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SPORTS ERSITY DAILY KA
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1995
SECTION B
Others deserve 'hoop'la
Once again the Jayhawk basketball team is flying high. For the next three weeks, Roy's Boys will take center stage, and following their path through the tournament will become a state-wide obsession — while all of the smaller athletic
And that's how it should be. They are the potential national champions.
events fall by the wayside.
But what about the other Jayhawks with national title aspirations? Don't know
SPORTS WRITER
There aren't any ticket lotteries or week-long lines
to get a chance to see them play. These athletes compete in front of small crowds generally comprised of their friends and families. These athletes don't attract television contracts or generate revenue for the University. What they try to generate is excitement, and they deserve to have people watch them play.
Take a look at senior tennis player Nora Koves. Last fall she won the National Clay Court Championships, and she's been ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation. Heck, she's a defending national champion. She won last year's NCAA double crown with former Jayhawk star Rebecca Jensen. After this season is over, Koves plans to play professionally. With her lofty national ranking and inevitable All-America recognition, she'll have little trouble finding a corporate sponsor.
My advice is for everyone to go see her play now — because when she's at the U.S. Open this summer, it will take more than your KUID to get you in.
The same goes for the men's tennis team. Kansas juniors Reid Slattery and Mike Isroff have ascended to the nation's No. 5 doubles ranking, and they're already talking about making a run at the title. Do they honestly have a chance? Absolutely. They've already beaten last year's defending champs Paul Robinson and David Roditi of Mississippi State, and thus far this season they're undefeated.
And what about freshman phenomenon Enrique Abaroa? He has played in several Grand Slam events as a professional, but he wanted to improve his game while getting an education. In three home matches this season, he has been impressive, posting wins over some high-ranked national competition. Try not to pass up too many opportunities to see him play. There's no telling how long he'll be around.
If tennis isn't your thing, you can go bask in the sun at the Kansas Relays in April. There you'll get a chance to watch senior All-American John Bazzoni, undoubtedly the best pole vaulter in the Big Eight Conference.
He finished fourth last weekend at the Indoor National Championships, and he swears that he will jump higher outside. This time next year the letters on his uniform will no longer say "Kansas." With a little luck, though, they might说 "USA."
Bazzoni isn't the only member of the track team with a shot at a title. Senior Michael Cox is a two-time All-American in the mile, and he has finished in the nation's top 10 the past two years. Cox appears to be in position to become a title contender. All that's missing are the right conditions and a little luck.
It would really be a shame if there was no one there to see it.
Now don't get me wrong. I'm not writing this column to say that we should forget basketball and rush out to watch tennis and track. Quite the contrary. In fact, most of the athletes I mentioned above will be watching the tournament coverage as closely as the rest of us.
Because Kansas sports fans are fans of every Jayhawk team — not just the ones that play on television.
What I'm saying about the other sports is this — after all of the Final four television hype is over and the last net cord has been cut, don't forget to be a Kansas fan.
Jayhawks tuned up for Shockers
Kansas freshman pitcher Ryan Vangilder prepares to let a pitch loose in Sunday's game against Iowa. The Jay-hawks will play No. 18 Wichita State at 7 tonight at Hogwalt-Maupin Stadium.
Richard Devinki / KANSAN
Rain delays help baseball team
By Tom Erickson Kansan sportswriter
The threat of rain forced the Kansas baseball team to cancel its game with Southwest Missouri State yesterday.
Waiting for the Jayhawks today is No. 18 Wichita State. The Jayhawks spent yesterday afternoon preparing for a two-game series with the Shockers.
The first game of this Kansas Turnpike rivalry is at 7 tonight at Hoglund-Maupin Stadium. Both teams will meet again at 7 p.m. tomorrow at Eck Stadium in Wichita.
Kansas coach Bingham said the Jayhawks were improving despite a disappointing 4-10 record. Kansas won two of three games last weekend at home against Iowa.
"We're a better team," Bingham said. "We've played better, had more hard-hit balls lately and our pitch counts have improved. It's just a matter of having an attitude of wanting to win. Winning is hard."
vs.
"I'm looking forward to it," he said. "It's a real treat to play Wichita State. They are a big-time program."
Kansas senior catcher Brandon English is eager to face the Shockers because many teams regard them as one of the national powers in college baseball.
Kansas Jayhawks (4-10)
Game One: 7 tonight at Hogland-Maupin Stadium
The Shockers (5-3) are coming off a 5-4 loss to Evansville in 12 innings Sunday. Wichita State was winning late in the game 4-3, but the Aces scored one run in the top of the ninth and another in the twelfth to win the contest.
Senior shortstop Dan Rude expects to play well against the Shockers despite the Jayhawks' slow start.
English said last season's sweep was satisfying for the Jayhawks.
"It itt really good," he said. "Going to Wichita State last year to play in front of about 6,500 people was special."
No.18 Wichita State Shockers (5-3)
"Wichita is always a big game," he said. "It's going to be competitive."
Kansas sophomore pitcher Robert Garola (0-0) will start tonight's game. Garola's last appearance was Feb. 26 against Southwest Texas at the Rice Classic in Houston. In six innings against the Bobcats, Garola walked only one batter while striking out five.
Making the start in Wichita is junior pitcher Jami Splitterff (1-3). The right-hander gave up four hits in six innings Friday against Iowa to earn his first victory of the season. Splitterff was the winning pitcher in the game in Wichita last year.
Tonight & Pitchers
KU Robert Gareola, (0-0, 6.00 ERA)
WSU Mike Drumright (2-0, 1.69 ERA)
Tomorrow's road trip will be a quick one for the Jayhawks, Following a day off Thursday, Kansas opens a five-game homestand with Chicago at 3 p.m. Friday.
