Section:
B
The University Daily Kansan
Trivia question
The 1944 World Series featured two St. Louis teams opposing each other. Name the two St. Louis teams of that year. Which team won? See page 2B.
Sports
Inside: The Kansas women's tennis team will play on its "new" home courts near Robinson Center today.
SEE PAGE 3B
Inside: The last-place Royals defeated the division-leading Minnesota Twins last night in Minneapolis 5-3.
SEE PAGE 5B
TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2001 For comments, contact Shawn Hutchinson or Shawn Linenberger at 864-4858 or sports@kansan.com
KANSAS TENNIS
KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
Sports Columnist
Brian Hanni
sports@kansan.com
Softball team happy with results from new pitcher
While some are more pleasant than others, every surprise helps to make sports great. That's something that Kansas softball coach Tracy Bunge has definitely seen this season. Going into their doubleheader with Oklahoma City this afternoon, the Jayhawks stand at 24:20 on the year. They're 6-4 in Big 12 Conference play, including impressive sweeps against Texas, Texas A&M and most recently Baylor. The 'Hawks have won four in a row and are playing some of their best ball of the season.
Many things contribute to the overwhelming popularity of sports in America. It's difficult to single out just one aspect as most important, but one of the key ingredients that has helped make the sporting world so popular is its element of surprise.
The good times seem to be rolling right now for Kansas, but things could easily be different had Bunge and the Jayhawks not received a pleasant surprise in freshman pitcher Kara Pierce.
Surprises seem to pop up all the time. They're found at every level and in just about every form, from surprising athletes such as St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner to surprising teams like the Kansas men's basketball squad that won it all in 1988.
When the Jayhawks lost Sarah Clopton and Melanie DeWinter to graduation last spring, the softball team lost two pitchers who combined and started 53 of the Kansas' 62 games on the year. The lone pitcher remaining was junior Kelly Campbell, who had just nine starts under her belt.
Hanni is a Topek junior in broadcast news.
Bunge had a huge hole to fill.
When Bunge offered Pierce a scholarship, she knew the young right-hander had plenty of potential. But she also came with several question marks.
"Kara came from a situation in high school where she never got to pitch in the big games. She threw behind somebody (in the rotation) her whole career." Bunge said.
Going from playing second fiddle on her high school summer league team to shoildering the load on the third best team in the Big 12 is quite a transition. But Pierce has met all her challenges head on and continues to impress her coach.
Such predictions seem steep now, but from what they've accomplished already, I wouldn't be surprised.
"She's been such a surprise, especially in how quickly she's adapted to the role of being a Division I pitcher." Bunge said. "What impresses me the most is the way she's learned more and more with each and every start."
"We've come together so well, and I think we'll blow peoples' minds by the end of the season," Pierce said. "I even think we can make it to the College World Series."
Bunge's sweet surprise from Mesa, Ariz., became even sweeter during the weekend. Pierce tallied her 15th and 16th wins of the year as she went the distance twice in Kansas' sweep of No. 23 Baylor and lowered her ERA to 1.75. In Pierce's second outing against the Bears, she came within two outs of tossing a no-hitter against one of the better hitting teams in the conference.
Her fantastic freshman campaign has even caught Pierce by surprise.
"I was just looking forward to being part of the whole college experience," she said. "Coach said she'd work me hard in the fall and see where I came out in the spring. It's all been a really big surprise."
Even though Kansas' recent streak of success hasn't been a total surprise, there have certainly been many surprises along the way. The best of all surprises has definitely been Pierce, and she's confident that there are many more surprises on the way.
As great as Pierce has been, she's not the only reason the Jayhawks have climbed to third in the conference standings. Campbell and Kirsten Milhoan have complemented her well as the Jayhawk pitching staff continues to exceed expectations. Senior outfielder Erin Garvey paces the team with a .346 batting average, and junior catcher Leah Tabb is tied for second in the Big 12 with eight home runs.
Baseball team reflects on losses
By Ryan Malashock sports@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
On the surface, Iowa State's come-from-behind 5-4 victory at Cap Timm Field on Sunday appeared to be just another breakdown by the Kansas pitching staff, but the roots of Kansas' defeat spread deeper.
The Jayhawks slapped 14 hits on the day, but managed to score only four runs in another heartbreaking Big 12 Conference defeat. Kansas (16-23 overall, 4-17 Big 12 Conference) left 10 men on base during the game and squandered a few precious opportunities to put the game out of reach.
Kansas coach Bobby Randall said the Jayhawks had struggled in pressure situations at the plate this season.
ducing consistently for us."
"We're up there pressing way too much in key situations," he said. "We need to relax and let the game come to us. Right now we've only got two guys who are pro-
Randall used Kansas' failure to score in the seventh inning as an example of a missed scoring chance. Up 3-0, Kansas loaded the bases with one out, but freshman Matt Tribble struck out, and sophomore Kevin Wheeler hit right to the pitcher.
"We need to push runs across in situations like that."
Randall said. "That inning really stuck out in my mind."
Randall: said the team has struggled in pressure situations
The loss also spoiled another fantastic start from junior Doug Lantz. He struck out a career-high 12 batters Sunday, but also set a Jayhawk record by hitting five Cyclone batters. Up 4-1 in the ninth,
Randall opted not to remove Lantz from the game with the bases loaded and two outs. Looking back at his decision, Randall said that maybe he should have gone to his bullpen.
"I had Jeff Davis ready, and I probably should have brought him in," Randall said. "Doug was pitching so well and fighting so hard that I wanted to let him finish it."
Iowa State junior T.J. Bohn smashed Lantz' first offering to the center-field fence, scoring all three runners. Bohn said he noticed a pattern in Lantz' pitching.
