University Daily Kansan / Wednesday, March 2, 1988
Sports
13
KU baseball team wins home opener 680 see 'Hawks beat Washburn
By David Boyce
Associate sports editor
After suffering through a 15-39-1 record last year and dropping its first three games at Arkansas this spring, the Kansas baseball team might have been surprised by what met it yesterday at Hoglund-Maupin Stadium.
About 680 fans filled the bleachers and watched the Jayhawks gain their first victory of the season, 16-8, over the Washburn Ichabods. Kansas is now 1-3.
"It was a tremendous crowd," said coach Dave Bingham. "A lot of credit goes to the Kansas Union Book-stores."
The enthusiastic crowd and the offense pleased Bingham, but he said he was less than happy with the defense.
The bookstores sponsored Kansas' first Cap Day, and the first 200 people at the game were given hats.
"I don't like these games," Bingham said. "I like 3-2 and 5-3 games. Today, we allowed (seven) unearned runs, and you can't do that and beat quality teams."
"We should have blown them out in the first, but our defense allowed them to come back," Bingham said.
The Jayhawks didn't waste time, using three hit-and-run plays in the first innning and taking a 5-0 lead.
W
We should have blown them out in the first, but our defense allowed them to come back.
-- Dave Bingham KU baseball coach
Kansas outfielder Steve Dowling slides safely into home plate as Brad Shaffer covers the play. The Jayhawks beat Washburn 16-7. Washburn catcher Sean Jackson tries to make the tag while pitcher yesterday at Hoglund-Maupin Stadium.
"I'm dissatisfied with all the errors."
Kansas went up 6-0 before Washburn responded with three runs in the third. And by the middle of the fifth, Kansas had only a 8-1 lead.
Dan Ruettimann/KANSAN
"Mike (McLeod) labored through his five innings, but Darin (Harris) came in and really shut them down," Bingham said. "When he entered, it was still anyone's game."
Kansas scored five more runs in the seventh and put the game out of reach.
Harris started the top of the sixth with Kansas ahead 11-6. He allowed only one unearned run in his three innings.
"Offensively, we are going to score," Bingham said. "I thought (Tom) Buchanan did well. He didn't have a good series at Arkansas, but he came back here and worked hard in practice."
(Spencer) can drive in more than he lets in, then we will do all right," Bingham said, and then smiled.
Buchanan went three for four with an RBI. Jeff Spencer also performed well offensively, going three for four with three RBI.
"If we can get to the point where he
Spencer is playing third base for the first time since high school. He committed five errors in three games at Arkansas and one error yesterday.
"It's just a matter of me getting a rhythm at him," Spencer said. "I've been working hard at it, and it hasn't affected my offense. I can't let my
fielding affect my hitting."
Bingham said he would stick with Spencer at third because he was counting on Spencer's offense.
"He always seems to be in a position to drive in runs." Bingham
Despite the errors, which allowed seven unearned runs, Bingham said the team made progress. He said the pitching was better.
"I thought we played a little tight," Bingham said, "but the first win is always tough."
Center fielder Rocky Helm said that it was nice to have a big crowd but added that he was still waiting for the team to play well for an entire game.
Helm, who went two for three and scored two runs, said he thought he was the best.
"The mood of the team right now is pretty good," he said.
KANSAS 16, WASHBURN 8
Washburn 003 210 001— 8
Kansas 512 005 500— 16
Kansas plays Buffs for last road game
Kansas
  512 030 60—16 145
Washburn: Shaffer, Nail (3), Hammons (6)
Rose (8) and Jackson, Kulikowski (7); Kansas
McLeod, McNaught (6) Stopoll (9) and Boeschen,
McLeod (8) Wright, Morozski (4), LShafer
(0-1), 2B-Kansas, Wright, Morozski, Nem-
bler, 2B-Washburn: Waltrip
By Elaine Sung
Kansan sports writer
This year, it is not the title but a berth in the NCAA tournament that may be at stake.
When Kansas lost to Colorado in Boulder 66-56 last year, the Jayhawks any chance of tying for the Big Eight Conference title.
But Kansas coach Larry Brown has tried to avoid the tournament hype that has materialized over the last several weeks, trying to take the remainder of the season on a game-to-game basis.
"The kids are just concerned with each game," he said. "Like I said before, it's unfair to make a case now. I want to get into the situation where we deserve it."
Last weekend's 82-77 victory over Missouri, which was ranked No. 15 last week, ended the Jayhawks' "Death March." The four-game, nine-day span started with an upset victory over Kansas State two weeks ago.
Kansas went on to meet then-fifth-ranked Duke at home, losing 74-70 in overtime. Three days later, the Jayhawks traveled to Norma to face the Bulldogs, but they already have at least a tie for the Big Eight title. The Sooners won, 95-87.
"We've played so many teams in the last month. We came out close so
many times and we didn't have anything to show for it," Brown said. "The Missouri game was a reward.
"Playing great teams gives you confidence, but the bottom line is you have to see some success to get the confidence."
