Sports
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Shooting for the stars December graduate Nick Kallail is pursuing his dreams by interning at the Athletics Department. Kallail hopes to work for a Major League Baseball team one day. PAGE 3B
The University Daily Kansan
1B
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
Errors costly in loss
Sophomore infielder Jessica Moppin attempted to turn a double play yesterday afternoon at Arrocha Field. Kansas lost 5-3 to Southern Illinois. Megan True/Kansan
Softball loses to Southern Illinois in 10 innings
By Jonathan Kealing
jkealing@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
The Missouri Valley Conference has provided tough competition for the Iayhawks this season.
Yankees Yesterday's 5-3 loss to Southern Illinois dropped the Kansas to 4-5-1 against MVC teams this year. The team's overall record is now 25-23-1. SIU improved to 34-11, overall.
Yesterday's game was a 10-inning battle, with Kansas scoring first, and then battling back from two deficits.
then batting back from the first run of the game in the bottom of the third when senior center fielder Mel Wallach blasted one to the warning track. A misplay at the wall and hustle on the part of Wallach allowed her to reach third.
Two strikeouts and a walk later, Kansas' coach Tracy Bunge elected to bring in sophomore pinch hitter Serena Settlemier for senior catcher Dani May. Settlemier had been on the bench due to a hitting slump.
She broke out of the slump with a line-drive that drove in Wallach and moved sophomore left fielder Heather Stanley around to second base. Sophomore shortstop Destiny Frankenstein then popped out to the catcher to end the inning.
catcher to end the In the top of the fifth, SIU's first basemen Kelly Creek lined one to the warning track, reaching second base. Right fielder Lindsey Bonnell then laid down a bunt and reached base safely on an error charged to second basemen Jessica Moppin, who was covering first.
Creek came home on the overthrow, and Bonnell advanced to second.
of Bunge.
"I was pleased with what we did offensively, but you can't play defense like that," Bunge said. "You can't give a good team like that openings."
Kansas committed four errors in the game, much to the consternation of Bunge.
tie, but SIU pulled ahead in the sixth. The Jayhawks found themselves looking at two-out one on with a chance to force extra innings in the bottom of the seventh.
gs. Kansas also scored in the fifth to
bottom of the staircase Stanley reached base on a blast to the warning track. Frankenstein
SEE ERRORS ON PAGE 6B
Early practices reveal surprises
By Kevin Flaherty kflaherty@kansan.com Kansan senior sportswriter
The last day of spring practice ended Sunday with the Blue Team defeating the White Team 26-0 in the annual spring scrimmage. Along the way there were several uncovered strengths, weaknesses and surprises Here's a breakdown of spring practice 2004.
Biggest Positive: Development of corner-backs
The offensive line played out standing and the wide receivers looked great, but neither were as unexpected as the play of the cornerbacks. Kansas uncovered two solid starting cornerbacks in Junior Theo Baines and sophomore Charles Gordon. Baines, a transfer from Tyler Community College, had a strong spring and showed the quickness and physicality needed to play in the Big 12 Conference. Gordon split time between wide receiver and cornerback, but Mangino said Sunday that Gordon was the team's best cornerback. He has great hands and is a defensive playmaker in the secondary. Junior Rodney Harris also saw time at cornerback this spring. Last season's nickel back Kenneth Thompson was injured through this spring, but will rejoin the team for summer and fall drills. This could be the best group of cornerbacks Kansas has had in a long time.
Biggest Negative: Interior defensive line
Senior Travis Watkins had a strong spring, but the issue here is depth. With just two scholarship defensive tackles in spring practice, freshman walk-on Chris Brandt started opposite Watkins. In order to succeed in the physical Big 12, Kansas will need to find a healthy rotation of players
to fill in.
to fill in.
Luckily, incoming recruits James McClinton and Todd Haselhorst arrive in the fall. McClinton was one of the top high-school defensive tackles in Texas, but it is rare for a defensive tackle to start and make a large impact as a freshman. It is the hardest position to recruit, but the best defenses in the Big 12 are built off the tackles, so it is a need for Kansas.
Kansas.
The kicking game also struggled, but two new kickers to arrive in the fall, so the unit gets an incomplete.
Biggest Surprise: Defensive end play
A strong pass rush can help to make up for faulty coverage. When the coverage and the pass rush get better, the whole defense improves. The play of seniors John McCoy and David McMillan was spectacular at times and solid at others throughout the spring. The defensive ends were expected to improve this season, but help was supposed to come from newcomers. Junior transfer Jermail Ashley is learning the system and two defensive ends are still to come in the fall—freshman All-America Charlton Keith and super-athlete Anthony Collins, also an incoming freshman. The fact that the defensive ends have improved before the arrival of those two players bodes even better for the group, which combined for just nine sacks last season. Keith and Ashley should battle McMillan for his spot at the pass rushing end, while McCoy could get competition from Collins at strong side defensive end.
Thing we already knew: Linebacker is stacked
Junior Kevin Kane may have had the strongest spring of the linebackers
SEE SURPRISES ON PAGE GR
Padgett deserves respect from fans
Usually, the purpose of visiting www.phog.net — a Web site devoted to Jayhawk sports — is purely for entertainment. It gives you the opportunity to read some of the rumors people like to make up about the Kansas basketball team, and sometimes they'll even spark up some conversation.
sports commentary
Ryan Greene rgreene@hansan.com
personally, I rarely put any thought into most of the rumors, but the message board really got me thinking last week. I read some posts by fans citing negative comments about David Padgett in the Free for All as a major reason for Padgett's decision to transfer at the end of this semester.
