10
Friday, February 28,1997
UN I V E R S I T Y D A I L Y K A N S A N
Softball leadoff hitter sparks success and excitement
Eric B. Howell / KANSAN
Leftfielder Sara Holland practices batting. Since her arrival in 1995, Holland has been one of the Jayhawks' leading hitters.
Holland's career achievements
1996
Led the Jayhawks in five offensive categories
Set a new Kansas single-season record for doubles with 21
Fourth in career doubles with 27
Ranked fourth in Kansas record books with six home runs
Third in single sea son hits with 73
Second team All-Big 12 Conference
Second team All-Mid west Region
First team Academic All-Big 12
1995
Played in 37 games
and started 21
Had eight extra base hits
Tied for team lead with two triples
High School
1993 and 1994 Conference Player of the Year
1994 all-state softball selection
1994 Region VII Athlete of the Year
By Matt Woodruff
Kansan sportswriter
See the ball, hit the ball.
Three-year member of the Metro-Lakes All-Conference team
Those six simple words helped turn an unsuspecting Sara Holland into the hitting machine that led the Kansas softball team in batting averages (.372), runs (39), hits (73), home runs (6) and slugging percentage .612 last spring.
Earned four letters in softball and track and three in basketball
"I just told her to keep it simple, that she was trying to make hitting too hard," said Robert Elliot, Holland's summer league coach in her hometown of Bixby, Okla. "Some people try and jump on the ball right when it gets to them, but I told them they had to see it all the way in. See the ball, hit the ball. Some listen and some don't. She was one of those who did."
Holland said Elliot's coaching was one of the reasons for her success in junior high, high school and now at Kansas.
Possessing both speed and power, Holland, now a junior, has been an offensive key for the Jayhawks since her arrival in 1995.
"She's a spark plug for us," said Kansas coach Tracy Bunge. "She's not a typical leadoff hitter in that she already leads the team in home runs, with three. She does a good job to get on base, she has the best speed on the team and packs a lot of power for not being very big at the plate."
At 5-foot-4, Holland said she was not even sure where her power came from.
"I guess it comes naturally," she said. "I'm sure some of it is from
offseason weight lifting, but I really don't know where it comes from. I think part of it is just getting my pitch and driving it."
Holland said she expected big things from this year's team.
"I think we have a lot of confidence and know we can win," she said. "I think we can go all the way."
Bunge said Holland has been a tremendous competitor and makes every at bat a battle.
"She's not satisfied having a good weekend. She wants to have a great weekend," Bunge said. "Instead of a good at bat she wants a great one, and that's the sign of a great hitter."
Elliot said Holland had a lot of potential even at the beginning of her softball career.
"I remember one time we were at a national hitting competition in Illinois," he said. "She was up to bat and she fouled off 12 straight pitches. Finally she got her pitch and sent it downtown and we won the game. She's done that time and time again."
Despite the awards and accolades Holland has earned, including being named second-team All-Big 12 Conference last spring, she has no intention of easing up.
"I see those achievements as stepping stones," she said. "I want to be first team All-Big 12, and I would love to be All-American."
Bunge said Holland was continuing to get better.
"She's just a tremendously talented athlete," Bunge said. "The sky's the limit for what she can accomplish."
Pollard more than just muttonchops
The Associated Press
By Craig Horst
One of the few people who can quiet a sellout crowd in Allen Fieldhouse is a 6-foot-11 Kansas center with painted fingernails and muttonchop whiskers.
"Ssshh," Scot Pollard said last Saturday after playing his final home game.
For the most part, the crowd obeyed as Pollard spoke.
"I want to thank my family," said Pollard, whose picture on the cover of the Kansas media guide resembles Herman Munster and whose family includes two 6-11 brothers. "They're not the prettiest group of people in the stands."
The crowd laughed knowingly.
"I told you to be quiet," Pollard said in a joking manner. "Wait until I'm finished." And silence fell over the old building.
Afterward, Pollard went to hug Kansas men's basketball coach Roy Williams, who is 5-10. Just another odd sight that fans in Allen Field House have been treated to in Pollard's four years.
All has not been odd.
Pollard is a superb defender and powerful rebounder for the top-ranked Jayhawks. And his work habits have earned the respect and admiration of Williams.
"I never quite had an idea that this was going to be a youngster that I was going to enjoy," Williams said. "But I enjoy the young man as much as I've enjoyed any player. He's as hard a worker as I've ever
known."
No drugs. no earrings. no tattoos.
"He's unique. I don't think there's anything wrong with being different." Williams said.
Williams admits that early in his coaching career he wouldn't have tolerated Pollard's ways.
"I wouldn't have allowed him to paint his fingernails, or wear his chops, or color his dad-gum hair. I wouldn't have allowed that. Yet, I don't think it's taken away one bit from our team or him, or my relationship with him whatsoever," Williams said.
OSU games to test Jayhawks' abilities
Randall says series will measure team help improve skills
By Harley V. Ratliff Kansan sportswriter
Kansas head coach Bobby Randall couldn't have asked for a tougher opponent for the Jayhawks' first Big 12 Conference home series of the season this weekend.
The Jayhawks will play the Oklahoma State Cowboys at 3 p.m. today at Hoglund-Maupin Stadium in the first of a three-game series.
Despite the retirement of OSU coach Gary Ward, the college baseball powerhouse hasn't missed a beat. Ward's replacement is longtime Cowboy assistant Tom Holliday.
The Cowboys ride into Lawrence ranked 21st by Collegiate Baseball with a 7-4 record. Randall said that the OSU series would be a good measuring stick for his squad because the Cowboys reached the College World Series last season.
"This will be a major exam for our baseball team," Randall said. "It's easy to schedule wins and not have your ballclub progress. These are the teams you need to play. My attitude is that you want to play the best opponents possible."
Kansas enters the series on a four-game winning streak and at the top of the Big 12 standings. After their 3-0 victory over Nebraska on Tuesday, the Jayhawks are 5-2.
Despite the early success, Randall said his team still needed to improve in several areas.
"Winning overshadows a lot of things," Randall said. "But our bullpen hasn't been completely tested, and we have lost our offensive focus at times."
Although pitcher Josh Wingerd has posted three saves this season and has pitched well in relief, Randall said the Jayhawks still missed the presence of reliever Casey Barrett.
Barrett, who remains sidelined with a shoulder injury, had been penciled in as the closer before the season started. With Barrett out of the lineup, Randall has had to juggle his rotation.
"Josh has really been able to pick up the slack," Randall said. "But we miss Casey's experience and ability."
GR Gordon-Ross / KANSAN
Against the offensive-minded Cowboys, Kansas will not only need high-quality pitching but increased offensive production. Rightfielder Les Walrond said it was the offense's job to capitalize on the pitching staff's strong start.
"Our pitchers have really been setting our hitters up," Walrond said. "We just want to come out and finish business."
The two teams will continue the series with a game at 2 p.m. tomorrow and finish with a 1 p.m. game on Sunday.
All fans who attend today's game will pay only 25 cents for a hot dog.
Senior pitcher Josh Winged releases the ball in Tuesday's game against Nebraska. The Jayhawks will play against Oklahoma State at 3 p.m. today at Hogglund-Maupin Stadium.
"This will be a major exam for our baseball team. It's easy to schedule wins and not have your ballclub progress...My attitude is that you want to play the best opponents possible."
Bobby Randall Kansas baseball coach
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