Eight of Kansas University’s last nine scheduled softball games have been rained out.
So, naturally, with the Jayhawks set to play host to Nebraska today, the forecast calls for rain. Only in the morning, however, and the game is scheduled for this afternoon.
“Let’s hope the forecast holds,” KU coach Tracy Bunge said.
The listed start time is 3 p.m. at Arrocha Ballpark.
The Jayhawks’ only game in the last 10 days was Friday night at Texas where UT’s Cat Osterman, arguably the best college pitcher in America, tossed a two-hitter, and the Longhorns won, 4-1.
A pinch-hit home run by Heather Stanley accounted for KU’s run. Stanley, a junior from Houston, was the Jayhawks’ starting left fielder most of last season, but lost her starting job because of poor hitting.
“Heather had a great at-bat,” Bunge said of her home run against Osterman. “She really got hold of one. It cleared the fence by a lot. She’s swinging the bat better now, and she’s right back in the mix.”
Stanley is catching fire at a time when Bunge’s top two hitters are not at full speed. Shortstop Destiny Frankenstein, batting a team-best .382, has a sore ankle, and outfielder Ashley Goodrich (.324) has been battling a virus — one reason Bunge gave all of her players Sunday and Monday off.
“We’re also pretty tired from all the travel,” she said, “and we got pretty sick of practicing with all the rainouts, so I’m hoping we’ll come back strong after the two days off.”
Kansas is 0-1 in the Big 12 Conference and 15-10 in all games. Nebraska is 20-11 overall and dropped its only two league games to Texas A&M, the Big 12 leader with a 3-0 record.
“Nebraska is very good offensively,” Bunge said. “You have to score runs against them. They have a nice mix of speed and power, and we need to keep their hitters off base.”
Bunge said she was undecided about her starting pitcher, but Kassie Humphreys tossed a pair of 3-0 shutouts at the Cornhuskers last season.
Humphreys has been inconsistent this season. The sophomore from Glendale, Ariz., has won three of five decisions, but her 2.64 earned-run average is more than a run higher than the 1.57 ERA she logged last season.
Today’s game is the first of five scheduled in the next five days.
The Jayhawks have a doubleheader set for Thursday at Wichita State, then will play host to high-flying Texas A&M in afternoon games Saturday (2 p.m.) and Sunday (noon).
Because of all the rainouts, Bunge has added an April 28 home doubleheader against North Dakota State.
CARBONDALE, ILL. ? Kansas University’s softball team will continue its 19-game road swing today and Sunday at the Brechtelsbauer Classic in Carbondale, Ill.
Kansas (7-7) will open at 10 this morning against Ball State, then meet host Southern Illinois at 2 p.m. Sunday, the Jayhawks will go against Valparaiso at 10 a.m., then play an afternoon championship or consolation contest.
Junior shortstop Destiny Frankenstein leads KU with a .333 batting average. Junior third baseman Nettie Fierros is close behind with a .313 mark and a team-best .531 slugging percentage. The Jayhawks are hitting .242 as a team.
Coach Tracy Bunge uses a three-pitcher rotation of Serena Settlemier, Kassie Humphreys and Christina Ross.
Kansas Univeristy softball will play host to Bradley at 3 p.m. today at Jayhawk Field. Kansas, 14-10, will begin Big 12 Conference action Wednesday with a doubleheader against Oklahoma State. The twinbill is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
Kansas Univeristy softball will play host to Bradley at 3 p.m. today at Jayhawk Field. Kansas, 14-10, will begin Big 12 Conference action Wednesday with a doubleheader against Oklahoma State. The twinbill is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
Kansas Univeristy softball will play host to Bradley at 3 p.m. today at Jayhawk Field. Kansas, 14-10, will begin Big 12 Conference action Wednesday with a doubleheader against Oklahoma State. The twinbill is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
Kansas Univeristy softball will play host to Bradley at 3 p.m. today at Jayhawk Field. Kansas, 14-10, will begin Big 12 Conference action Wednesday with a doubleheader against Oklahoma State. The twinbill is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
Leah Tabb has already envisioned it. She swings late, the softball careens past the first baseman into the right-field corner and she scoots into third base standing up.
