THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
WWW.KANSAN.COM
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29. 2006
BASEBALL
PAGE 1B
Kansas pride on the line
Jayhawks look to seize state supremacy against visiting WSU Shockers tonight
BY ALISSA BAUER
abauer@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITE
Known for regarding Kansas State and Missouri as major rivals, the Kansas baseball team sees No. 13 Wichita State as its main in-state foe.
"They're always thinking that they're better than us," sophomore second baseman Ryne Price said.
The teams will face off for the 59th time tonight at 7, continuing a series heavily dominated in the past by Wichita State (21-5, 1-2 Missouri Valley Conference), which leads the all-time series 38-20.
Kansas (17-10, 2-4 Big 12 Conference) showed improvement last year. In four meetings, the Jayhawks split the series with the Shockers, two games apiece.
"I think everybody gets up
for this game," sophomore outfielder Brock Simpson said. "It's kind of a battle of the best team in Kansas. It's a great in-state rivalry. We get just as up for Wichita State as we do for any series in the Big 12."
Junior righthander Brendan McNamara (0-0, 3.86 ERA) will take the mound for the Jayhawks after tossing a pair of scoreless innings in Kansas's victory against No. 3
McNamara
Nebraska last Sunday. Opposite him will be sophomore leffay Max Hutson (3-0, 3.06 ERA) for the Shockers.
With the Missouri series looming this weekend, Kansas coach Ritch Price will have his starter on a pitch count and, in the event senior closer Don
Czzy is needed, he will only be called upon for one inning.
"The reality of it is that we've got to win the series against Missouri." Price said.
That doesn't mean he will overlook tonight's game by any means. Price mentioned that his team's success in midweek games would determine whether Kansas would make a trip to the NCAA tournament in June. Wichita State, the most successful baseball program in the nation over the past 29 years, would be a tough team to overlook anyway.
Second baseman Damon Sublett entered the Shockers' game last night against the No. 10 Arkansas Razorbacks on an 11-game hitting streak. The sophomore has led the offense with a .435 batting average and 22 RBL.
SEE BASEBALL ON PAGE 3B
Injured starters prepared to return to lineup sooner than previously expected
BY ALISSA BAUER
abauer@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Still in jeans and a KU jacket, Matt Baty awaited the results of his latest CT scan at Tuesday's afternoon practice.
If the news is good, the senior center fielder and team co-captain will be cleared to play. The wait may finally be over.
Minutes before. sonho-
more second baseman Ryne Price walked through the dugout dressed in practice gear. Price's cast was removed from his right wrist, and his
name was removed from the injured list.
Both Ryne Price and Baty came home from the Music City Challenge in late February hurting. Price suffered a broken bone in his wrist and was
INTRAMURAI
told it would be at least four weeks until he could return to the field. Baty, though, was unsure of how long it would take his lacerated spleen and kidney to heal. He collided with junior outfielder Kyle Murphy in the Lipscomb game on Feb. 25.
SEE INJURIES ON PAGE 3B
Hoop dreams come true
current position:
Playing on Naimith Court is a dream of many KU students, not only a reality to a select few. Tonight, players from eight intramural basketball teams will join that prestigious group when they face off in one of four championship games.
Kurt Schooley, director of intramurals, said Allen Fieldhouse has been the intramural championship venue for the past eight
"They are very helpful, we pay minimal expenses." Schooley said. "They've been great to work with."
The first game will tip-off tonight at 7. The final game is scheduled for 10 p.m. Games generally last an hour.
At 9 p.m., Phi Psi OHB and Delta Chi will play for the men's greek championship, in a game that is likely to garner the most attention and attract the biggest crowd.
"It's going to be awesome to
there supporting us with a place to sit in the stands," Lee Iverson, Manhattan senior and Delta Chi player, said.
Delta Chi advanced to the championship game after winning Monday night's semifinal match-up against Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Delta Chi won 40-32 in a close game.
Phi Psi OHB's performance was a little more convincing on Monday. It defeated Delta Upsilon 1, 53-34, in the semifinals to get to the championship game.
and Phi Pi OH3 phi the men's green chain game tonight would illure staggering defense.
"We've got a really great post game and get most of the re bounds and up front, we put great in-your-face defense. Harms said.
Iverson said Delta Chi would rely on its athletic ability when it tried to shut down Phi Psi OHB's offense.