"Every at-bat, Lantz was leading me off with a slider, and I took it every time." Bohn said. "I didn't want to take it anymore."
After Bohn tied the game at four, junior Brandon Cashman hit one past Kansas junior Ryan Klocksien and drove in Bohn with the game-winning run.
Sunday's game also marked the final
time Iowa State and Kansas would play each other in baseball. Two weeks ago, Iowa State made the decision to cut baseball effective next season.
Randall coached at Iowa State for 14 seasons, 11 as head coach. Randall said he was saddened to see what occurred at Iowa State
"It hurts because it takes 14 years away from me," he said. "The first thought about Iowa State is that they're not a good team, but that's baloney. They've got a good baseball program there."
Iowa State coach Lyle Smith commented about the program's elimination.
"The initial shock has worn off, but there's a residual effect," Smith said. "The kids have a lot of things going on in their heads, and it's tough to come to the ballpark. It's a little bit like if you've lived in a house your entire life, and a fire comes and you lose everything."
Famous journalist delights listeners
ESPN's Dick Schaap speaks, autographs book at Jet Lag Lounge
By Zac Hunter
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
It turns out that Don's Steakhouse is actually the best steakhouse in Lawrence, according to Dick Schaan.
He appeared in a local commercial supporting Don's, 2176 E. 23rd St., not so long ago, and he solidified his stance on the restaurant at the Jet Lag Lounge Thursday.
"It's the best steakhouse I've ever been to in Lawrence," Schaap said. "I waved my usual fee for that one."
Waved my assistant for a little.
He was at the Jet Lag Lounge, 610
Florida St., Thursday promoting his new book Flashing Before My Eyes: 50 years of Headlines,
Deadlines & Punchlines.
Most people know Schaap as the host of ESPN's weekly show, The Sports Reporters. But his resume extends far beyond that appearance.
His career has spanned five decades and has turned some of the events he covered into books.
"Dick writes very good stories," said Kansas City Star sports columnist Jason Whitlock. "He's concise, he's clever. He's one of the best."
Among the books in Schaap's catalog are autobiographies on celebrities from Billy Crystal to Henry Aaron. He also authored a book titled .44, which was based on the Son of Sam murders in New York in the 1970s.
"I also review the theater for television, but that's usually on at three or four in the morning," he said. "If it was up to me — if I'm going to describe myself — I just want it to say journalist, because that's what I think of myself as. Whether it's sports, politics or show business is immaterial."
Livina a dream
Schaap the journalist spent Thursday in the Kansas City area promoting his new book, jumping from interview to interview all afternoon before settling at the Jet Lag Lounge. There, he took pictures and signed copies of his book for an intimate group of fans.
The lounge was running low on copies of the book even before Schaap arrived for the autograph session, which was followed by short presentations and questions from the audience.
Person after person tossed out random names and questions, and Schaap had an answer and a story for every one of them. But even though there are thousands of stories Schaap has heard and told, there are still stories he isn't able to get.
"I would have to loved to have had a chance to talk to (Nelson) Mandela," he said. "I saw him from 10 feet away, but I never got to meet him."
In addition to Mandela, there are a few other, lower-profile people whom Schaap would like to talk to.
"There are lots of beautiful actresses I would have loved to interview, for days at a time," he said.
While Schaap may not have the legs to be chasing around young actresses, he does know he is living a dream.
"I have thoughts like that every day," he said. "This is all like a fantasy. I'm so lucky to be doing it. I wake up every morning and I say to myself 'Wow, what's going to happen today?' And usually something happens."
See RUN-INS on page 3B
Writer, reporter, reviewer and TV personality Dick Schaap says he entered journalism thinking it a noble profession and tantamount to a vow of poverty. He said he was wrong on both counts. Photo by Jamie Roper/KANSAN
Kansas freshman Dani May beats out a throw to first base against Baylor Friday. The Jayhawks play NAIA opponent Oklahoma City in a doubleheader today. Photo by Laurie Sisk/KANSAT
'Hawks hope for energy against Oklahoma City
By Brent Briggeman
sports@kansan.com
Kansas sportswriter
Coming off an emotionally-charged sweep of Baylor last weekend, the Kansas softball team hopes to avoid a let-down as it faces NAIA opponent Oklahoma City today.
The doubleheader begins at 3 p.m. at Jayhawk Field.
"We're still feeling the excitement from the weekend," said Kansas third baseman Megan Urquhart, who scored three runs in the two-game sweep of No. 23 Baylor. "We're feeling up right now, and that's a good feeling to have this late in the season. The past few seasons we've kind of tapered off at the end.
Hopefully, we can keep this going."
Bunge said it was irritating to play so well against higher-ranked teams only
"Our schedule has been scary," said Kansas coach Tracy Bunge, whose team improved to 24-20 overall and 6-4 in the Big 12 Conference during the weekend.
To do so, Kansas must shake its Jekyl and Hyde tendencies. The 'Hawks have been inspired at times, winning eight games against ranked teams, including Arizona State and Texas A&M.
However, they have looked lethargic in losses to less-heralded teams such as Wichita State and Southwest Missouri State.
"It's been very frustrating," she said.
to not "take care of business" in games against lesser opponents.
Ing, she said. Urquhart said the 'Hawks had lacked aggression and intensity at times.
"We just sometimes haven't had that feeling of excitement before the games, especially against teams outside the Big 12," she said. "But we're looking at the positive and taking it game by game. Besides, we know how good OCU is."
Good may be an understatement. Oklahoma City is the reigning champion in the NAIA and is ranked in the top spot once again with a 30-7 record.
See KANSAS on page 8B