2B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2006
SPORTS
ATHLETICS CALENDAR
TODAY
Diving, Zone Diving, all day,
Columbia, Mo.
FRIDAY
Softball vs. Eastern Michigan
Jayhawk Classic, 2 p.m., Arrocha Ballpark
Baseball at Clemson, 3 p.m. Clemson, S.C.
Softball vs. Minnesota, Jayhawk Classic, 4 p.m., Arrocha Ballpark
Track, NCAA Indoor Championships, all day, Fayetteville, Ark.
Player to watch:
Egor Agafonov.
Trackwire.
com ranked
Agagafonov No. 1
in the country
in the weight
throw. He has
won the three
meets in which
he has participated this season
Anafonov
Women's golf, "Mo" morial Invitational, all day, College Station, Texas
Diving, Zone Diving, all day,
Columbia, Mo.
Men's basketball vs. winner of ISU/OSU, Big 12 Champion ships, 6 p.m., Dallas
Tennis vs. Iowa, 11 a.m., Robinson Courts
SATURDAY
Baseball at Clemson, 1 p.m.,
Clemson, S.C.
Softball vs. Portland State,
Jayhawk Classic, 2 p.m., Arrocha Ballpark
Softball vs. Eastern Michigan.
Jayhawk Classic, 4 p.m., Arrocha Ballaark
Track, NCAA Indoor Championships, all day, Fayetteville Ark.
Diving, Zone Diving, all day, Columbia. Mo.
Women's golf, "Mo" morial Invitational, all day, College Station, Texas
SUNDAY
Softball vs. Minnesota, Jayhawk Classic, Noon, Arrocha Ballpark
Baseball at Clemson, Noon,
Clemson, S.C.
Women's golf, "Mo"morial Invitational, all day, College Station, Texas
Woman's tennis vs. Oklahoma State, 11 a.m., Robinson Courts, Lawrence
BASEBALJ
Freshmen in spotlight against Baker
By SHIawn SHROYER
sshroyer@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
Kansas' weekend series against Western Illinois saw only two freshman pitchers throw an inning apiece for the Jayhawks. On Wednesday, Kansas showcased all five of its freshman pitches.
In their eight innings pitched, the freshmen struck out seven batters, walked five, allowed five hits and one run. After the game, Kansas coach Ritch Price had only one concern with the performances of his young pitchers.
"If they'd have thrown more strikes early in the count, I'd have been very pleased." he said.
"I just tried to remain calm, just tried to figure out what I was doing wrong." Czyz said.
Getting the starting nod for the first time at Hoglund Ballpark was lefty Nick Czyz. On Tuesday, Czyz said he wasn't feeling any nerves going into the game, but four straight balls to the first hitter he faced told a different story.
Czvz did so just in time to keep
Baker off the scoreboard in the first inning. With two out and the bases loaded, he struck out Baker center fielder Kyle King.
"It felt good," said Czyz, of getting out of the jam. "I got myself into it, so it was up to myself to get out of it."
Czyz faced the minimum number of hitters in the second inning and struck out the first two batters of the third. One Baker run after back-to-back hits in the third was the only blemish in Czyz's three innings of work that included three strikeouts. That run was Baker's only of the game, and each of the Kansas pitchers after Czyz retired the first batter they faced.
In the fourth, King came to the plate again for Baker, but a different freshman was on the mound for Kansas — left Andy Marks.
Although it was a different pitcher, it was the same result for King as he went down on strikes again. Marks surrendered a double to the next batter, but retired the side with two straight strikeouts.
Marks pitched only one more inning, but was nearly perfect for the
day, giving up one hit, walking none and striking out three. With Kansas ahead 9-1 when he exited the game, Marks was awarded his first victory as a fawhawk.
"I was just glad that I threw strikes," Marks said. "Overall, I was glad that I had command of all my pitches."
Kansas used three more freshmen in the following three innings before senior Trey Randa closed the game in the ninth.
Carter Holt, who along with Czyz was the only other freshman who had pitched at home before Wednesday, was next on the hill for Kansas. Holt struggled in his first home appearance against Western Illinois, but in just one inning of work on Wednesday, Holt retired Baker in order.
Senior infielder Ritchie Price slides across home in the first inning against Baker on Wednesday. The Jayhawks defeated the Wildcats 10-1 and are now 14-4 on the season.
In the top of the seventh, lefty Ryan Anthony started out strong, striking out the first batter he faced. Anthony then had some control problems, walking two straight batters. But after Ritchie Price gunned a base runner down at the plate for the second out, Anthony fielded a grounder and tossed it to first to end the inning with no harm done.
Paul Smyth was the final freshman to take the mound for Kansas. Although he hadn't pitched since Feb. 25 he didn't show any signs of rust or nerves in his first home appearance.
"I've figured out that nerves don't really help you, you've got to kind of pump yourself up, if anything," Smyth said. "So, I just try to do my best to get as much energy into my pitches as I could."
In one inning of work, Smyth only needed seven pitches to retire Baker in order.
Freshman pitcher Andy Marks pitches during the fourth inning against Baker on Wednesday. Marks pitched in relief and earned his first victory of 2006, allowing only one hit over two innings while striking out three batters.
- Edited by Timon Veach
Baseball
CONTINUED FROM 1B
Freshman first baseman Preston Land and junior catcher Dylan Parzyk led off the fourth inning with stand up doubles. Adding to the onslaught, senior Ritchie Price went yard for the first time this season. Price's two-run shot chased Baker starter Kyle Metzger (2-4) from the game with the loss after just 3.2 innings of work.
Heading back to his dugout, Price was hit with a backhanded compliment when a young Jay-
hawk fan had some words for the shortstop.
Taking Metzger's spot was right-hander Randy Sutcliffe, who hit the same wall. The first batter he faced was senior infielder Jared Schweitzer, who sent a solo shot over the left field fence. After the fourth,
"He said It's good to see you hit your first home run' in a tone that made it sound like he was surprised that it actually happened. It is kind of surprising." Price said. "Today was kind of a relaxed atmosphere so we can laugh about things like that."
1M”
We really like him. He's kind of been a little shocked mentally, getting knocked around a little bit. But he's good stuff."
Ritch Price
Ritch Price Kansas baseball coach
Kansas held a commanding 8-1 lead.
Freshman lefties Nick Czyz and Andy Marks (1-0) took the bulk of the pitching load. They threw for the first five innings.
Czyz received a no-decision in a three walk, three hit, three strikeout, three inning outing. Marks took over in the fourth and fifth to earn the victory.
In two innings of relief, Marks allowed just one hit and fanned three Wildcat batters.
"We really like him," coach Price said of Marks. "He's kind of been a little shocked mentally, getting knocked around a little bit. But he's got good stuff."
The victory ended the Jayhawks short-lived home stand.
The team takes off tomorrow to face No. 2 Clemson this weekend.
Baseball Notes
- The first windshield fatality at Hoglund Park happened during Wednesday's game. A foul ball smashed through the back window of a black sedan.
Kansas was ranked No.25 in the Baseball America poll entering Wednesday's game.
— Edited by Cynthia Hernandez
LIBERTY HALL 644 Mass
749-1912
THE THREE BURIALS
MELQUIDAS ESTRADA(R)
4:30 7:05 9:35
CAPOTE (R) 4:20 7:00 9:30
CAPOTE (R) 4:20 7:00 9:30