SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2007
SOFTBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
fresh as can be and not over throw her. Bunge said.
With Humphreys being the
With Hump startping pitcher, the Jayhawks return three other starters to this year's team.
Senior Nicole W a s h b u r n returns to cover first base and sophomores Val Chapple and Stevie Crisosto will cover the left side of the
Ramirez plaved shortstop in
"As a coaching staff, we are going to have to be really patient with this group as we go through some growing pains."
infield at third base and shortstop.
base and looks to bring solid defensive capabilities to the squad.
mitered to trim shape and shop stairs.
Washburn will have fierce competition from freshman Amanda lobe to keep her starting spot at first base.
"jobe has a little more pop in her bat and is a letty, which makes a difference at first base."
Bunge went on to say that both are solid defensively, but the determining factor will be who can provide more offensive punch.
"Nic has experience on her side and we know what we are going to get out of her." Bunge said.
TRACY BUNGE
Also in the infield, freshman Sara Ramirez will cover second
a shortage of high school and is making the switch to the right side of the field.
Junior Betsy Wilson who will be starting at center will be the only returning outfielder.
Sophomore community college transfer Dougie McCaulley will start in right field and freshman Ally Stanton will cover left field.
Behind the plate at the catcher position the Jayhawks are full of depth, Sophomores Elle Pottorf, Erika Simington and Tiffany Crane can all take to the mask when needed.
Pottorf who took a medical red shirt year off for shoulder surgery last year will be the starter.
Her playing time will depend on how well her body adjusts from the time off.
Having lost six of its top eight hitters to graduation, the lahayws
look to be a better team on the bases and be more aggressive offensively.
"We are such a different team from last year and can't rely on homeruns." Bunge said.
"As a coaching staff, we are going to have to be really patient with this group as we go through some growing pains." Bunge said.
The young squad hopes to continue recent success against a tough schedule this season.
"It will challenge us as coaches because we'll have to teach a lot and figure out how to use this team's talent."
The team's opening weekend in San Diego will be a challenge right out of the gate for this young team.
The Jayhawks will face the University of California, Santa Barbara, tonight at 6:30, hitting the dirt for the first time in warm weather, as the team has practiced indoors the past few months.
Kansan sportswriter Evan Kafarakis can be contacted at ekafarakis@kansan.com.
Edited by Jyl Unruh
WOMEN'S BIG 12 BASKETBALL
Wildcats fail to bring home conference win
MANHATTAN — Kiera Hardy scored 13 points to lead No. 21 Nebraska to a 62-55 victory over Kansas State on Wednesday night for the Cornhuskers fourth straight win and seventh in eight games.
Ashley Ford added 11 points and Chelsea Aubry had 12 rebounds for Nebraska (19-4, 8-2 Big 12), which won the rebounding battle. 46-33. Kelsey Griffin, who entered the game fifth in the Big 12 Conference at 16.4 points per game, was held to seven points and 10 rebounds in action limited by foul trouble.
Shalee Lehning scored 15 points for Kansas State (15, 8, 3-6), which has lost six of seven since starting forward Marles Gipson went down
with a knee injury. Kimberly Dietz added 14 and Claire Cogins 13.
Nebraska survived a 5 minute scoreless streak in the second half to break a six-game losing streak at Bramlage Colseum. With the victory, the Huskers tied a record for the best conference start in school history. The 1987-88 team began 20-4 overall and 8-2 in the Big Eight Conference.
It is the best conference start for the Huskers since the Big 12 was formed in 1996.
The Wildcats trailed 32-25 at halftime after shooting 32 percent in the opening period. Their struggles continued early in the second when they missed nine of their first 11 from the field and trailed 42-29.
The Wildcats, however, went on
10-10 run, capped by an alley-op layup from Dietz to Shana Wheeler, to cut the gap to 42-39 with 11:32 remaining.
But that was as close as Kansas State would get, as a last-minute comeback effort fell short when the Wildcats could not connect from long range. Kansas State finished 4-for-23 from 3-point range, compared to the Huskers' 7-of-17 shooting.
Although Nebraska turned the ball over 21 times, the Wildcats could only convert the giveaways into 17 points.
Following a 70-63 victory in Lincoln, Neb., on Jan. 17, the Huskers' win Wednesday completed their first season sweep of the Wildcats since the 2000-01 season.
Pitcher assumes leadership makes national top 50 list
》 SOFTBALL PROFILE
BY EVAN KAFARAKIS
Kassie Humphreys' career honors
Senior pitcher Kassie Humphreys has been the go-to player for the layhawk softball team practically her entire career.
