THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
WWW.KANSAN.COM
FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2006
PAGE 1B
Swinging six leave mark
Jeff Jacobson/KUAC
Seniors Serena Settlemier, pitcher, Heather Stanley, outfield, Destiny Frankenstein, shortstop, Nettie Fierros, left field, Ashley Goodrich, right field, and Jessica Moppin, second base, play their last games at Arrocha Ballpark this weekend. In their four years at Kansas, the seniors have compiled 118 victories, one tie and 98 losses.
BY RYAN SCHNEIDER
rschneider@kansan.com
KANSAN SENIOR SPORTWRITER
Coach Tracy Bunge will say goodbye to one of the most accomplished classes in Kansas softball history this weekend.
Seniors Nettie Fierros, Destiny Frankenstein, Ashley Goodrich, Jessica Moppin, Serena Settlemier and Heather Stanley will play their final game at Arrocha Ballpark on Saturday and Sunday.
Frankenstein said that despite the usual emotions associated with Senior Day, she would resist the urge to cry.
"I'm excited, but at the same time, I'm a little bit sad," Frankenstein said. "We'll all of our families here and all of us
haven't had all of our families here since our first game.?
In their four years at Kansas, the seniors have compiled 118 victories, one tie and 98 losses, including a trip to the NCAA Regionalals in 2005.
Here's a look at the six seniors on the softball team this season:
Nettie Fierros
Fierros, an Avondale, Ariz. native, has started in left field in all but four Big 12 Conference games this season. She's batting .202 on the season, which includes a 2-for-3 performance against Oklahoma last weekend. Fierros made the move to left field this year after spending the last three years at third base. She's been called on to pinch hit in numerous
situations this season.
Destinv Frankonstein
Frankenstein is finishing her fourth straight year at shortstop for Kansas. The Broken Arrow, Okla., native continues to move up the career list in several categories. She currently ranks second in all-time home runs, with 51 for her career. Frankenstein also ranks fourth with 47 stolen bases.
Last season, Frankenstein had one of the best season's in program history. She hit .344 and set a new single-season record with 14 home runs. Frankenstein was named to the First Team All-Region by the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association and was first team All-Big 12.
SEE SENIORS ON PAGE 4B
'Hawks to play for big finish in Big 12
BY MARK DENT
mdent@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
Junior first baseman Nicole Washburn catches the ball before Wichita State sophomore Katie McGeeney can make it on base Wednesday night. This weekend the Jayhawks take on the Iowa State Cyclones. Sunday is senior day.
Too bad man's best friend doesn't pick teams for the NCAA Regionals. During Saturday's softball game against Iowa State, dogs are welcomed to get a firsthand look at Kansas' last opportunity to move up in the Big 12 standings and improve its NCAA Regional chances.
The game is part of a "Bark in the Park" promotion, where dogs get in for a donation to the Lawrence Humane Society or a various pet items like toys or cat litter.
STANDINGS
"These games are extremely important," Kansas coach Tracy Bunge said. The Jayhawks (28-24, 6-10 Big 12) are currently in seventh place in the conference, and they will face the eighth place Cyclones (23-25, 5-11) for a two-game series.
The following are scenarios that will determine Kansas' final position in the Big 12 Conference standings. Kansas has two games left against Iowa State this weekend to finish out the regular season.
If Kansas defeats Iowa State in both games it has a the possibility of moving up into sixth place ahead of Missouri or tying with them.
For Kansas to finish in seventh place: Missouri wins both Nebraska games.
ror Kansas to finish: in a sixth-place tie: Win both games and have Missouri split its series, OR: Split its series and have Missouri lose both games.
For Kansas to finish in eighth place: Lose both games against Iowa State.
For Kansas to finish in sixth Place: Win both Iowa State games and have Missouri lose both games against Nebraska.
Randall Sanders/KANSAN
On the other end of the spectrum, Kansas could fall as far as eighth place if it is unable
In the event of a tie with the Tigers, the first tiebreaker is the head-to-head match-up, but the teams split their two-game series this year. Both teams won by four runs, so the second tiebreaker would also not determine the winner. The third tiebreaker is scoring margin of all Big 12 games. The Jayhawks would win this tiebreaker and thus sixth place in the Big 12, because they have the advantage in this category.
Source: Kansas Athletics Department
"We just have to get it going," Bunge said. "We need to score."
to take care of business against Iowa State.
ers, the Cyclones' Alysa Ransom and Anie Ford. The two could be a steep test for Kansas, which has been in a prolonged hitting slump. Even in their victory against Wichita State on Wednesday, the Jayhawks managed only one hit.
The Tigers have a 7-9 conference record and play on the road against the Nebraska Cornhuskers this weekend.
A sixth-place finish is crucial for Kansas. The top-six teams in the Big 12 receive a bye in the Big 12 Tournament, which starts Wednesday.
Adding even more importance to this weekend's series is that Sunday will be Senior Day for six Kansas players, including Serena Settlemier.
