Sports
University Daily Kansan / Friday, April 3, 1987
13
7-footer too good to be true
By ROB KNAPP
Staff writer
When a call came to the Kansas men's basketball office yesterday about a 7-foot Italian high school star, assistant coach Mark Freidinger couldn't help but be interested.
'What we wanted to do was make sure that it was clearly labeled, so that when people would get through reading it they would say, 'Hey, I've been fooled.'
Street from Nassau City informed him about 16-year-old Adofo Falligeri, who among other things, had scored 101 points in a game, and reportedly wanted to attend KU.
Chris Cox Dispatch-Tribune associate
editor
But Falligeri, the superstar and grape-masher from Apricini, Italy, never will be a Jayhawk because he is fictitious, an April Fool's day joke by a Kansas City-area newspaper columnist.
Courtesy of KU Sports Information
Falligeri was the creation of Raytown Dispatch-Tribune sportswriter Todd Rector, and was featured in Rector's April 1 column. The column reported that Falligeri was transferring to Raytown South High School for his junior and senior years, and that he was interested in playing for the Jayhaws.
Some of Falligeri's other achievements, attributed to various sources, included a 4.0 grade point average, shutting down former professional player Bob McAdoo in an Italian Professional League game while scoring 24 points himself, and shooting half-court hook shots as part of his pre-game warm-up.
"What we wanted to do was make sure that it was clearly labeled, so that when people would get through reading it they would say, 'Hey, I've been fooled,'" said Chris Cox, Dispatch-Tribune associate editor.
Al Oster, a two-time All-American in the discus at KU, will return to the Kansas Relays for the first time in 20 years. The Relays will be held April 15-18 at Memorial Stadium.
Oerter returning for Relays
By DIANE FILIPOWSKI
Staff writer
Four-time Olympic gold medalist Al Oerter will compete at Memorial Stadium for the first time in 20 years when the former Jayhawk returns to Lawrence on April 15-18 to compete in the 62nd annual Kansas Relays.
peting until he has acheived one final goal.
At age 50. Oerter is not ready to stop making history or stop com-
"After the Melbourne Olympics in 1904, "Oerter said Tuesday in a telephone news conference from his winter home in Fort Meyers, Fla., "I promised myself five gold medals."
Oerter, who is the only athlete to win four gold medals in the same event, back-to-back Olympic golds in the discus from 1956 to
1968 and will be inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame during the Relays
Al Fereshetian, Relays manager, said he chose Ozer to highlight the relays this year because the Olympics were a year away and because KU's throwing fields were being rededicated.
A discus thrower appears on
See OERTER, p. 16, col. 1
KU loses again; WSU rallies late
By DAVID BOYCE
For eight innings yesterday against the Wichita State Shockers at Quigley Field, the Kansas baseball team played some of its best baseball of the season.
Baseball
The game went nine innings.
With Kansas leading 8-5 in the top of the ninth, it looked like Kansas was on its way to snapping a six-game losing streak and handing No. 21-ranked Wichita State its first loss in nine games.
Bilyeu gave up two runs early in the inning, and Wichita State pulled
But relief pitcher Tom Bilyeu, who pitched masterfully in the seventh and eighth innings, ran into trouble in the ninth.
The Shockers then loaded the bases with two outs, and Shocker outfielder Tim Raley stepped to the plate.
"I thought Bilyeu still had his good stuff," Coach Marty Pattin said of his decision to leave Bilyeu in the game.
Raley hit a Bilyeu change-up over the center-field fence for what proved to be a game-winning grand slam home run.
"It felt great to be in that situation. Railey said we just looked for a place."
The Shockers scored a total of eight runs in the ninth, with the help of two home runs, making the final score 14. Kansas did not score in the last innings.
Kansas now has gone eight games without a victory, including seven losses and a tie. The Jayhawks' overall record dropped to 18-13-1, and Wichita State raised its record to 23-9.
The Jayhawks have not won a game since Pattin informed the team that the athletic department would renewing his contract for next season.
Kansas' next games are against
Nebraska at noon tomorrow and
April 10 at noon.
"I thought they played really well." Raley said. "You've got to give them a shot. We were down in the last innertight, and they hit the ball well."
