Section:
1B
Sports
The University Daily Kansan
April 2, 1993 — The Kansas baseball team, in the midst of a nine-game winning streak, defeated Northeastern Illinois 4-3 in then-Hoglund-Maupin Stadium. The Jayhawks would eventually end up in the College World Series.
Flashback
Inside: The Kansas women's tennis team dropped a 4-3 decision to Colorado yesterday.
SEE PAGE 3B
MONDAY, APRIL 2, 2001
Inside: Darryl Strawberry might end up in jail after disappearing from a drug treatment center.
SEE PAGE 2B
For comments, contact Shawn Hutchinson or Shawn Linenberger at 864-4858 or sports@kansan.c
100
KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
Softball team shines down south
By Brent Briggeman
sports@kansan.com
Kansas sportswriter
Coming off a 5-1 home winning streak, the Jayhawks knew they had to maintain their high level of play as they traveled to College Station, Texas, for a two-game weekend series with No. 20 Texas A&M.
The Kansas softball team proved to be up to the challenge as it beat the Aggies 5-2 Saturday and completed the two-game sweep with a 6-4 win yesterday at the Aggie Softball Complex.
"It was like we wrote a script and the kids followed it to a "T," said coach Tracy Bunge, whose "Hawks improved to 19-16 overall and 4-2 in the Big 12 Conference. "This was the best performance by this team since the first weekend of the season," she said.
The Jayhawks jumped on Aggie starter Jessica Slataper from the onset, scoring three runs on three hits in the first inning and chasing her from the game after just 1 2/3 innings of work. Kansas hitters finished the game with 12 hits as five different hitters drove in runs.
"Prior to the game, we talked about the importance of coming out
Bunge: said team's performance was one of its best
aggressively and setting the tone," Bunge said. "Today, the kids just went out and did it." Kansas junior catcher Leah Tabb hit her team-leading fifth home run in the game, a solo shot to left in the fifth inning.
Freshman Kara Pierce kept Aggie hitters off balance all afternoon. She surrendered just four hits and walked two as she moved to 11-7 on the year.
The seventh inning belonged to Kansas.
Game two saw A&M (24-11, 1-5) jump out early. The Aggies scored the game's first three runs and held a 4-2 advantage moving into the last inning.
Kansas took advantage of three AEM errors and scored four runs, three of which were unearned, and posted the come-from-behind victory.
"We just crumbled and had every opportunity to win that game," said Aggies coach Jo Evans. "There is no excuse for our play in the seventh inning."
Kansas centerfielder Shelly Musser collected the big hit in the game-winning rally. Her single to right center drove in two runs and
gave the Jayhawks a one-run advantage. She later scored the game's final run on a throwing error by A&M catcher Lisa Klam as she stole third base — her team-leading 16th swipe of the season.
Junior Kelly Campbell (2-2) picked up the win for Kansas in relief. She replaced Pierce in the fourth and held the Aggies to two runs during the final four innings.
The wins move Kansas ahead of Oklahoma State and into fourth place in the Big 12 standings.
The 'Hawks swing back into action Wednesday with a trip to Springfield, Mo., for a doubleheader with Southwest Missouri State. They return to Big 12 action Saturday and Sunday with a two-game series at Texas Tech.
— Edited by Courtney Craigmile
Longhorns sweep series with 'Hawks
By Ryan Malashock
The Kansas baseball team appeared poised to notch its second victory against a ranked opponent this season as it led No. 22 Texas by one run in the top of the ninth inning Friday night.
Kansan sportswriter
But six runs and five hits later, the Longhorns had taken the lead and beat the Jayhawks, 10-5. Spurred by Friday's victory, Texas defeated Kansas Saturday, 6-2, and yesterday, 6-3. With Texas' three-game sweep, the Jayhawks' losing streak stretched to seven games.
Kansas senior Jesse Gremminger, who had two hits yesterday but was sick Friday and did not play, said that the Jayhawks entered the weekend series confident, but that Friday's loss was a monumental blow because a victory was so close.
As they would do all weekend, the Jayhawks (14-18, 2-13) fell behind early in Friday's game against Texas (24-12, 12-3).
"Friday night showed that they're beatable and that we could go out there and win," Gremminger said, "But it did hurt bad. We expected to win that game, especially going into the top of the ninth with the lead."
Trailing 4-0 in the fifth inning, the Jayhawks mounted a rally. With one out in the fifth, junior third baseman Ryan Klocksien smacked a bases-clearing double
to right center, scoring three Kansas runners. Sophomore first baseman Kevin Wheeler then tied the game by doubling to left center and scoring Klocksien.
