SPORTS
JEFFREY DANIELS
HAWKS TAKE ONE LOSS,ONE VICTORY
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WWW.KANSAN.COM
KANSAS STATE DEFEATS ROWING TEAM IN REGATTA
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MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2008
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》 BASEBALL
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Jon Goerina/KANSAN
Senior left fielder John Allman lunges to make a catch during Sunday's game against Texas Tech at Hogul Ballpark. The Jayhawks defeated the Red Raiders 5-2. Kansas improved to 22-16 on the season and 4-8 in the Big 12 with the victory.
Hawks catch victory against Red Raiders
Kansas rises to seventh place in the Big 12
In scoring 18 runs to win the first two games of its series with Texas Tech, Kansas took advantage of gusting winds and erratic Red Raider pitching. But on Sunday, the Jayhawks relied on strong defense and savvy pitching — which has suddenly become commonplace — to complete its first Big 12 sweep since 2006.
The game wasn't all pitching and defense, though, as Kansas (22-16, 4-8) capitalized on three home runs in its 5-2 victory against Texas Tech (17-19, 4-11). The victory lifted Kansas from 10th place to seventh in the Big 12.
BY SHAWN SHROYER shroyer@kansan.com
"When you're in last place in this conference, and you've got nine teams standing in front of you, and you're trying to get into the Big 12 Tournament, it was going to take a special weekend for us to get back in it," Kansas coach Ritch Price said.
Walz lasted 5.1 innings, and in five of six innings he allowed Texas Tech's leadoff hitter to reach
Freshman right hander T.J. Walz got the first weekend start of his Kansas career and while he flirted with disaster throughout the afternoon, he kept the Jayhawks in the game.
base — three times walking Red Raider second baseman Willie Rueda. But after walking Rueda to lead off the third, Walz promptly picked him off at first base. Senior
Edited by Jessica Sain-Baird
"It's the first time that we've gotten three quality starts all year on the same weekend." Price said. "We've scored enough runs in every series to win two out of three, but our pitching didn't quite get it done."
In the fourth, Texas Tech right fielder Roger Kiesnick led off the inning with a base hit, but Kansas junior catcher Buck Afenir nailed Kiesnick when he attempted to steal second base. The next inning Walz faced the minimum for the third straight time, aided by a 5-4 3 double play to end the inning.
lead off the sixth inning and was taken out after Rueda moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt.
However, Walz's final walk to Rueda cost him the decision. Nursing a 1-0 lead that came on a solo home run by freshman designated bitter Jimmy Waters in the third inning, Walz put Rueda on to
left fielder John Allman got Walz out of the inning with a diving catch on a shallow fly ball hit by Texas Tech third baseman Joey Kenworthy.
After a one-out walk by Allman, Afenir sent his fifth home run of the season into the batter's eye above the center field wall. With that, Texas Tech right hander Chad Bettis (3-3) exited after 5.1, otherwise solid, innings.
But after scoring just one run in the first five innings, the Kansas offense exploded for four runs in the sixth to retake the lead.
Junior reliever Paul Smyth (2-3) came in for Walz and allowed the Red Raiders to knot the game, 1-1, surrendering a two-out single to Texas Tech left fielder Doug Thennis that drove Rueda home.
"It's the first time that we've gotten three quality starts all year on the same weekend."
home run game of the series.
"Our offense this whole year has done a pretty good job of answering back when the other teams scored, and it showed really well this weekend," Land said.
RITCH PRICE Kansas coach
With its pitching staff coming together, Kansas' offense isn't feeling the same stress it has felt so far in Big 12 play.
Texas Tech tacked on another run in the eighth to cut Kansas' lead to 5-2. But Smyth, in 3.2 innings of relief, held the lead and sealed the sweep for Kansas.
"When you get three quality starts like we had this weekend, it takes the pressure off the hitters." Land said. "We know that if we put up four or five runs, then we've got a pretty good chance of winning. When our pitchers pitch like they did this weekend, it's just huge for the offense and the defense."
POSTSEASON SPOTLIGHT
'Mr. Jayhawk'times five
Self presents Kansas' seniors with Danny Manning award at ceremony
Weston White/KANSAN
The five departing seniors stand in anticipation to receive the "Mr. Jayhawk" award, which is normally given to just one player.
Kansas coach Bill Self wipes away tears after hearing Darnell Jackson's senior speech during the men's basketball awards banquet at Allen Fieldhouse Sunday night.
BY RUSTIN DODD
dodd@kansan.com
Weston White/KANSAN
Kansas coach Bill Self and his staff just couldn't decide.
Who was going to walk away with this year's Danny Manning "Mr. Jayhawk" award? An accolade awarded to the player who best embodies what it means to be a Kansas basketball player.
Let's see, you had senior guard Russell Robinson, who won the award the past two years. Or maybe senior center Sasha Kaun, who rose to occasion when the games mattered most. Or how about senior guard Jeremy Case, who dedicated the last five years of his life to Kansas basketball. Rod Stewart played through adversity off the court this season, and his injury at the Final Four inspired his teammates to victory. Or perhaps the award could go to Darnell Jackson, who's battled through a lifetime of adversity at the age of 22.
