THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2006
WWW.KANSAN.COM
PAGE 1B
PREVIEW
pitcher could face the best
Ace out to prove her skill
TALE OF THE TAPE:
Kassie Humphreys
— Kansas
■ Wins: 12
■ ERA: 1.31
■ Strikeouts/7 innings: 7.98
■ Total Strikeouts: 184
■ Shut Outs: 6
■ No-Hitters: 2
Cat Osterman
Cat Osterman
**Texas**
- Wins: 28
- ERA: 0.34
- Strikeouts/7 innings: 15.6
- Total strikeouts: 434
- Shut Outs: 19
- No-hitters: 5
BY RYAN SCHNEIDER
rschneider@kansan.com
KANSAN SENIOR SPORTSWRIVERS
Source: big12sports.com
The way Kassie Humphreys sees it, there's no reason to worry about the opposing pitcher.
"I really think with the way that we're hitting right now — if this carries over into the weekend, which I
After a personal sweep of Texas Tech last weekend and her teammates' hot bats in recent games, Humphreys said she was as confident in herself and her teammates as ever.
Sure, Humphreys knows she might match up against Texas' Cat Osterman, one of the nation's top pitchers, this weekend at Arrocha Ballpark. But the way she's pitched in April, Humphreys has little reason to be concerned.
really do think it will, there's really not a lot to worry about," the junior pitcher said.
When on the mound, there's no time to worry. Instead, she just oozes confidence. Whether winning or losing, Humphreys' delivery never changes.
In her past 57 innings on the mound, Humphreys has allowed only 18 hits. That translates to only three hits a game in month of April. She currently sits in second in the overall Big 12 Conference, behind Osterman, in pitching rankings.
"What Kassie has been doing the last couple weeks is throwing the ball among the best in the country," Kansas coach Tracy Bunge said.
SEE HUMPHREYS ON PAGE 6B
Reaching base against Humphreys has been quite a feat, especially in April.
"It's still pretty focused," Humphreys said of her mindset when pitching in different situations. "I just come out and try and get ahead of hitters and when runners get on, especially in scoring position, you just have to get mentally tough."
Nation's top hurler to visit KU
BY MARK DENT
mdent@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
Think Vince Young is the most accomplished athlete from the University of Texas during the past four years? Think again.
Not a bad legacy for someone who didn't even try pitching until she was 11. As a youth
Osterman, a pitcher likely to take the mound against Kansas on Saturday, currently leads the nation with 27 wins (with only one loss) and 419 strikeouts. Earlier this year, the senior struck out 20 of 21 batters against UT-San Antonio.
Has Young won any Olympic gold medals? Nope. Did he win player of the year in his sport twice and have a chance to do it a third time? Not even close. Was he the first athlete from his sport to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated? Sorry Vince, you were about 100 covers late.
Only one Longhorn athlete has accomplished all of those feats, and she is Cat Osterman.
"I think Cat is one of softball's all-time greats," Texas coach Connie Clark said. "She's going to be remembered with some of the very best."
Those numbers may seem outrageous, but they are the norm for the lefty, whose career numbers include a 0.50 ERA,125 wins and an NCAA-record 2.027 strikeouts.
in Houston, Osterman was into soccer, in which she played goalkeeper. She also played basketball though high school. But once the 6-foot-2 Osterman began pitching, she knew softball was for her.
"I'm a pretty stubborn person," Osterman said. "If I make up my mind, I'm going to do it."
The Longhorn coaching staff also knew softball was Osterman's game after her first year of high school, when they first laid
"We first saw her at a tournament her freshman year and then she came to our softball camp," Clark said. "I knew at that point in time she was going to be special."
eyes on the Cypress Springs High School product.
three years later, Osterman arrived in Austin. She let her presence be felt in her freshman season, as she won Big 12 Player of the Year, set an NCAA freshman record for strikeouts and tied for the NCAA lead in wins.
SEE OSTERMAN ON PAGE 6B
Osterman's season caught not only the attention of hardcore softball heads but the national media as well when Sports Illustrated chose her to be part of a cover that hailed Texas as the best sporting school.
Pitcher smacks 20th home run Kansas tromps Creighton 10-0
SOFTBALL
BY MARK DENT
mdent@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTSWRITEER
Because Babe Ruth is known as the Sultan of Swat for his hitting prowess, the Jayhawk nation should refer to Serena Settlemier as the Countess of Crush for her Ruth-like presence at the plate.
Thursday, Settlemier hit her second grand slam in three games to hit Kansas to a 10-0 victory in the second game of its double-header against Creighton.
"When I came up to bat, I could hear the whole crowd talking home run," Settlemier said. "I was just thinking relax and make contact."
Settlemier did more than make contact as she blasted the first pitch deep over the left field fence for her sixth grand slam and 20th home run of the season.
In the bottom of the third inning, the senior pitcher stepped up to the plate with the bases full and the lavhawks holding a 1-0 lead.
SEE PITCHER ON PAGE 2B
Carly Pearson/KANSAN
Senior pitcher Serena Settlemier is congratulated by her teammates after hitting a grand slam against Creighton University Thursday afternoon at Arrocha Ballpark. Kansas beat Creighton 10-0.
KANSAS RELAYS
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Jared Gab/KANSAN
Sophomore Egar Agafonov prepares his final throw of men's hammer event Thursday at the Kansas Relays. Agafonov finished second, with a throw of 67.72 meters.
Relays spin into action Competitions begin with hammer throw
BY EVAN KAFARAKIS
ekafarakis@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
the event did not happen.
Kansas sophomore thrower Egor Agafonov's
The Kansas Relays opened Thursday with the men's hammer throw.
As one of the events to hold tight competition, the event did not disappoint.
The Russian was coming off a huge meet at last week's Mesa Classic where he set the new Kansas hammer throw distance of 228 feet 6 inches. Agafonov didn't mind his lesser performance Thursday, though.
"I'm not upset that I didn't win" he said. "It's just a sport."
Some of Agafonov's throws clipped the net, which was a cause of concern for hammer throw coach Andy Kokhanovsky. The coach said the net was not regulation size for the hammer.
Agafonov
Because of the microburst that hit Lawrence earlier this year, the cage had been moved and interfered with some throws.
"The one he threw and clipped took off at least 7 to 10 feet to his throw." Kokhanovskv said.
"I wasn't expecting to win, that's the God's honest truth," said Welihozkiy. "With Egor coming in at 70.45, I knew this was going to be an all-out war."
Battle
Winning the event for the third straight year was Pac-Bay Track Club member Nick Welihozkiy, with a toss of 222 feet 8 inches.
Tarasova
When asked why they are the Kansas Relays, Wellhozkly happily responseu.
When asked why he likes to attend
"My mom and dad attended Kansas and my dad was a hammer throw coach," Wellhozkiy said. "I love Lawrence and consider myself a Jayhawk," the former Stanford Cardinal graduate said.
Kansas senior Sheldon Battle was signed up for the event but did not participate, instead saving his strength for his main events: discus and shot put.
The women's hammer throw took place after the men's and had competition.
Kansas freshman Zlata Tarasova placed second in the hammer throw.
Tanasora is also coming off a strong Mesa Classic event where she broke the Kansas women's record in the hammer throw with a toss of 199 feet 11 inches.
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SEE RELAYS ON PAGE 3B