Kansas took the lead in the bottom of the eighth when senior catcher Brent Del Chiaro scored on a two-out error by Texas third baseman Ryan Brooks.
Senior Pete Smart took the lead into the ninth, but had thrown 125 pitches entering the inning. After getting Texas' Ryan Hubele to fly out to center, Smart walked Ben King. Kansas coach Bobby Randall promptly removed Smart in favor of junior Doug Lantz, and the Longhorns jumped on Lantz for six runs.
Randall said he thought he made the correct decision in bringing in Lantz, who leads the Big 12 with five saves.
"We brought Doug in and he just didn't have it tonight," Randall said. "Pete was at 135 pitches, and I felt that we should go with Doug."
Smart gave up five runs off five hits and struck out three in 8 1/3 innings. He said the loss ranked as one of the hardest losses to take in his career.
“It’s heart-wrenching.” Smart said. “I should have told coach I didn’t want to come out. It’s a tough one to take. It didn’t matter how I felt, I wasn’t throwing in the ninth like I should have been.”
Texas' pitching dominated in its other two
victories. Starters Albert Montes and Jake Fence threw complete games Saturday and yesterday, respectively. The Jayhawks could muster only eight singles off Montes in Saturday's 6-2 defeat.
The Longhorns rouged up Kansas starter Jake Wright for five runs in two innings in their 6-3 victory yesterday. Once again, the Jayhawks came up short on a late-inning rally, but a base-running blunder by Gremminger cost Kansas.
With one out, Wheeler singled in John Nelson, but Gremminger, who was on first, attempted to move to third on the play. Gremminger slid into third safely, but slid over and past the bag and was tagged out by Brooks.
"There was some miscommunication there," Gremminger said. "It looked like coach was waving me home, and I thought that maybe the ball got through the outfielder's legs. I slid date and slid past the bag."
Kansas returns to action at 7 p.m. Wednesday at home with a nonconference game against Wichita State.
— Edited by Courtney Craigmile
Friday
Texas         001 120 006 - 10 10 3
Kansas        000 040 010 - 5 6 3
WP. Jordan, B. 1.O. LP. Lantz, D. 13. S. None, 2-BT. UU
BOX SCORE
Jesse Gremminger lays down a bunt single to begin a Jayhawk rally. Kansas fell short, dropping the third game of the weekend, 6-3 to allow a Longhorn sweep off the series. Phot by Laurie Sisk/KANSAN.
Quintanilla 2 (13), Brooks (6); KU: Klocksen 2 (9), Wheeler,
K, (5), 3B-UT: Rosenbent (2)
Texas    001 010 031 - 6 10 1
Kansas    001 010 031 - 2 81 2
West Marles, A. 2- L, Witcher, J. 1- S. None. 2B- UT-
Rosenberg (7), Brooks, H. BRU- Anderson (1), Onterven (9)
Weekday
Texas 320 000 100 - 6 12 2
Kansas 010 000 020 - 3 11 4
WP. Jordan, B. 10, LB. Jantz, D. 13, S. None, 2B. UT
HARLEM
WP. Jordan, B. 1.0, L.P. Lantz, D. 1.3, S. None-2. BUT-1.
Quantilina 2 (13), Brooks (6); KU: Klocksen 2 (9), Wheeler,
K. (5), 3B-Ut. Rosenberg (2)
Jayhawk rowers rule lone home regatta
Bv Jav Mullinix
Freshman first seat Beth Hickey battles fierce winds and rough waters at the Kansas women's rowing home regatta. The first varsity eight boat failed to pull ahead in its morning race but joined the winner's circle in the afternoon session. Photo by Matt Daugherty/KANSAN
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Smoke was on the water at Clinton Lake this weekend as the Kansas women's rowing team dominated its lone home regatta of the season.
The Jayhawks raced against Indiana, Iowa, Kansas State, Massachusetts and Tulsa, winning five of their seven morning races and six of their seven afternoon races on Saturday. They kept things moving yesterday as well, taking four of their final six races.
"We really showed our depth this weekend," Kansas coach Rob Catloth said. "We raced really well across the board, which was good to see."
What wasn't good was the weather, which proved to be about as hospitable a host as the 'Hawks were to their opponents. Races were delayed an hour Saturday morning because of strong winds, which also forced the course to be shortened from 2,000 meters to 1,500. Milder winds yesterday allowed races to be moved back to original length.
the morning hardships were of little distraction to the Jayhawks. During the first session the team won the second varsity eight, first and second novice eight, and varsity and novice four races. All five boats repeated their victories in the afternoon session and were joined by the first varsity eight boat in the winner's circle.