Nope. Bill Self had a better idea.
"This will probably be the only time this will happen," Self said last night at Kansas's postseason awards ceremony at Allen Fieldhouse. "Our 'Mr. Jayhawk' award goes to our five seniors."
The team that shared the spotlight and ball all season long shared the spotlight again last night. With a crowd of more than 10,000 on hand, Kansas closed the book on a storybook season.
"I'm only 22, but this is going to be the best part of my life," Robinson said.
The night began with words from University Chancellor Robert Hemenway and Athletics Director Lew Perkins.
"They've taken us all on a miracle ride." Perkins said.
Next, the crowd was treated to a year-in-review video with special cheers reserved for the Big
12 Championship game against Texas, the Final Four victory against North Carolina and Mario Chalmers' now historic shot against Memphis.
With a myriad of cameras flashing, Kansas' five seniors each gave speeches.
"I love everybody in this gym." Jackson said, fighting back tears.
Self spoke next and thanked his entire staff.
"You can't have a higher high than we've had this week," Self said.
Next, Self shared special thoughts on each player and
awarded the Mr. Jayhawk award to his five seniors.
When it was all done, and "One Shining Moment" had played one last time, Chris and Liz Dodds, a Topeka couple, stood near the door of the Kansas locker room and held their infant daughters Parker and Piper, who were adorned with matching pink Kansas shirts.
"I was 9 years old when they won it the last time," Dodds said. "I wish my dad would have brought me here." Seems a lot of Kansas fans shared the same sentiments as the Dodds. Hundreds of young children were speckled in
Wecton White/KANSAN
Cansas Athletic Director Lew Perkins
holds his hand up and says, "I promise you by
next year we will have five (championships)."
"erkins helped bring home a 2008 Orange
bowl and NCAA National Championship victory
in his fifth year as athletic director.
the Allen Fieldhouse crowd, each fighting to get a glimpse of the National Champions.
"It's part of history," Dodds said.
— Edited by Katherine Loeck
FOOTBALL
team gears up for spring practice game
BY ASHER FUSCO afusco@kansan.com
The Kansas football team certainly deserved kudos for its 2007 season. The Jayhawks went 12-1, marched up the top 25 polls nearly every week and won the Orange Bowl.
But as the Jayhawks prepare to play in the annual spring game at 7 tonight, the overwhelming success of last season isn't breeding any complacency.
Junior running back Jake Sharp runs upfield in a game last season. Sharp is one of three running backs who will be competing for carries next season in tonight's spring football game.
"We worked harder this offseason, definitely, than in past offseasons I've been here," junior running back Jake Sharp said. "Everybody is buying into what we're doing here. There's no, 'Why are we doing this?' We're doing this because we're Orange Bowl champs."
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Motivation aside, Kansas will have to replace several key components of its 2007 team, including two of the offensive linemen who paved the way for Sharp and protected junior quarterback Todd Reesing. Left tackle Anthony Collins entered the NFL Draft after his junior year, and right tackle Cesar Rodriguez exhausted his eligibility, leaving a four-way battle for the two spots at the ends of the offensive line.
Senior Matt Darton and redshirt freshman Jeff Spikes are competing to take Collins' place at left tackle. Darton started one game last season when Collins suffered an injury. Spikes, at 6-foot-6 and 314 pounds, has drawn rave reviews from coaches since coming to Kansas one season ago.
"Spikes is a guy with a lot of talent," Kansas coach Mark Mangino said. "He is young, but at the end of the day, he may be one of the
most talented offensive linemen we've had here"
Either sophomore Ian Wolfe or junior Nathan D'Cunha will inherit Rodriguez's spot at right tackle. Wolfe saw action as a reserve last season, but is undersized at 280 pounds. D'Cunha is a native of Campbelltown, Australia, who is 25 years old but has only played one season of college football.
tial replacements. Sharp started one game in 2007 and finished 12th in the Big 12 Conference with 821 rushing yards, but his production tailed off near the end of the season.
Fans could also get a sneak peek at who will be running behind Kansas' retooled offensive line Saturday. Last season's leading rusher, Brandon McAnderson, graduated, leaving several poten-
Junior Angus Quigley and sophomore Carmon Boyd-Anderson each contributed in late-game situations last year and participated with the second-string in this year's spring practices.
"The running back position should be positive for us with Jake coming back," Mangino said. "We are anxious to see what Angus Quigley will do, running the ball
and blocking, as well."
Several potentially important pieces of next season's squad will not appear Saturday. Transfers such as junior running back Jocques Crawford and sophomore punter Alonso Rojas have not arrived on campus yet but could snag starting positions in 2008. Senior linebacker Joe Mortensen, senior center Ryan Cantrell and junior safety Justin Thornton will not participate in spring practices because of injuries.
— Edited by Matt Hirschfeld
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