KANSAS TRACK After overcoming an illness, Kansas senior hurdler Dawn Steele-Slavens is now hitting her stride, Page 3.
SPORTS
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1996
SECTION B
Mason is aging well at Kansas
Glen Mason thinks he is getting old.
"I was looking in the handout, and it says I'm starting my ninth year," the Kansas football coach said yesterday at a spring football press luncheon. "This is my 25th year in coaching. Maybe they should take that out."
Mason also commented on his age as everyone was lined up to eat.
"Look at my picture — I look old," he said after looking at a photo on the cover of the Jayhawks' spring media guide.
- But after hearing Mason speak with each student.
with such enthusiasm and confidence about the 1996 season, I think he is just getting better with age.
KANSAS BASEBALL
A year ago, Mason faced essentially the same group of reporters and announced major changes in Kansas' offensive attack and defensive alignment. He brought in new defensive coaches Mike Hankwitz and David Gibbs. Most of the Jayhawks lacked size and experience, and the team was picked to finish fifth in the Big Eight Conference.
Perhaps the biggest hurdle that loomed in front of Mason last April was his own job security. Many said if he didn't get Kansas to a bowl game, he would be sent packing.
Of course, we know what happened. The Jayhawks finished tied for second in the conference, were ranked as high as No. 7 and defeated UCLA in the Alba Bowl.
Added to the drama was the announcement that Mason accepted the coaching position at Georgia and then decided to remain at Kansas one week later. Many said he would never get another job in college football after the flip-flop. Mason doesn't seem to be bothered at all.
"The Big 12 is a lot stronger in football than it is in basketball," he said. "I wish it was the other way."
Faced with trying to follow a 10-win season and succeed in a Big 12 Conference full of outstanding football programs, Mason is calm and as witty as always.
His answer on how to do as well this year as in 1995 was just as entertaining.
"Win 10 games." he said wryly.
Although it is far too early to speculate on how many games the Jayhawks will win this fall, the roster looks impressive, and I think another bowl trip should be expected.
Quarterback Ben Rutz, who has the difficult assignment of following team MVP Mark Williams, should do fine. Mason acknowledged that although this is the first time Rutz has been a starter at Kansas, he is by no means a newcomer. The Oklahoma City native began his college career at Nebraska and transferred to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Junior College before landing in Lawrence.
The focus on the offense will be placed on running back June Henley, who flourished last season with the new system. Henley rushed for 602 yards and eight touchdowns but also caught 26 passes for 312 yards.
The Kansas defense should get a boost from the return of linebacker Ronnie Ward and safety Tony Blevins from redshirt seasons. Despite losing both players to injuries in 1995, the Jayhawks still held their own when their opponents had the ball. Returning the entire defensive line from last season should also help.
Punting is the final piece of Mason's puzzle which must be filled. Darrin Simmons averaged 43.8 yards a punt last season, good enough for fourth-best in Kansas history. Junior college transfer Dean Royal seems poised to assume that position.
The last eight years have been good to both Mason and the Jayhawks. Maybe getting old isn't so bad after all.
Jayhawks lasso Oklahoma State
The Kansas baseball team rejoices after one of its two consecutive home runs during the second inning of yesterday's game against Oklahoma State. The Jawahres won the high-scoring game 19-13.
Teams combine for 32 runs, 29 hits in a four-hour game
By Dan Gelston
Kansan sportswriter
As yesterday's Kansas-Oklahoma State baseball game progressed, it was apparent that the winner wasn't going to be the more talented of the two teams.
It was going to be the better survivor.
Brian Flink / KANSAN
Winning would mean surviving a 30-degree drop in temperature during a tedious game that reached four hours in length.
But it was the Jayhawks who proved themselves the fittest of the two teams as they prevailed in a 19-13 slugfest at Hoglund-Maupin Stadium.
Kansas completed a two-game sweep by the Jayhawks of Big Eight Conference leader Oklahoma State.
The two teams combined for 29 hits, 24 walks, 11 pitchers and eight home runs.
"It seems like we started this yesterday," Kansas designated hitter Josh Dinnick said. "I wasn't sure when it would end."
Dimmuck wouldn't have cared if the game lasted a little longer. The sophomore enjoyed a career day at the plate with a three-for-five performance that included four RBI and four runs scored. He also belted two home runs — one from each side of the plate.
With Kansas trailing 1-0 in the second, Dimmick led off the inning with his second homer of the year. Catcher Ted Meadows followed with his second homer of the year.
"I didn't know if I ever had a game this good in one that was important. Certainly not in college," Dimmck said.
After an out, Kansas went back-to-back again. This time, third baseman Nick Frank and left fielder Stephen Matthews had the honors as they knocked out their first home runs of the year.
"I've never, ever seen four home runs in one inning," Kansas shortstop Joe DeMarco said.
The last time Kansas hit five home runs in one game was on May 27,1994, when Kansas defeated Ohio State in an Atlantic II NCAA Regional game.
The Jayhawks led 10-3 after four innings only to see the No. 16 Cowboys rally for two runs in the fifth and five in the sixth to tie the score at 10.
Kansas opened the sixth with four straight hits en route to scoring three times to take a 13-10 lead.
But again the Cowboys matched that with three in the seventh, tying the game at 13.
"We couldn't quite put them away," Kansas first baseman Justin Headley said.
The Jayhawks finally put the game away in the seventh when they scored six times on just one hit. Cowboy pitchers walked six and the defense committed two errors in the inning.
Kansas reliever Linus Williams (1-0) gave up three runs in 1
1/3 innings but it was enough for the victory.
The victory brings the Jayhawks' conference record to 6-7, which puts them in fourth place. That's what made the sweep so important.