It all sounds relatively trite, but there could be a point to be made here. I've already voiced my opinion that any and all bashing of Padgett in the Free for All is unnecessary and stupid.
It's highly doubtful that the Free for All was the sole reason that Padgett decided to leave. If that was the case, I would agree with fans who don't want someone so thin-skinned wearing a Kansas uniform. However, I can honestly support the assumption that the Free for All was probably a contributing factor in some small capacity.
This was evident just yesterday. I
must commend everyone who called in support of Padgett, but there were plenty more comments printed with fans turning their backs on Padgett. Only a small portion of the negative comments were posted, as well.
Padgett released a statement in his announcement Thursday that the reason for his transfer was that he wanted to be more of a face-up player. It's hard to imagine Padgett playing in more face-up situations than he did this season, in which most of his touches came either at the top of the key or in transition.
comments were posted, as well.
Those who called threatening
Padgett and even telling him to go to
France have no room to speak. Why
should he stay somewhere where the
fans don't appreciate his talents, heart or effort?
SEE RESPECT ON PAGE BP
CRITICISM OF DAVID PADGETT IN THE SPORTS FREE FOR ALL
- If I started behind David Padgett I would have disciplinary problems too.
- Is it just no or is it a strange coincidence that David Padgett is wearing Chenwilwith's old number 44?
Kevin Ward, Leawood junior, has been using Titleist woods and iron for two years. "I actually got my clubs custom fit at the Titleist factory in California," he said.
The more I watch David Padgett play basketball the more I am reminded of Chenowith. That is not a good thing.
Chenwih, That is not a good thing.
Graves, I love you. Padgett, not so much buddy.
Graves, I love you. Paddett, not so much buddy.
I am watching the KU/Iowa State game and I think that David Padgett is the worst player to ever play at the University of Kansas.
living room, buddy
David Padgett, hit the weight room, bobble.
Got a four-page paper to write, but I would rather think of insults about David Padgett.
player to ever play at the University
David Padgett, hit the weight room, buddy.
What's in your bag?
Source: The University Daily Kansan Free for All
Players use their own preference when selecting clubs
By Eric Sorrentino
esorrentino@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh are three of the best PGA Tour players in the world.
Yet, Tiger plays mostly Nike clubs. Phil plays mainly Titleist clubs and Vijay plays mostly Cleveland clubs. With so many different brand names available, one might ask: What kinds of clubs do some of the players on the No. 25 KU men's golf team play?
Obviously, the answers vary
Obviously, the answers were "I've been hitting the same clubs for two years now," senior Tyler Hall, Wayne, N.J., said.
These "same clubs" include an Odyssey "2-ball" putter, Cleveland wedges, Mizuno irons and a Titleist "983 K" driver.
That totals four different kinds of brand names in just one golf bag. Unlike professional golfers, amateurs such as Hall aren't required to keep just one brand of club in their bag because of endorsements.
As long as the results are there. Hall sticks with what produces.
Hall sticks with what proves. "I think that when you're playing well like we have been, you shouldn't have to switch your clubs that often," Hall said.
Hall said.
This assortment of clubs has helped Hall make immediate impact on KU golf. He has four top-10 finishes in five tournaments that he has participated in this spring.
this spring. Hall tied for second place individually at the Colorado-Stevinson Ranch Invitational in California on March 30. His finish aided the Jayhawks in winning the tournament.
Leawood junior Kevin Ward's golf bag looks a little different than Hall's.
irons and woods." "I've been hitting Titleist woods and irons for two years," Ward said. "I actually got my clubs custom fit at the Titleist factory in California."
Ward has had a remarkable spring season with the Jayhawks and has shown great potential on a variety of occasions.
His short game is highlighted by his Callaway "2 ball" putter. However, his irons and woods are the same brand.
Junior Andrew Price, Lake Forest, Ill., has a Titleist dominated golf bag as well. He carries Titleist woods and irons. Like Hall, Price plays an Odyssey "2-ball" putter.
Ward's season has been highlighted by his individual victory at the Louisiana Classics Invitational on March 9. He also gained attention by shooting a 29 on the back nine in San Antonio at the UTSA Invitational on March 2.
Price has played a big role in the success of the Jayhawks this spring. He immediately helped KU golf get off to a productive start by finishing in a tie for
V1X" golf ban. Kansas golf resumes action on April 26 and 27 in Hutchinson, where it will compete in the Big 12 Conference Championship. Preparation for the tournament in the upcoming weeks will be crucial to the success of the Jayhawks.
seventh at the Rio Pinar Intercollegiate, the first tournament of the spring, in Orlando, Fla. He has also carded four single rounds in the 60s, including an eye-opening 67 at the first round of the Colorado-Stevinson Ranch Invitational.
One element that is constant in the equipment of the team is the golf ball. Every KU golfer plays the Titleist "Pro V1x" golf ball.
"I need to focus on shooting three rounds under par to give myself a chance," Price said. "We need to make sure our final rounds get better, but we should just focus on our games and make progress each round."
— Edited by Collin Laoie
TALK TO SPORTS: Contact Henry C. Jackson or Maggie Newcomer at SPORTS@KANSAN.COM