Sports
University Daily Kansan / Thursday, April 9, 1987
13
Stanfield keeping atop of KU baseball
Staff writer
Bv DAVID ROYCF
With runners on first and third and two outs in the bottom of the seventh against the School of the Ozarks on Tuesday, Kansas' leading hitter, Hugh Stanfield, had a chance to end the Jayhawks' 14-game losing streak
Stanfield hit a weak roller to shortstop that ended the game.
"Baseball is tough," Stanfield said before the season started. "It's a game where you have to learn how to handle failure."
Not even Kansas' most consistent hitter of the season could end the losing streak.
When Stanfield graduated from Webster Groves High School in St. Louis, he decided that he wanted to go to a school with a good academic reputation. he said
Hugh Stanfield, KU baseball's leading hitter, joys to first base as he flies out against School of the Ozarks. Despite the out on Tuesday' s 8-7 and 3-2 losses in a doubleheader, Stanfield has enjoyed a successful senior season, batting .36 with six home runs.
"Baseball was something I did to fill my time," he said. "I knew that KU was one of the best in academics, and that's why I came here."
Fred Sadowski/Special to the Kansam
Stanfield said that he learned a lot about baseball when he was six years old.
"I played with guys who were 12 or 13 and was able to hit against them," he said. "It was probably when I was eight that I realized I was a pretty good hitter."
The 5-foot-8 senior began his career as a walk-on and immediately earned a starting position.
In his first year, he started in 36 of the 48 games and hit .364. He finished second in the country with seven hits.
Stanfield did not play organized baseball until he was 13 years old. During his early years of playing baseball, Stanfield toyed with the idea of being a switch hitter, he said.
"I switched hit a little in high school, and its something I'd like to get back to somebody," he said. "It wasn't really hitting from the right side though."
"When I finished second in the country in triples, I gained some attention and realized I had some
God-given talent," Stanfield said. "I took baseball a little more seriously."
Stanfield is usually the shortest player on the field, but he said that his size had not affected his play.
"Someday I may move to the infield, but my speed usually compensates for my height." he said. "If it rays, it has not hurt me at this level."
Coach Marty Pattin said earlier this season that if Stanfield continued to hit the way he had been playing, he would be able to play some professional ball.
Stanfield has hit well above the .300 mark for every year that he has been at KU. This year he is second on the team with a .380 average. David Smith leads the team with a .382 average but only 34 at bats compared to Stanfields' .94.
This year Stanfield broke KU's career hit, at bat and stolen base
This season, Stanfield already has hit six home runs. One of the home runs was taken away when a game was called early because of darkness.
"A coach told me to close my stance more, and I started using a 35 ounce bat instead of 34 ounce, and the insults for the home runs" he said.
Before the season started, Stanfield had hit 10 career home runs. He hit four in each of his first two seasons and two last year.
Stanfield already has earned a degree in communications, but he said that he has not thought about being drafted into professional baseball as much as he should.
"Actually, I am thinking more about getting into law school. That's more definite."
"It's something I have no control of," he said. "I am aware that it could happen, but I am more worried about finishing out strong.
He said. "The records are nice to have, but they really don't show much. I am not going to get a banner or anything for it.
"I am pleased that I will be recognized as being one of the better players in the program. But I am a lot produce of my degree in
communication than the records."
He said that his goals were team oriented.
Stanfield said that his greatest asset to the team was that he provided a spark of inspiration.
"When I am going good, I can really spark the team and get the momentum rolling," he said.
Players given awards at annual banquet
Associate sports editor
By NICOLE SAUZEK
The presentation of awards followed a film highlighting the 1986-87 season. Approximately 1,300 people attended the banquet.
Danny Manning and Cedric Hunter each won three of the 10 awards given last night at the annual men's basketball banquet at the Holiday Inn Holdome 200 McDonald Drive
Manning, KU's outstanding junior forward who won numerous awards during the 1986-87 season, was named the team's Most Valuable Player, and was awarded the Captain's Award and the Rebounding Award. Hunter, who holds the all-time
leading assist records for KU and the Big Eight Conference, was awarded the Captain's Award, the Most Unselfish Player Award and shared the Senior Award with Mark Turgeon.
Turgeon shared the Captain's Award with Manning and Hunter, and was named the Most Inspirational Player on the Javahw team.
"Mark and Ced have been good friends to all of us," Manning said after he received the MVP Award. "I'm going to miss them."
Hunter was also honored with the creation of the Cedric Hunter Award. The award is modeled after the Willie Pless Tackler of the Year Award
Scooter Barry received the Academic Award; The Most Improved Player Award went to freshman Jeff Gueldner; and Junior Chris Piper received the Defensive Player Award.
established last year to honor Pless the all-time leading tackler at Kansas and in the Big Eight. The Hunter award will be given to the player who leads the Jayhawks in assists.