To put themselves into position for an NCAA berth and sixth place finish, the Jayhawks must be able to hit their way past two of the Big 12's top pitch
The NCAA will also take a closer look at selecting Kansas if it finishes in the top six of the conference. While eight
teams were selected for NCAA Regionals from the Big 12, the conference had the second best conference RPI in the nation last year. This year, the Big 12 is fourth.
"I'm excited, but it's a lot of pressure with my family coming to watch," the pitcher/designated player said. "I'd like to perform well."
Edited by John Jordan
Kansas faces test against defending national champs
BY ALISSA BAUER
abauer@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Three hundred and sixty seven days ago, Kansas clinched the series victory against the then No.2 team in the country, Texas. Three hundred and seventeen days ago, Texas won the College World Series
The Jayhawks (33-18, 10-11) are hoping to prove they can steal a series from Texas again this season as they head to Austin for a three-game set against the No. 7 Longhorns (35-15, 16-4), starting tonight at 6:15.
"Any team can beat any team on any given day," Kansas sophomore third baseman Erik Morrison said. "You've got to go in there and give it your all, and the better team is going to come out with the victory."
Although Kansas took two of three games from the eventual National Champions in 2005, both teams underwent some changes in the off-season. While most of the Jayhawk juniors returned for their senior season, a large portion of the
Longhorns' veteran lineup did not.
Morrison said that has led to speculation in the press that Kansas might be slightly stronger than the team that defeated Texas last season, while the Longhorns may be less talented. Morrison said that the team needed to focus on the games this weekend rather than what was being said in the newspapers.
Coach Ritch Price also shook off the notion that Kansas was the stronger team, and instead showed great respect for the powerhouse Texas baseball program and its accomplishments.
"Every team in America takes a step back after they win a National Championship," Price said. "Now, I still think they're to make the College World Series."
Randall Sanders/KANSAN
Sitting at the No.2 spot in The Big 12 Conference behind Nebraska, Texas will face Kansas, which has dropped to the No.5 spot, tonight with a couple of striking similarities.
SEE TEST ON PAGE 4B
Senior infielder Jared Schweitzer swings against Saint Mary (Kan.) Tuesday evening in Lawrence. Tonight Kansas plays the No. 7 Texas Longhorns at 6:15 in Austin, Texas. Saturday and Sunday the Jayhawks take on the Longhorns in two more games.
DOWN THE HALF
NBA can't play by the rules
TIM HALL thall@kansan.com
The NBA gets exciting when the playoffs roll around. Even though half of the league plays in the postseason and the first round series have been lengthened to best-of-seven, the intensity level is heightened.
I am an NBA fan, don't get me wrong. I grew up going to Washington Bullets games at the old Capital Centre. I even stuck with them when they stupidly changed their name to the Wizards. And when I moved out west to the great state of Utah in 2001, I accepted Stockton, Malone and the Jazz into my heart.
But sometimes fans like myself get sick, tired and fed up with some things. For example, if Lebron James makes one more game-winning shot after a blatant traveling violation, I will no longer watch NBA. I will instead put my love 100 percent toward real basketball, much like what is played in Allen Fieldhouse.
The call in game three of the Wizards-Cavaliers game was obvious. There was no arguing that Lebron got away with two travels in the final minute of play. The second one — a goahead layup with six seconds left — was a knife in the back of the Wizards. I have never seen an easier call to make. But somehow, referees Greg Willard, Monty McCutchen, and Ron Garrisson missed it.
College basketball is basketball how James Naismith meant the game to be played. People in this town can appreciate that because they know KU basketball above anything else. And that's not a bad thing.
The college game is real basketball. The rules are enforced. You don't see players take six steps without dribbling. You don't see players in the lane four seconds before a free-throw leaves the shooter's hand.
This is something that's never going to change in NBA basketball, and its why I will never follow it as closely as KU basketball.
The poor Wizards lost their opportunity to take a 2-1 series lead when they lost that game, 97-96. Then during game five Wednesday night, Lebron did it again.
This time, Lebron made it from the baseline corner all the way to the rim in only three dribbles. Halfway to the basket he palmed the ball, put it back on the floor, and went up to lay in the winner with less than a second remaining. His hand was under the basketball for a full second, carrying it just long enough to give him the opportunity to continue the drive. The ball went in and the Cavs won 121-120. Poor Wizards.
I know the Wizards played terrible defense and I know LeBron is a superstar, but is it so much to ask to call the game by the rulebook?
I have to wait until November for college hoops to roll back around. Until then all we have is NBA playoffs, which is one shade below Slamball.
Maybe Bernie Fryer, Joe Forte, and Mark Wunderlich forgot about the palming rule.
LeBron, I know you're great,
but if you get a last-second shot
in tonight's game six at Washington,
do a Wiz fan a favor and
put up a jumper.
Hall is a Woodbridge, Va., senior in journalism