The situation is tight not only for a spot in the NCAA tournament, but also for a good seed in the Big Eight tournament, which starts March 11th.
Kansas has an 18-10 overall record and is third place in the conference with a 7-5 record. Following close behind is Missouri, which is 6-6 and in fourth place.
Game 29
The Jayhawks are guaranteed an upper division seed and will definitely have the No. 3 seed for the Big Eight tournament if they win one of their last two games.
Depite its dismal record, Colorado has proven a tough host in the past
Kansas
Jayhawks
COACH: Larry Brown
Record: 18-10 (7-5)
Colorado is 7-19 overall and in last place in the Big Eight with a 3-9 record. The bottom half of the conference is tailed between Iowa State, Nebraska and Oklahoma State, who are all tied for fifth place with records of 4-8.
In that case, if missouri wins its last two games, Kansas would still receive the third seed because the team has its tigers in both meetings this season.
Colorado Buffaloes
COACH: Tom Miller
Record: 7-19 (3-9)
PROBABLE STARTERS
F-24 Chris Piper 6'8" 4.5
F-21 Mitten Newton 6'4" 10.0
C-25 Danny Manning 6'10" 24.8
G-14 Kevin Pritchard 6'3" 11.0
G-33 Jeff Gueldner 6'5" 3.9
F-32 Brent Vaughan 6'8" 5.2
F-23 Brian Robinson 6'10" 10.1
C-54 Scott Wilke 6'10" 21.6
G-12 Steve Wise 6'2" 5.7
G-24 Michael Lee 6'4" 7.4
COVERAGE: Game time 8:05 tonight, March 2, at CU Events Center in Boulder, Colo. The game will be televised on WIBW-TV channel 13 and KSHB-TV channel 41. The game will be broadcast on the Jayhawk Sports Network, KLZR 106 FM.
several weeks. The Buffaloes scored an upset last week when they bea Missouri in Boulder 81-78.
The Jayhawks beat Colorado 73-62 in Allen Field House earlier this year, but Boulder has recently proved to be a special problem for Kansas.
"That was last year's team; this is this year's team." Brown said. "The fact that Missouri and Iowa State and Oklahoma State lost to Colorado should get our kids' attention."
The Jayhawks are 2-2 in their last four trips to Boulder, including last season's loss. Kansas won its two
games by a total of seven points.
Colorado is led by senior center Scott Wilke, who averages nearly 22 points a game. He has scored 10 points or more in a school-record 45 games.
Two Jayhawk women make All-Conference
By Keith Stroker
Kansan sports writer
Big Eight Conference honors this week included two Kansas women's basketball players.
Lisa Braddy, a 5-foot-7 sophomore guard from Kansas City, Kan., was named to the All-Conference second team. She had six assists last Saturday against the Missouri Tigers, making her the Jayhawks' career single-season leader with 174. Braddy surpassed four-time American Lynette Woodard, who had 170 during the 1978-79 season.
Braddy has 312 assists in two years of playing, and she is in second place in school's history behind Woodard, who had 502 assists.
Sandy Shaw was the other Kansas player honored. Shaw, a 6-0 senior forward from Topeka, was named as an All-Conference honorable mention for her performance this season. Shaw leads the Jayhawks with 354 points, averaging 13.1 points a game.
In addition, Shaw has made 46 of 106 three-point attempts this season, for 43.4 percent, and has 45 blocked shots in her career.
Nebraska forward Maurice Ivy, named the Big Eight Player of the Year, and Oklahoma State forward
Jamie Siess, both seniors, were the only two repeat first-team selections from last year.
The 5-9 Ivy led the conference champion Cornhuskers, as well as the Big Eight, in scoring this season, averaging 18.7 points a game. Ivy, one of four Nebraska personnel to be honored, also averaged 5.7 rebounds a game.
Siss, one of two Cowgirl first-teamers, was second in the conference with an average of 18 points and 8.9 rebounds a game. Other first-team selections included 6-1 senior forward-center Tracy Ellis of Missouri, 6-3 junior center Carmen Jaspers of Iowa State, and 5-11 junior forward Clinette Jordan of Oklahoma State.
Nebraska coach Angela Beck was named Big Eight coach of the year.
Joining Braddy on the second team were 6-2 junior center Crystal Ford of Colorado, 6-0 junior forward Jo Mosley of Oklahoma, 5-8 junior guard-forward Sandie Prophete of Missouri, and 5-8 junior guard Amy Stephens of Nebraska.
Joining Shaw as honorable mention selections were Big Eight newcomer of the year Kim Harris, a 6-1 junior forward for Nebraska.
Valesente finds coaching job with Maryland
Bv Craig Anderson
Assistant sports editor
The positive attitude that former Jayhawk football coach Bob Valesente carried with him even in the worst of times at Kansas wasn't lost in his move to the East Coast.
"I're really excited about the coaching opportunities here at Maryland," he said. "I was looking for what was the best job for me and my family, and I feel like I made the best decision.