As a team, Kansas collected 14 hits. Scott Seratte led the hitting attack, going 4-for-4. Darrel Matthew stroked three doubles, going 3-for-4, and John Byrn hit his sixth run, going 2-for-5.
"I was kind of due." Seratte said of his hits. "I have been swinging the bat fairly well, and today the ball
dropped in."
Although the Jayhawks lost, Seratte said the team played well against a good team, and that should help them when they play No. 20 Nebraska this weekend.
Starting pitcher Scott Taylor settled down after the second, and allowed only one run in the next six innings.
The game started with both teams scoring two runs in the first inning. The Shockers added two more in the second, while Kansas scored a single run on an RBI-single by Seratte that scored Matthews.
'Any loss is disappointing. I thought we had many opportunities to win.'
Marty Pattin Kansas baseball coach
"It really doesn't matter," Taylor said of his performance. "We lost.
"We played eight innings of good baseball, and have nothing to be ashamed of."
Kansas built its 8-5 lead by scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh when Matthews, Serratte and Jarrett Boeschen knocked in runs.
"Any loss is disappointing," Pattin said. "I thought we had many opportunities to win.
"The kids went out and did a good job, but good teams find a way to win. That's the nature of baseball."
Kansas ended three innings by getting runners picked off at first base. The first pickoff came in the second inning with two outs and bases loaded, and KU's leading hitter, Hugh Stanfield, at the plate.
Although Kansas lost, this year's game was much closer than the two teams' first meeting last year. In that game, Wichita beat Iowa 18-6.
WICHITA STATE 13, KANSAS 8
V, St. 220 100|88—13 17
Kansas 210 100|32 — 8 14 3
Mcintyre, Cedeno (6) Bluma (7) Lunnon (8)
Newlin (9) Wedge, Taylor, Bileye (7)
Stoppel (9) Boeschen W-Lunnon L-Bileye(0-1) 2BS-WSU - Standford KU - Matthes
3. Byrn 3Bs-WSU - Raley HRS-WSU - Raley Headley, Olivas KU - Birmingham (6)
By a Kansan reporter
Jim Hershberger, a member of the Kansas track team from 1951 to 1953, will be the first person inducted into the KU Athletic Hall of Fame under a special admittance clause. Monte Johnson. KU athletic director, announced yesterday.
Hershberger to be inducted into KU Hall of Fame
Under the admittance clause, Hershberger was chosen as an individual who has made an accomplishment or contribution of such high stature to a sport that it is recognized nationally, and subsequently has brought distinction among those involved and to the University of Kansas.
Johnson said the University was grateful for
the support it had received from Hershberger over the years.
"I feel that it is extremely appropriate that Jim Hershberger be the first such individual honored in this way, over and above his outstanding athletic career," Johnson said.
An active supporter of Kansas athletics, the Jim Hersberger Track at Memorial Stadium was named in recognition of his contributions.
Hershberger also donates eight men's track scholarships a year, including one named after Bill Easton, the men's coach from 1948-1965. He also invited Bob Kentons, Kansas coach since 1965.
winning 1951 Big Eight Conference Indoor mile relay team, won four Kansas Relays and Texas Relays titles and two Philadelphia Classic championships.
Since his track career at Kansas, Hershberger has broken 25 world age-group records and has captured 20 Amateur Athletic Union and 14 National Championship and Field Federation national championships.
While at Kansas, Hershberger anchored the
To recognize Hersherberg's contributions to the NCAA and his demonstration that track can be a lifetime sport, the Oklahoma City All Sports Association decided to name the outstanding athlete trophy of the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Hersherb-
ger's honor.
get a subjob
Hershberger, 55, has also been active in his hometown, Wichita, and has been inducted into the Wichita State University Sports Hall of Fame. He also sponsors and participates in the Jim Hershberger Most Versatile Performer Games, held annually in Wichita as a test of athletic versatility and endurance.
Earlier this year, Hershberger became the first native Kansan and the oldest athlete ever to be featured on boxes of "Wheaties" breakfast cereal.
After he is commissioned, a portrait of Hershberger will be hung in the KU Athletic Hall of Fame.