"It propels us back into the race," Kansas baseball coach Bobby Randall said. "I think this is going to get us back on track."
Kansas (16-13, 6-7) will travel to Stillwater, Okla., this weekend for a three game series with the Cowboys (2019-7-3).
Jayhawks split double-header with Blue Jays
After a Creighton loss Kansas comes back to win the second game
Kansas senior outfielder Katie Morgan slides by Creighton's Valerie Downen during yesterday's soffball double-hate. The Jawhawks lost the first game 4-3 but won the second game 6-0.
By Jenni Carlson
Kansan sportswriter
Gayle Luedke looked as if she might be sick.
Brian Flink / KANSAN
Gayle Luedek looked as if she might be sick. At the end of the sixth inning of the Kansas softball team's 4-3 loss to Creighton, yesterday, the Jayhawk coach took a few steps out of the coach's box, headed toward the dugout and stopped. She bent over and put her hands on her knees.
Kansas had just left its seventh and eighth runners of the game on base.
"Four out of the seven innings we left runners on base, and it didn't matter who was up," Luedke said. "The only run we scored up until the seventh inning was an unearned run. They had to throw a wild pitch for us to score that."
That first Jayhawk run came in the first inning, but Kansas had several opportunities to score after that. The Jayhawks loaded the bases in the second inning with no one out, did not score and then left runners at the corners in the sixth inning.
Despite not scoring at those times, the game was tied 1-1 going into the seventh inning. Then Creighton went to work on Kansas
senior pitcher Beth Robinson.
The Blue Jays got singles from three of four hitters before Creighton's Erin Fraser pounded a double past Kansas sophomore center fielder Julie True's glove, driving in two runs.
more shortstop Michelle Hubler hit a two-run home run, her third this season, to left field.
Trailing 4-1 in the bottom of the seventh, the Jayhawks got two runs back when sopho-
But not hitting in the clutch hurt Kansas, unlike Tuesday's two victories against Missouri when the Jayhawks came up big at important times.
"All the good we got out of beating Missouri was a wash with the way we came out today."
Luedke said. "We just assumed what we did yesterday was going to be enough and that Creighton was going to lay down and die."
The Blue Jays didn't do that in the first game, however. And after losing that game, the Jayhawks didn't either.
Kansas won the second half of the doubleheader, 6-0, improving its record to 21-11. Jayhawk freshman pitcher Sarah Workman, who picked up her 11th victory, held the Blue Jays hitless for 4/3 innings and allowed just two hits during the game.
"We didn't play aggressively in the first game," said Kansas sophomore right fielder Sara Holland, who broke the Jayhawk single-season record for doubles, hitting her 15th this season during the second innings. "When we beat Missouri, we came out and played our game — hit the ball and took control. That's what the difference was in the second game, too."
Kansas senior left fielder Katie Morgan completed a five-for-five day by going three-for-three in the game. She led off the second inning with a home run to left field, which was her first this season. Then, Morgan hit sharp singles into the outfield during the third and fifth innings.
Morgan's performance came a day after going zero for eight against Missouri
"I let the Missouri pitcher, Barb Wright, get to me," Morgan said. "As a hitter, you can't play the guessing game, and I was guessing. Today, I just let things happen."
Expectations run high with the kickoff of spring football
By Evan Blackwell Kansan sportswriter
Jayhawks lose Williams and Levine, but still have Henley in the backfield
That was the sentiment conveyed by Kansas football coach Glen Mason and several players yesterday at the annual spring football media luncheon.
Traditionally, the luncheon is a kickoff for spring drills, which begin today for the Jayhawks.
What a difference a year makes.
The practices will culminate with the annual Blue-White game on April 27.
Mason said the expectations were much different entering this spring season compared with last spring season.
"You're not going to have me sit up here this
year, like I did last year, and talk about all the drastic changes we're going to make," Mason said.
Last season's changes paid off, as the Jayhawks tied for second in the Big Eight Conference at 10-2 and finished the season with a No.9 national ranking.
Glen Mason
Although Kansas football looks much stronger on paper this year than it did last year, there will still be some questions to answer.
On offense, the Jayhawks will have to replace quarterback Mark Williams and running back L.T. Levine, two of the team's offensive stars a year ago.
Senior Ben Rutz and sophomore Matt Johner will battle for the quarterback job this spring, with Rutz the more likely candidate.
Senior June Henley will carry the load in the backfield.
"We think we've got a premier player in June Henley." Mason said.
"We've got to get the ball in June's hands as much as we can."
The Kansas defense will be more confident this spring now that the players have had a year of experience with defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz's scheme, which was installed last spring.
"Last spring was hard, because we had no idea what was going on," junior linebacker Jason Thoren said. "This year we have a much better idea."
The defense also will be stronger with the return of several injured starters. Senior linebacker Ronnie Ward and junior cornerback Tony Blevins are both returning from knee injuries, and are expected to make an impact in the fall.
Ward said now that he was back, he was ready to be a defensive leader.
"I don't do a lot of talking, but I think I lead by example with my play on the field."
"I want the young guys to look up to me," Ward said.
The atmosphere will change this season because of the Big 12 Conference' s arrival. The excitement of adding four Texas schools from the Southwest Conference has the Jayhawks anticipating the new year.
"I don't think there is any doubt that what we're trying to do is prepare for the premier football conference in the country," Mason said.
Kansas senior tight and Jim Moore said the challenge will definitely be greater in the Big 12, but it's one that he's looking forward to.
"We've got two of the best teams right off the bat with Texas and Texas Tech," Moore said.
"That's going to be a good measuring stick for us."