second homer. Luna, a Rule 5 draft pick from Cleveland in December, hit only two home runs in 462 atbats last year for Double-A Akron.
Wolf (2-2) gave up eight hits and six runs — two earned — in 6 2-3 innings. The Phillies (12-14), preseason favorites to win the NL East, haven't been at .500 since they were 1-1.
SLUMP: Hot hitting must for Baty.
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1. 81 ERA. Howell is projected to be drafted in the first three rounds of this year's draft.
For the Jayhawks to be successful against the Longhorns' pitching, senior infielder Ryan Baty must continue his hot hitting. Baty is currently on an 11-game hitting streak and is 7 for 13 in the team's last three games.
If the team is going to qualify for the conference tournament, the Jayhawks need to win at least one game in the series. Kansas is currently one game behind ninth place Kansas State.
The Longhorns only weak spot could be their questionable offense. For the season they are batting .284, which puts them in seventh place in the conference. They are led offensively by junior infielder Curtis Thigpen, who is hitting .353 with four home runs.
plate Kansas State
Tonight's game begins at 6:30
and can be heard on 1320 AM.
Baseball Notes:
Edited by Danielle Hillix
Junior infielder Travis Metcalf needs just one more home run to break the Kansas record for home runs in a season. Metcalf has 17 home runs and is tied for the record.
As a team, the Jayhawks are one home run away from tying the school's season record for home runs with 63.
GOLFER: Senior a 'natural golfer'
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all-absorbing sport, and he probably wants to make a career of it after he gets done with school."
Hall is majoring in business administration. His coaches and parents agree that with hard work, the sky is the limit.
On the KU Athletics Web site, Hall lists his parents as the most influential people in his life.
"We're excited for him to graduate and move on to the next step in his future," Kathleen Hall, Tyler's mother, said. "He's surrounded by such great people, and they've been so supportive. He's very determined, and a very hard worker. We really anticipate him doing very well."
Hall did not pick up the game of golf until he was a sophomore in high school. He was a baseball pitcher, but Hall would caddie for his father. He ended up being a natural golfer with a love for the game.
Hall has helped Kansas to a No.24 national ranking this spring. Under Hall's leadership, the Jayhawks have four top-two finishes this spring, including a pair of victories in Texas and California.
— Edited by Danielle Hillix
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