Darcy Chang/KANSAN
KU tennis player Marie Hibbard volleyes with teammates during practice at Alvamar Tennis and Swim Club, 4120 Clinton Parkway.
Tennis teams begin Big 8 action
By ROB KNAPP
Staff writer
The Kansas men's and women's tennis teams begin Big Eight Conference play today, and Marie Hibbard is ready.
"I think that I just start feeling more motivated as the Big Eight season approaches," said Hibbard, who has played with enough motivation to win 12 of her last 13 matches.
The Kansas teams meet Oklahoma State, and Hibbard, playing at No. 5 singles, goes after her sixth consecutive victory at the Allen Field House courts. Women's matches begin at 9 a.m. and the men at 1 p.m.
Kansas faces Oklahoma tomarow at the field house courts with the women starting at 9 a.m. and the men at 1 p.m.
In case of bad weather, the matches will be moved indoors to the Alvamar Country Club, 4120 Clinton Parkway.
Men's and women's coach Scott Perelman said Hibbard's success was a result of her patience.
"She's basically a baseline player. Perelman said, "She's got to believe she's going to get the ball more times than the other player."
That's exactly what Hibbard is doing, though the strategy is producing matches that sometimes last two and a half hours.
"I'm not the strongest player." Hibbard said. "I don't hit the ball that hard, but I can stay out on the court all day if I have to."
Today's matches mark the opening of Big Eight play for both schools.
"This is what you play your entire year for," Perelman said.
I think that I just start feeling more motivated as the Big Eight season approaches.
Marie Hibbard Kansas tennis player
"We've been playing since August to get ready for the Big Eight season.
"This weekend will set the tone for the rest of the month. Someone is going to gain control of the conference."
The Jayhawks will be bolstered by the return of their team captains.
weekend's matches in West Virginia. Wolf came home early from the teams' spring break trip to the Georgia State campus, where mental and physical exhaustion
Men's captain and No. 1 singles player Mike Wolf will return to the lineup after sitting out last
Perelman said Wolf returned to team workouts this week.
"He hasn't played in some time, but he, more than anyone on the team, realizes the importance of this month." Perelman said.
Women's captain Barb Inman also returns after arthroscopic knee surgery last week, in which doctors repaired frayed ligaments. Inman will play No. 6 singles.
The Oklahoma men's team returns Olivier Lorin, last year's conference champion at No. 1 singles, and Mark Fentris, another returning singles champ.
Oklahoma State is a traditional Big Eight power. The men's squad has won nine of the last 10 conference titles, and the women have won six straight Big Eight championships.
But both the Kansas men's and women's have been closing the gap, capturing second place in the conference each of the past two seasons. And earlier this year, the mens squad beat the Cowboys 5-4 in a qualifying match for the ITCA National Indoor Championship.
Wolf holds a 5-3 career edge over Lorin, but Lorin has won the last three meetings.
From Kansan wires
Wilson Royals defeat Omaha
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Willie Wilson collected three hits, stole two bases and scored one run as the Kansas City Royals topped Omaha, their AAA farm club, 2-1 yesterday.
Mark Gubicea, in his final exhibition start, shut out Omaha on three singles for seven inmings.
Spring Training
Wilson led off the first with a single and stole second but he advanced to third on Kevin Setzer's ground out and scored on George Brett's sairacie.
Danny Tartabull and Thad Bosley singled to open the second. Tartabull scored on Ed Hearn's ground out.
Seitzer dropped a fly ball in the eighth inning, allowing Chito Martinez, who had singled, to score.
Dan Quisenberry picked up the save after retiring Omaha in order in
In a roster move yesterday, two left-handed relief pitchers, Israel Sanchez and Steve Shirley, were placed on the roster of the Omaha arm club.
The moves left the Royals with 25 players in camp, one above the regular season limit They must reach a scoring streak against the Chicago White Sox.
Buddy Black remains the only left-hander in the bulldip of the nine-yard zone.
Sanchez appeared in four games this spring and was 1-0 with a 5.63 earned run average Shirley was 0.1 number of appearances and posted a 2.43 ERA.