Game Two. 7 tomorrow night at Eck Stadium in Wichita
Tomorrow's Pitchets
KU --- Jamie Spitlerf (1.3, 4.45 ERA)
WST --- Brandon Baird (1.1, 6.35 ERA)
Fonight is Baseball Ringo Night at Hogeland Maupin Stadium. All fans in attendance will be eligible to win prizes. The game is free for students with a valid K11D). All other seats are reserved and are $4.
Softball team ready for home opener
The Kansas softball team, which has an 8-1 record so far this season, will open its home season against the Oklahoma City 89ers today at2 and 4 p.m.at Jayhawk Field.
By Robert Moczydlowsky
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas softball team is ready to open its home season, but Mother Nature may have other plans.
"We're tired of practicing," Kansas coach Kalum Haack said. "I just hope the weather will cooperate so we can get these games in."
The Jayhawks already have had their share of weather problems this season. On March 3 they played through mud and rain at the Texas A&M Invitational in College Station, Texas.
Today the Oklahoma City 89er's are in town, and the 8-1
Jayhawks are ready to go outside.
"You can only practice for so long," said sophomore Heather Richins, who plays second base. "I'm very excited to get out and play, especially since it's our home opener. This type of weather happens every year.
"You have to expect it, but it still affects you mentally. It shouldn't though. We ought to be able play at any time."
Being prepared for every game also is one of Haack's chief concerns. He said that he looked to today's doubleheader to prepare the Jayhawkes for next week's trip to the Pony Invitational in Fullerton, Calif.
to get ready for the competition that we'll face in California," he said. "When we go out there we'll face DePaul, a team that was in the post season last year; Fresno State, a top 5 team; and Washington, a top 10 team. And that's just in our pool.
"We need these games today
"This will be one of the toughest, if not the toughest tournament fields in the country."
For Kansas to make a strong showing, both today and in California, the Jayhawks will have to play error-free, aggressive softball.
Haack said that the team showed improvement in its win over McNeese State but that it still had a long way to go.
"If we go to this tournament and play as aggressive as we can, I think we can play with anybody there," he said. "But if we go out there and don't play aggressively, these teams will run us out of the ballpark.
"The same goes for this Oklahoma City team. We swept them last year, but we didn't exactly kill them. They were last year's NAIA champs, and they've got a real good ball club. As far as we're concerned, today will be a chance for us to get everybody some playing time."
Today's games are scheduled to start at 2 and 4 p.m. at Jayhawk Field. The event is free with a valid KUID.
Softball starting lineup
PLAYER POS. NUMBER
Heather Richins 2B 12
Sara Holland DH 7
Michelle Hubler LF 10
Jaque Wegner 3B 18
Joy Herrera RF 6
Lora Richardson 1B 11
Katie Morgan SS 9
Kristina Johnson C 13
Charlene Reyes CF 16
Beth Robinson P 17
The Jahayh will play a double header starting today at 2 p.m. The starting lineup for the second game, starting at 4 p.m., may vary.
Women's basketball managers hit big with team
Dave Templin defends against Kansas guard Kristel Thalmann yesterday in Allen Field House. Templin, one of several team managers, practices with the women's basket bait队 in order to help intensify scrimmages.
Jerel Harris / KANSAN
Two tall men help raise practice to new levels
By Jenni Carlson
Kansan sportswriter
Kansas women's basketball coach Marian Washington was just looking to increase her managerial staff.
Mike Girardi and Jeff Jonas joined Kansas this year as managers but also have practiced and scrimmaged with the team. With both measuring more than 6-feet tall, Girardi and Jonas have helped prepare Kansas to battle against several of the nation's premier interior players.
What she got was more than she bargained for.
"The height, that's what we need to practice against the most," said Kansas sophomore forward Shelly Canada. "If we can keep them off the boards, if we can rebound on them or score on them, we just really think that we can do it on anybody."
The Jayhawks have struggled with their lack of height throughout the season. Their tallest player is reserve 6-foot-3 freshman center Koya Scott. In Kansas' 97-87 loss to Connecticut, it faced 6-7 Kara Wolters and 6-4 BeccaLobo.
"I had no idea what a 6-7 girl looked like," Kansas sophomore forward Jennifer Trapp said, smiling. "You have to play in a different way against taller people."
The Jayhawks had the chance to practice with the Big Eight Conference's best shot blocker, Lisa Tate.
Tate led Kansas and the conference with 85 blocks and was not only important during the games, but she was also a force in practice, Canada said.
"She was such a great shot blocker, it seemed like she was
everywhere," she said.
With Tate lost to graduation,
that's where Girardi and Jonas
came in. Girardi said he and
Jonas, as well as other managers
and assistant coach Pam
DeCosta, play on the scout team
during practice and imitate what
the Jayhawks' next opponent will do.
bered the first day Giardi and Jonas went to practice. They were quiet.
"That has slowly evolved," Canada said. "I don't know if that's good or bad. They'll pick on us and laugh at us. They don't baby us at all anymore."
"The height, thats what we need to practice against the most."
"They don't hold back at all," Trapp said.
And for good reason. Jonas played
Shelly Canada Kansas sophomore guard
Even though the partnership has worked out well, it didn't start out painlessly. Canada said she remem-
"When we're going against a team with some size, it's good to put them out there," Washington said. "We really have an advantage with them working for us because they can also practice with us from time to time."
basketball for four years at Carleton College in Minnesota. Last year he was an assistant coach at Lakeland College in Wisconsin before coming to Kansas as a graduate student.
Like Jonas,
Girardi said he played
years of colle-
gate basketball. After graduating from Rice in 1988, he moved to Rome where he played semi-professional basketball and coached a high school girls' basketball team. He also came to Kansas as a graduate student.
"I'm familiar with how practices are run," Girardi said. "It's really not all that new."