UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Tuesday, March 12. 1996
31B
Kansas baseball has date with Southwest Missouri State
Jayhawks ride win streak into game
By Dan Gelston
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas baseball team found out this weekend that Les is more.
Kansas freshman Les Walrond showed that he may be one more starting pitcher the Jayhawks can count on as the season continues.
Walrond made the most of his first career start in the second game of the Kansas-Mankato State doubleheader on Sunday.
He pitched four innings in the abbreviated seven-inning game, allowing two runs, one of which was earned, and three hits.
The 9-7 Jayhawk victory was his first win of the season.
Kansas coach Bobby Randall said Walrond's pitching performance Sunday earned him another start.
"He showed improvement and promise," Randall said. "He had
good velocity. He can throw hard.
"Even when he's throwing to first base he's throwing hard. He has to work on that."
Kansas' three-game sweep of Mankato State leaves it with an 8-5 record heading into today's game at 2:30 p.m in Springfield, Mo., against Southwest Missouri State.
This is the first game of a home- and home series. The Bears travel to Lawrence for a 3 p.m. game tomorrow at Hogstad-Maupin Stadium.
Kansas won nine games in a row at home last season.
The Jayhawks face a struggling Bears team with a 3-6 record, but just a year removed from a 37-21 mark, including a trip to the NCAA West Regional.
Kansas will send senior Clay Baird to the mound today. He pitched well in his first two starts, winning both games. But he has struggled since, and is 2-1 with a 6.89 earned run average.
The Jayhawks knew coming into this season that team speed would be one of their greatest strengths.
But they couldn't have envisioned the early-season success they've been having.
In 13 games, the Jayhawks are 42-for-48 in stolen-base attempts. They ran wild on Mankato State, stealing 13-of-13 bases.
Kansas junior shortstop Joe DeMarco has yet to be caught in 14 stealing attempts, and junior first baseman Justin Headley is also perfect in 10 tries.
Randall said he couldn't believe those numbers.
"Wow. I think that's pretty good," he said. "I believe it's a fun way to play baseball. People like to watch it, and we like to do it."
Kansas senior catcher Ted Meadows said that he was happy with the team's play so far, but that he knew there was still a long season ahead.
"Each day we keep getting better and better," he said. "I think our pitchers are making better pitches and improving. There are some tough fighters, some competitors on our team, and I like where we're headed."
Missouri disappointed with NIT bid
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri coach Norm Stewart felt a numbing ache as he watched the NCAA Tournament Committee reveal its 64-team field without his team represented.
The Tigers fell short of the NCAA5 when they lost to Iowa State 57-53 in Saturday's Big Eight Tournament semifinal.
The high expectations they had for this season made it hard for them to rejoice over accepting an offer Sunday night to participate in the consolation National Invitation Tournament.
"Oh, it's disappointing; you're used to being there," Stewart said. "In a way, it's nice to know that winning 17 games is a disappointment. That's a pretty good compliment, in a way."
Missouri, which is in the NTT for the first time in 11 years, will face Murray State (19-9) in a first-round
game tomorrow at the Hearnes Center in Columbia.
Not that Stewart was basking in the moment. When asked what was next for Missouri, he joked: "Oh. I
Norm Stewart
don't know. Spring break."
Among the matters that the NIT tournament committee had to reckon with was choosing game sites that would lead into the tournament championship at Madison Square Garden.
The Hearnes Center is available for two home games, but Missouri probably couldn't have it for a third.
"After that we've got Ice Follies or something going on," Stewart said.
Although Missouri long since proved it didn't have the expected heavy mettle it was projected to have after last season's last-second loss to eventual national champion UCLA in the NCAA Tournament, Stewart on Sunday lamented Missouri's exclusion after seeing the field.
"Looks like all we had to do was win one more game," said Stewart, whose team is 17-14. "If we'd won our home games (against Iowa State and Oklahoma State). But that's all over."
Missouri initially seemed to not look at the NIT. But athletic director Joe Castiglione said that Missouri sentiments that seemed to denigrate the NIT largely were said because the school wanted to focus exclusively on the NCAA.
After Missouri's loss to Iowa State, players voted on the matter and gave their approval.
Juniors and Seniors in 1996-1997
Lynn Leban Memorial Scholarship To recognize n
Outstanding personal honesty, truthfulness, independence of mind, selflessness, concern for justice.
To recognize a concern for justice
- Evidence of volunteer efforts to help others.
◊ A commitment to the use of one's education in helping others.
A record of academic achievement which supports continued academic progress.
For application, contact:
Ra Willits
School of Social Welfare 215 Twente Hall
Application deadline:
April 28
Need Experience?
The Jayhawker yearbook has openings available for the 1996-97 staff.
- Editor
- Business Manager
- Associate Editor
- Marketing Director
- Editorial Assistant
- Photo Editor
Applications are available at the Jayhawker office. 428 Kansas Union (OAC). Applications due by 5 p.m. March 22.
Questions? Call 864-3728.
(coming tonight to Kansas Union)
942 Massachusetts 832-0806
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