>> 2006 NFCA Second Team All-Region
From her freshman season in which she finished eight in the Big 12 with a 1.57 ERA, to her junior season in which she was an All Big 12 first team selection and Big National Fastpitch Coaches Association Second Team All-Region selection.
>> 200 All-Big 12 First Team
>> 2006 Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
Player of the Week, May 14, 2006
Not only will she be this seasons go-to player for the layhawks, but the go-to leader.
>>> Big 12 Pitcher of the
Week, April 4, April 11 2006
and May 4, 2004
Last season, Humphreys had senior leaders ahead of her such as All-American Serena Settlemier and Destiny Frankenstein to take the pressure of the team. Most of that falls on her this season.
Humphreys is coming off a great 2006 campaign that led the layhawks to the Big 12 Conference Postseason Championship.
The Glendale, Ariz., native led
USA Softball National
"We have such a young team and I've always had an older group in front of me to set an example," Humphreys said. "Now I feel a little more of that pressure."
>> 2006 Kansas Defensive Player of the Year
the lajvahk staff with a 1.19 ERA and 262 strikeouts through 234.2 innings last year.
Source: Big 12 Athletics
In order to be successful this year, Humphreys said that she needed to do the little things right.
"I see an opportunity to maybe do better and I hope to do that this year," she said. "I have worked on a lot of things over the offseason, so I am feeling a lot more comfortable with where I'm at."
On top of being the Big 12 pitcher to watch, Humphreys was named to the USA Softball National Collegiate
Player of the Year Award Top 50 Watch List by the Amateur Softball Association.
The award is considered one of the most prestigious honors in women's collegiate softball.
Humphreys takes to the mound today against UC Santa Barbara at 6:30 p.m.
Kansan sportswriter Evan Kafarakis can be contacted at ekafarakis@kansan.com.
Edited by Jyl Unruh
FOOTBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
ees may.
With only two offensive line starters returning, several incoming freshmen will need to hit the playbies soon.
Signee Jeremiah Hatch could provide help on the line by breaking into the starting lineup at center. Hatch, a 311-pound product of Dallas Carter High School, possesses ideal size and body type for the center position.
"Jeremiah combines intelligence, strength and quickness on the field," Allan Wilson, Dallas Carter head coach, said. "In my 32 years of coaching, he ranks right up top."
"Kendrick is all business," Mangino said. "He is a very responsible person."
The defensive backfield, an area of concern last season, will likely see a few new faces. Kendrick Harper is a junior college transfer who has already enrolled and begun workouts with the team. Harper, who transferred from Butler County Community College, becomes a candidate for the second cornerback job opposite Aqib Talib. Harper is just the kind of player Mangino set out to find.
Several of the Jayhawks' most
2007 recruiting class
Name Position Hometown
Isiah Barfield DB Haven, KS
Carmon Boyd-Anderson RB Jacksonville, TX
Dezmon Briscoe WR Dallas, TX
Anthony Davis DB Tulsa, OK
Patrick Dorsey DL Houston, TX
Drew Dudley LB College Station, TX
Steven Foster RB Sedgwick, KS
Chris Harris DB Bixby, OK
Jeremiah Hatch C Dallas, TX
Stephen Hoge K Oklahoma City, OK
Richard Johnson, Jr. DL Jefferson City, MO
Jake Laptad DE Tulsa, OK
Reil Lewis WR Muskogee, OK
Ryan Murphy WR Lawrence, KS
Jeff Spikes OL Painesville, OH
Justin Springer LB Los Fresnos, TX
A.J. Steward QB St. Louis, MO
Johnathan Wilson WR Houston, TX
Brian Murphy RB Lawrence, KS
—Asher Fusco
highly touted signees may have to wait a year before making an impact due to the already deep talent pool for offensive backfield Carmon Boyd Anderson, a 200-pound running back from jacksonville, Texas, combines power with the ability to make defenders miss, Mangino said. He did not go as far as to make any promises concerning Boyd- Anderson's playing time.
Drew Dudley, a 225-pound linebacker, graduated early from Sedgwick High School to join the team in winter workouts. According to rivals.com, Dudley is extremely athletic, with the ability to bench press 380 pounds and run a 4.60 second 40-yard dash.
"Drew is a kid who never missed a day," Jim Slaughter, Sedgwick High coach, said. "Most kids enjoy weight lifting, but he was eager to do the running also."
Finding a way to keep prospects committed is one of the more difficult tasks in a coach's job description. Mangino stayed in constant contact with the targeted players in the last several weeks to fend off competing schools.
— Edited by Mark Vierthaler