BUNT 'EM OVER
Coaches will add flavor to rivalries
Carly Pearson/KANSAN
The Border Showdown will be a lot more interesting in the coming years, because Missouri finally got something right. The school hired a proven coach who can take the basketball program to the next level. Anderson took University of Alabama-Birmingham to the NCAA tournament in each of his last three seasons as the team's coach. Missouri hasn't been to the tournament since 2002.
MATT WILSON
mwilson@kansan.com
The recent coaching hirings of Mike Anderson at Missouri and Bob Huggins at Kansas State should come as a welcome surprise to Kansas basketball fans.
Anderson's stated goal at his first press conference last week was to win a national title with the Tigers. You know what they say: Shoot for the moon, and even if you miss you'll land amongst the stars.
Missouri avoided messing the whole thing up by retaining athletics director Mike Alden after administrators met, allegedly to discuss his future. The brass at Missouri would have looked ridiculous had it fired Alden after allowing him to hire its new coach.
As for Kansas State, the Wildcats took a chance when they picked Huggins to try to lead their program out of basketball purgatory. Huggins' questionable past made hiring him a risk, but his success on the court is tough to argue with. He led Cincinnati to 14 consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament before he was canned in 2005 after numerous player arrests, a DUI and the team's 0.0 graduation rate.
After reading water for six years under Jim Wooldridge, the Wildcats will hope to return to the success they enjoyed when going to the NCAA tournament on a consistent basis in the mid-tolate 1980s. With a great recruiter like Huggins in the fold, the 'Cats should give the Jayhawks plenty of tough battles in the future.
SEE COACHES ON PAGE 3B
SOFTBALL
Kansas hammers past UMKC
BY BETTY KASPAR
bkaspar@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTSWRIVER
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — For Serena Settlemier, throwing a shutout the first game wasn't enough.
She helped Kansas at the plate as well with a home run in the first inning and a grand slam in the second inning of Kansas' 19-0 smothering of UMKC Tuesday night. Kansas won the first game as well, 8-0, with Settlemier on the mound.
"I do well when I relax and don't think about the pitches being thrown," Settlemier said. "We experienced slower pitching than we are used to and I just thought about keeping my weight back and getting my hands through the ball."
Kansas softball coach Tracy Bunge said the team found its confidence late in the first game, which carried over to
the second game of the doubleheader in Kansas City; Mo.
"When Serena Settlemier, who is on fire right now, comes out and hits a two-run
Settlemier (10-4) pitched a complete
home run, it lets everyone relax," Bunge said. "When you have a good relaxed hitter and a pitcher throwing around the zone, good things are going to happen for the offensive team."
"We were a little bit tight offensively early in that game. But after a shaky beginning on the mound, Serena settled down after that and threw a good ballgame."
game in game one, with 10 strikeouts. Bunge said Settlemier did a good job of mixing the speeds up of her pitches.
beginning on the mound, Serena settled down after that and threw a good ballgame."
Tracy Bunge Kansas softball coach
The Jayhawks (17-16) began the second game in convincing fashion. They had
M"
"We were a little bit tight of
fensively early in that game,"
Bunge said. "But after a shaky
11 runs after two innings. Settlemier had the grand slam, and junior pitcher Kassie Humphreys helped her own cause with a home run of her own.
Freshman third baseman Val Chapple and senior outfielder Ashley
Goodrich added a home run in the fourth. Goodrich then added a grand slam in the fifth inning.
"Everyone contributed today, it was a team effort," Settlemier said. "It is a good
Humphreys pitched for the first two innings of the second game and did not allow a run or a hit.
The Kangaroos (5-22) never answered the Jayhawks' stampe of runs. In two games, Kansas outscored UMKC 27-0. The second game was called after the fifth inning due to the run rule.
confidence builder to go into conference since our conference is so tough."
Freshman pitcher Valerie George completed the game, only giving up one hit.
"She came in and threw well, threw strikes and went after hitters and did a lot of good things." Bunge said. "I am very satisfied with two shutouts from our pitching staff."
- Edited by Matt Wilson
Kansas will be back in action Thursday against Creighton in Lawrence. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 2 p.m.
Randall Sanders/KANSAN
Junior pitcher Kassie Humphreys delivers against UMKC in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday night. Humpreys earned her seventh win of the campaign by pitching two innings and striking out two batters.