Milt Newton was the first Jayhawk to receive the $100,000 Palmer Family Scholarship Award. The gift was made anonymously last semester—the family's name was announced last night. The Palmer Family Award is the first fully endowed
scholarship created at Kansas.
The award was established to hon or the player who maximized his performance on the court and in the classroom.
Coach Larry Brown received a portrait of himself, which will hang in the picture gallery that circles the lobbies in Allen Field House. Brown and the team members were given a standing ovation for their efforts during the season.
"It is a thrill to be here with this team," Brown said. "I always look back on the season to see if the team played to its potential. In doing that, I think this team has a lot to be proud of."
Campanis prompted to resign
United Press International
A Dodgers spokesman said owner Peter O'Malley asked for and received the resignation. The team said executive vice-president Fred Claire would temporarily handle Campanis' duties.
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Dodgers Vice President Al Camanis, who told a national television audience blacks lacked the " necessities" to become baseball managers, yesterday resigned under pressure from team officials and political and civil rights figures.
Asked if he thought racial prejudice still existed in baseball, Campanis said, "No, I don't believe it's prejudice. I truly believe that they may not have some of the necessities to be, let's say, a field manager, or perhaps a general manager."
"The only thing I can say is that you have to pay your dues when you become a manager," Campanis said. "Generally, you have to go to minor leagues. There's not very much pay involved, and some of the better-known black players have been able to get into other fields and make a pretty good living in that way."
On the ABC program "Nightline" Monday, Campans was asked by host Ted Koppel why there were no campers in the war and who owners or owners in the major leagues.
On Tuesday, Campaigns released a statement apologizing for the comments and called the interview, "the saddest moment of my entire life."
Campanis played alongside Jackie Robinson in 1946 when Robinson broke into organized baseball as a members of the Montreal Royals, a Dodger farm team.
Coleman picked by Tampa Bay
Settina prettv
Darcy Chang/KANSAN
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Michael Ray Richardson, banned by the NBA last season when he tested positively for cocaine a third time, was the first player selected in the United States Basketball League draft yesterday.
Norris Coleman, of Kansas State University, is the first grounded player in the first round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Pat Clark, Des Moines, Iowa, junior, sets the ball to a teammate during a volleyball game. Clark and some friends played volleyball yesterday afternoon in the sand pit on the south side of Robinson Center.
United Press International
Richardson, who has hunted for a team to play with since he was banned in February while playing for the New Jersey Nets, was selected by the Long Island Knights. Richardson was the only former NBA player taken in the first round.
The rest of the first-round selections included Tyrone Bogues of Wake Forest by the Rhode Island Gulls, Ron Moore of West Virginia State by the Miami Tropics, David Popson of North Carolina by the West Palm Beach Stingrays, Brian Rowson of North Carolina by the Jersey Jammers, Tommy Amaker of Duke University by the Staten Island Stallions and Andre Moore of Loyola by the Philadelphia Aces.
Three-run homer lifts KC to 9-3 win
United Press International
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Buddy Biancalana hit a three-run homer, and Steve Balboni added a solo shot last night, powering the Kansas City Royals to a 9-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
Kansas City's Charlie Leibrandt had a no-hitter through five innings, until Gary Redu doubled to left in the sixth. The left-hander lost the seventh when Ozzie Guillen doubled and scored on a Ron Karkovice single.
Leibrandt, 1-0, allowed three hits in his seven innings, walking two and six in the game.
Floyd Bannister, 0-1, lasted only three innings for Chicago, giving up nine hits and six runs, all earned.
Biancalana's home run was only the sixth of his major-league career, spanning parts of six seasons and 258 games. It was also the first right-handed homer for the switch-hitting shortstop.
The Royals pounded out 15 hits in the game, and every Royals starter except Frank White hit safely in the game.
Kansas City jumped on Bannister for a 2-10 lead in the second innning. Jackson singled, Balboni walked, and Jordyn's northeast corner's own double into the left-field corner.
The Royals then sent 10 men to the
Jackson got his first RBI of the season in the sixth. He increased Kansas City's lead to 9-0 when he doubled in the right-field corner to score Tartabull, who had singled leading off the inning.
plate in the fourth inning. Jackson began and ended the frame by striking out.
In between, Balboni singled and Hearn stroked his second double of the night, setting the stage for Biancana's home run, which made it 5-3.
The Royals added two more runs in the fifth. Baldoni led off the innings with a towering 420-foot blast onto the ground that gave Kansas City a 7-1 lead
Kevin Seitzer then singled, prompting Bannister's removal from the game. Seitzer went to second when reliever Jim Winn walked Danny Tartabull, and scored on a single by George Brett.
After a two-out double by Willie Horsford from home with his first-round win, he has his first-round win.
