THURSDAY, MAY 4, 2006
SPORTS
Randall Sanders/KANSAN
Sophomore outfielder John Allman swings during the second inning against Saint Mary (Kan.) at Hoglund Ballpark Wednesday evening. Despite not being guaranteed a roster spot upon coming to Kansas, Allman has installed himself as the team's starting left fielder.
Allman
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
"It was like watching a professional football player go through those agility drills," Price said. "I thought if we could transfer some of that athleticism to baseball skills, he had a chance to help us."
Athleticism aside, Allman, now a sophomore, was redshirted his freshman year so Price could refine his skills and find a position for him on the field.
Reid said he played Allman at second base and catcher in high school.
As a senior, he was runner-up for the Missouri High School Baseball Player of the Year, but he didn't fare well as a catcher at the Division I level. As a result, Allman shuffled through several positions at Kansas.
"I came here as a catcher, then they moved me to first base and then they moved me to the outfield, so that's where I'm at now." Allman said.
In addition to the struggles of learning new positions, Allman also had to deal with not playing his freshman year because of the
redshirt — something he wasn't used to doing after playing football, basketball and baseball all four years in high school.
"It was tough not being able to play, especially that first year, knowing I'm going to be on the bench," Allman said. "It eats you up a little bit."
Getting His Chance
Price said he didn't expect Allman to contribute until his third year in the program, but Allman's dedication during his redshirt year to becoming a complete player at a new position paid off. In 2005, his second year at Kansas and first on the active roster, Allman played in 46 of Kansas' 64 games and batted 350, which was the second-best batting average on the team.
This season, Allman has started 48 of Kansas' 51 games and has appeared in all but one. His average is nearly identical to last season's at .349, but his power numbers are hardly comparable. Allman has more than doubled his RBI total from 15 to 37. His total bases are up from 45 to 92.
"I am so proud of him," Reid said. "He has earned exactly what he's gotten because he's a hard, hard worker."
Hard Work Pavs Off
So what brought Allman up to the level he's at today? Reid hasn't coached Allman in three years, but there was no doubt in his mind what has served Allman best at Kansas.
"Work ethic," Reid said. "He just has a relentless work ethic, will not be denied, will fight you tooth and nail, is not just a serious competitor, but a composed competitor."
Price confirmed what Reid suspected.
"He gives you everything he's got every day he walks on the field and he does the same thing in the weight room, he does the same thing in his conditioning program, he does the same thing in practice every day and I think that's the reason why he's advanced so quickly." Price said.
Looking ahead to 2007, Kansas will be without current senior outfielders Matt Baty and Gus Milner, all but assuring Allman a starting spot again next year.
ALLMAN'S STATS
Allman's production from all of last season to this season:
2005 2006
Home runs 1 5
RBI 15 37
Total bases 45 92
Extra base hits 7 20
Slugging pct. .437 528
Stolen bases 3 6
Outfield assists 0 3
Errors 1 0
Source: kuathletics.com
Note: There are still 10 games left in the regular season.
Then again, if anything were guaranteed, Allman probably wouldn't be starting for Kansas. Allman said the last thing on his mind would be to abandon his hard-working mentality.
"That's how I got here and I'm not going to change the way that I've been working." Allman said. "I'm never satisfied with where I'm at."
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 3B
Edited by James Foley
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"I talked to a few of my teammates, Nettie and Heather," the senior pitcher said, referring to senior left fielder Nettie Fierros and senior right fielder Heather Stanley. "They told me just to wait on that inside pitch."
Lightning
Before continuing her at-bat, Settlemier had Stanley throw her nearly 50 inside pitches in the bullpen so she would be ready when the game resumed.
Sure enough, the pitch was inside. Settlemier was ready and took advantage of the opportunity. She recorded Kansas' only hit of the game and her 21st home run of the season, a school record.
"This is definitely the most dramatic moment of my career." Settlemier said.
Wichita State held Kansas hitless before the rain delay. The Jayhawks managed just four base runners, all on walks, in five innings. Kansas stranded its best opportunity to manufacture runs in the fourth inning, leaving two runners on base.
Bunge said she was afraid with the rain stopping play, a runner on base and her best hitter at the plate, that the Jayhawks wouldn't get an opportunity to decide the game on the
field.
"Right after the rain delay, I thought, 'Here's our best shot.' Bunge said. "I'm thinking we should do whatever we can to at least finish this game and give us a chance to get on the field and earn it."
Junior pitcher Kassie Humphreys, 13-16, had another strong outing after struggling last weekend against Oklahoma. On Wednesday, Humphreys allowed one run, four hits, struck out seven and walked one in the complete game effort.
Despite the heavy rain during the delay, the infield was playable after the grounds crew worked on it. The infield dirt does not absorb water. Instead the water beads off, keeping the dirt solid.
"It's still not, obviously, ideal." Bunge said of the field conditions. "But the amount of water that came down, on any other field, we weren't plaving."
A doubleheader was scheduled on Wednesday, but Bunge and Wichita State coach Mike Permiciaro decided to not play the second game.
MLB
Kansas will play host to Iowa State in the final home series of the season beginning Saturday at 2 p.m.
Edited by Meghan Miller
Rockies end losing streak
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DENVER - Jeff Francis allowed four hits over seven innings for his first win in six starts this season and the Colorado Rockies ended a two-game losing streak with a 3-0 victory against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night.
Francis (1-2) struck out five and walked one in winning for the first time since Sept. 28 at Atlanta, his last start last season.
Jose Mesa pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Brian Fuentes worked the ninth to complete the Rockies' first shutout of the season and earn his sixth save.
Matt Holliday was 3-for-4 with a two-run double and Danny Ardoin had an RBI single for Colorado.
Francis worked out of trouble in the first and second innings. He got Edwin Encarracion to
pop out with two outs and two on in the first, and he left Brandon Phillips stranded at third in the second. Rich Aurilia doubled with two outs in the third and Francis retired the next 11 hitters before giving up a one-out single to Austin Kearns in the seventh.
Cincinnati had its two-game winning streak snapped. The Reds entered the game with the best record in the majors (19-8) and were off to their best start since 1990, when they began 21-7.
Brandon Claussen (2-3) allowed three runs and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings. He struck out five and walked two.
The Rockies scored all their runs in the fifth. Ardino drove in the first run with a single and Holliday made it 3-0 with the two-out double over the head of center fielder Ryan Freel.
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