Last week, Valesente was named Maryland's offensive coordinator and quarterback coach. Although he said he still had hoped to be coaching at Kansas, Valesente said he was looking forward to his future at Maryland.
"I interviewed (at Maryland) and was offered a two-year contract, something most assistant coaches aren't given. It turned out well."
Krivak contacted Valesente shortly after the second-year Kansas coach was fired Nov. 23. No plans were made for an interview then, but Krivak told Valesente to stau in touch.
Valesente's connection at Maryland was with Terrapin coach Joe Krivak. The two met 20 years ago when Valesente was coaching at Cornell and Krivak was coaching at Syracuse.
During the three months after his dismissal, Valesente interviewed for jobs on both the professional and college football level, including Maryland. At the end of the interview process, Valesente said he had several offers to coach college teams.
KANSAN File Photo
"I wasn't so much making a choice between coaching college and professional football," said
Bob Valesente
the 47-year-old Valentee. "I could have taken some administrative positions, but I decided to stay in coaching."
He had three meetings with Krlvak before deciding to join the Terrain staff.
over the past few years, has regularly challenged for the Atlantic Coast Conference title. The Terrapins have been to eight bowl games in the last 11 years. Valesente tried to resurrect a Kansas football program that had been to six bowl games in its 90-year history.
Valesente will be coaching in a Maryland football program that,
Maryland has regularly sent its players to the National Football League. Recent standouts include Lloyd Burruss and Pete Koch of Kansas City and Boomer Esaison of Cincinnati. Valesente said he expected several Terrapins to be selected in this year's NFL draft.
"There's no doubt that Maryland has a tremendous football tradition," Valesente said. "There's a tremendous commitment from everyone here — students, fans, faculty and staff."
"Another big advantage we have here is that Maryland has 90 players on scholarship, something I was always fighting for at Kansas."
Kansas had a 4-17-1 record in Valesente's two years as coach. Despite the losing record, Valesente said he had done the best job he could in a program that was short of resources when he took over the position.
"I don't have any regrets about the KU experience," he said. "The only regrets I guess I would be that I'll be leaving so many great people. I feel really lucky to have been able to have met so many quality people while at Kansas."
While at Kansas, Valsente's teams had the opportunity to meet some of the most powerful football teams in the nation. Last season, Big Eight Conference foes Oklahoma and Nebraska were ranked at the top of the Associated Press' top-20 poll for most of the year. Between them, the Cornhuskers and Sooners have won or tied for 39 of the last 41 league championships.
Also on the Jayhawks' tough schedule were Auburn, Oklahoma
State and Colorado. Valesente said he wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
"We played a tough schedule, there's no doubt about it," he said. "The Big Eight Conference provided us with great competition."
With the kind of tough schedule Kansas played, it was ironic that losses to Division I-AA teams Kent State, under new Jayhawk coach Glen Mason, and Louisiana Tech during the 1987 season would mark the beginning of Valesente's demise. Kansas would win just one game all season, against Southern Illinois, and go winless in the Big Eight for the second straight season.
Rumors started flying about Valeente's future at Kansas early in the season, something he had no control over. Despite all of the speculation, Valeente said he wasn't distracted from his goal — to build the Kansas program into a consistent winner.
"The coaching staff) had to keep going with what we felt was the right course for the program," he said. "We didn't have time to worry about the other things."
"We're taking things one day at a time now," he said. "It's been tough getting acclimated to the new job, but it's nothing that any other football coach has had to go through when changing jobs. I'm enjoying the experience."
In his new situation at Maryland, Valesente has been going through the rigors that accompany the move to almost any new job. Valesente hasn't sold his home in Lawrence yet, though he said he was very close to doing so. He and his wife, Joan, are still looking for a home in Maryland.
Tartabull to remain with KC
HAINES CITY, Fla. — Outfielder Danny Tartabull, the young slugger who said Monday night that he wanted the Kansas City Royals to trade him, ended his holdout yesterday.
The Royals said that Tartabull, who led Kansas City with 34 home runs last season in his first year with the club and second in the majors, had signed a one-year contract. The terms were not disclosed.
It was reported earlier that Tartabuil, who made $145,000 last season, had been given a $325,000 final offer from the Royals. The team had told him his contract would be renewed automatically if he did not sign yesterday, for what Tartabuil's representatives said would be $290,000.
The Associated Press
Tartabull and John Schuerholz, the Royals general manager, had talked by telephone Monday night, and Tartabull said that he repeated his desire to leave the team.
"I told him, 'At one time, I wanted to play with this organization forever,'" Tartabull said. "Now, I want to be traded. I don't want to play for you. I want out."
Tartabull said that when he told Schuerholz he wouldn't in camp Wednesday, the general manager replied that he'd be fined.
"I said, 'John, all that proves that you're acting irrational,'" Tartabull said. "I went on and expressed the same feelings I've had all winter. I told him there were double standards on the team."