Yesterday morning the second varsity eight, first and second novice eight and varsity four added wins to the Jayhawks' weekend pot.
Assistant coach Heather Galvin said she was pleased with the whole team's performance, especially the second varsity boat.
"That boat has a lot of speed and mental toughness," she said. "They have really nailed it when it comes to putting it all together on race day and just rowed wonderfully."
For sophomore coxswain Jasmin Smith, Saturday morning's race proved especially sweet. Rowing against big east coast program Massachusetts and Midwest
"We knew how big it was to beat them," she said. "We knew that last 500 was all we had and the girls were willing to fight for that."
rival Iowa, the Jayhawks fell back to third early, but kicked it up in the last 500 meters and sprinted past both opponents.
"That was the proudest race I've ever raced in my life," she said. "To be behind and not panic and then pull it together to row through UMass and Iowa is just awesome "
For sophomore six-seat Jen Van Ruyven, the race was more than just a gratifying performance. It was a personal milestone.
Similarly satisfying for the Jayhawks was the performance of their novice boats. The first and second boats each won handily in all three of their races, giving Catloth a pleasing glimpse of days ahead.
"Our whole freshman class did great," he said. "Seeing them out there doing as good as they were gives us a lot to be excited about in the future."
Catloth said he was also mildly pleased with the improvement of the first varsity eight boat. After the boat struggle last week against Texas, and then lost badly in
its first race Saturday, Catloth switched the boat's seating order to try to help give the squad a better rhythm. The boat responded with a win in its second race and a strong but losing performance in its third.
Senior seventh seat Ali Brox said she thought the boat showed a steady improvement during the weekend.
"We're making progress," she said. "We got three races under our belt this weekend, and I think we got better mentally.
See ROWERS on page 3B
Sports Columnist
Amanda Kaschube
sports@kansan.com
Fans make opening day memorable for players
I think I've turned into my mom, but without the orange slices and body-quenching drinks.
It never failed to either rain, snow or be windy — and she was always there.
For 10 years, my mom braved the mid-March Chicago weather to come see me march down Flossmoor Road in the softball parade, the annual event that tipped off opening day festivities.
She came to all my games, cheering for me when I was on the Oakland A's, the Philadelphia Phillies or even the dreadful Chicago Cubs.
She was team mom for a few years, the one who was in charge of bringing Kool-Aid or fruit to rejuvenate our bodies after our Sunday morning games.
not-so-warm weather, not-so polished teams — scary how similar the scenes were.
Oddly, it came full-circle yesterday when I went to Shenk Sports Complex to watch my Kansan colleagues compete against Lambda Chi Alpha 2 in the opening day of the slow-pitch softball Intramural league.
Darn Daylight Savings Time.
The Kansan Sharks devoured — shameless Jaws pun — their opponents. 20-4.
Unfortunately, they had to forfeit because of a few players' lack of watch-wearing.
Darn Daylight Savings Time.
The Sharks' roster of 15 full-time journalists, part-time softball players, didn't strain too many muscles or egos. Most of the plays weren't SportsCenter highlight-reel worthy, but some of the infield plays were more amusing than watching Michigan State get spanked Saturday night.
From a lunging first baseman who almost lost his pants, to a bruised third base runner who received a line-drive foul ball smack to the calf, to a Lambda Chi Alpha member actually striking out in slow-pitch, opening day went off without a hitch.
The same will probably happen today for the 10 major league teams, including the Royals and my White Sox, that run on to the diamond for the first time this season.
Sure, Kansas City, which did own the second best American League Spring Training record at 16-11, will probably get whipped by the Yankees.
But for most teams, opening day means a clean slate and a piece of first place.
Sorry, but it's the truth that most teams — such as the Royals will never be in the top spot or have a sold-out home crowd again.
Not that all of my softball games were sellouts, but our loyal fan base, consisting mainly of parents and less athletically gifted friends, made all the difference. Even in the rain or slumping times, someone was cheering for us.
And for one day, every team can feel the love and be like the Yankees, even without having a hot shortstop like Derek Jeter or the pitching wonders of "El Duque."
Because really, it's the fans that make opening day memorable, long after injuries and egos subside. So thanks Mom for the support.
And, of course, the orange slices.
Kaschube is a Flossmor, Ill., senior in journalism.