Staff writer
By DIANE FILIPOWSKI
Kansas track office prepares for Relays
Fereshetian said yesterday that he had come to a simple conclusion.
For a month now, Al Feresheitan,
Kansas Relsays manager, has lived in
the men's track office, sorting the
entries for track and field athletes
who will compete in the 62nd annual
Kansas Relsays on April 15-18.
Top participants
"The meet was successful last year because the field was so strong," Fereshetian said. "But this year the race was longer, and every race is outstanding."
Fereshetian said that approximately 1,200 collegiate athletes from 45 universities and 1,400 high school athletes from 95 high schools would compete at Memorial Stadium.
Fereshtian said a strong group of women would represent the San Diego Track Club.
Fereshetian said the running events had the most depth, especially the men's 1,500-meter run, which has eight runners with times in the mile at or under four minutes.
The 400-meter dash will include Sunday Uti, a 1984 Olympian from Nigeria who is competing unattached, but trains with Iowa State's team. Also in the field will be last year's winner, Devon Morris, from Wayland Baptist Junior College in Plainview, Texas.
More than 20 states will be represented, including California, New York Florida and Montana. All of Big Right Conference schools will
Aaron Thipin will represent the San Diego Track Club in the 100-meter dash. Ferroshelian said Thipin was a world-best for the year.
Ray Wicksel, unattached from Phoenix, Ariz., is the entrant with a time of 3 minutes, 56 seconds. He will battle South Dakota State's RD Dehaven, the country's premier middle-distance runner.
Feresheti said there were also 20 unattached athletes who have made NCAA qualifying times and distances, a requirement to compete in the Relays for unattached participants.
In the men's 800-meter run, 28 athletes are entered who have times faster than 1:52. The fastest is recorded at 1:47, which is under the NCAA qualifying time of 1:48.11.
"A lot of good athletes will not qualify for the finals Saturday because the field is so stong," Fereshetian said.
In the 400-meter dash, worldranked Renee Reye, whose entered
time is 51.33, and defending Relays champion Leisa Davis-Knowles, both of San Diego, will battle in the race. The NCAA qualifying time is 53 seconds.
Latonna Sheftfield, also of San Diego, will compete in the 100-meter hurdles. Her entered time of 13.46 is .19 faster than the NCAA qualifying time.
Kansas Relays manager
KU's Courtney Hawkins, who qualified for the NCAA outdoor championships in the 110-meter high hurdles last weekend at the Texas Relays, will compete against Danny Harris, a silver medalist in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles at the 1984 Olympic games.
Al Fereshetian Kansas Relavs manager
The meet was successful last year because the field was so strong. But this year the field is even stronger, and every race is outstanding.'
Fereshetian said Kansas athletes also should make a strong showing in the NCAA.
Kansas All-America Denise Buchanan will compete in the shotput against Big Eight rival Pinkie Suggs of Kansas State. Suggs, also an All-America, and Buchanan finished first and second at the Big Eight Conference Indoor Championships in February.
Both will face Regina Cavanaugh of Rice, the defending NCAA indoor champion, who has thrown over 58 lbs. and 54 feet and Buchanan has thrown 52 lbs.
Fereshetian said Kansas' pole vaulters, who will compete in the collegiate and the invitational division of the event, will face eight vaulters in the invitational division who have vaulted above 18 feet.
Al Oerter, a former Jayhawk and a four-time Olympic gold medalist, will compete in the discus. Eighteen athletes entered in the high jump have jumped 7 feet or better.
Kansas' Ann O'Connor, a recent All-America who has jumped 6 feet in the high jump, will compete against Tammy Thurman, Nebraska and Connie Long, Wichita State.
Septien pleads guilty to indecency
United Press International
DENTON, Texas — Dallas Cowboys placekicker Rafael Septien pleaded guilty yesterday to indecency with a child and was placed on 10 years probation and fined $2,000.
Septiann, accused of fondling a neighbor's 10-year-old child in December, had been indicted on charges of aggravated sexual assault but entered a guilty plea to the lesser indecency charge as part of a plea agreement with W. Johnson of the Denton County district attorney's office.
Johnson said Septien was granted
deferred probation, which means that if he fulfills to the terms imposed by probation officers, he can petition the court in 10 years to have the case removed from his record.
Septien entered the plea before State District Judge John Narsutis, who had been scheduled to try him on the sexual abuse charge. Sexual abuse is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 99 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The veteran NFL kicker had maintained his innocence to the charge, which prosecutors said occurred Dec. 27 in the Denton County suburb
of The Colonv.
"The truth is that I am not guilty of this," he said in January after his indictment. "It is totally a misunderstanding."
Cowboys president Tex Schramm issued a statement yesterday, saying, "The matter has been resolved by the court. Septien is still a member of the football team."
Septien, 33, a native of Mexico City is a 10-year NFL veteran. He is the Cowboys' leading career scorer with 874 points.