“I’m aiming for a triple this year,” says Tabb, a Kansas University catcher-outfielder. “I haven’t had one in my whole career.”
No triples, maybe, but lots of home runs a school-record 12 last season along with a team-leading 38 RBIs and 94 total bases. Tabb also led the Jayhawks in walks (28) and on-base percentage (.389).
Moreover, Tabb, a senior from Oklahoma City, had her best offensive season by far despite playing with a damaged rotator cuff in her right throwing shoulder.
How bad was that shoulder injury?
“One game I took myself out,” she said, “because my arm stopped working.”
Tabb’s bat never stopped working, and she became one of two Jayhawks third baseman Megan Urquhart was the other to earn first-team All-Big 12 honors.
Tabb underwent surgery to repair the shoulder damage last summer and has been given a clean bill of health. Two other KU players who underwent off-season shoulder surgery have not, however.
Center fielder Shelly Musser and shortstop Courtney Wright, both second-team All-Big 12 selections last spring, haven’t fully recovered.
“Shelly’s not 100 percent, but we think we’ve solved the problem with her shoulder,” KU coach Tracy Bunge said. “Within a month, I hope her strength comes back. Courtney isn’t ready. She can’t throw and may not be able to until mid- to late March.”
Wright will probably be used as the designated player she led the team in hitting last year with a .314 average until she can play in the field. In the interim, sophomores Sandy Smith and Melanie Wallach, will fill in at shortstop.
Otherwise, if you have one of last year’s programs, you won’t need to buy one this year. Bunge lost only one player to graduation, outfielder Erin Garvey, and signed just two freshmen outfielder Lindsey Weinstein and pitcher Serena Settlemier.
Weinstein, a left-handed slap-hitter like Garvey, is likely the new right fielder. Settlemier looms as a potential No. 2 starter behind Kara Pierce, who went 22-11 with a 1.91 ERA and was selected Big 12 freshman of the year.
“We’re looking for Kara to make the next big step and that’s by being more consistent,” Bunge said. “She has to be more consistent with her location and leave fewer pitches out over the plate.”
Kirsten Milhoan, last year’s No. 2 pitcher, stumbled to an 8-13 record in 2001, mostly because of walks and wild pitches, but is, according to Bunge, “head and shoulders above last year.”
Bunge will have one of the most experienced squads in the country with six senior starters. In addition to Tabb, Urquhart, Wright and Musser, the Jayhawks have two other seasoned starters in leftfielder Christi Musser (Shelly’s twin) and second baseman Amy Hulse.
Last year’s KU edition clubbed a school-record 86 doubles and 26 home runs, yet the Jayhawks finished with a 32-27 record. However, picked to finish ninth in the 10-team Big 12, they wound up tied for third with a 10-8 record.
Now, of course, the goals are higher.
“We’ve spent a lot of time talking about dealing with expectations,” Bunge said. “We’ve talked about how not to be complacent and how to avoid the ups and downs we’ve had in the past.”
Optimism burns like a beacon with the season openers scheduled Feb. 8-10 at the Fiesta Bowl Classic in Phoenix.
“We’re calling this our Storybook Season,” Bunge said. “The story is unwritten, but we want to write the script throughout the year.”
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Leah Tabb has already envisioned it. She swings late, the softball careens past the first baseman into the right-field corner and she scoots into third base standing up.
“I’m aiming for a triple this year,” says Tabb, a Kansas University catcher-outfielder. “I haven’t had one in my whole career.”
No triples, maybe, but lots of home runs a school-record 12 last season along with a team-leading 38 RBIs and 94 total bases. Tabb also led the Jayhawks in walks (28) and on-base percentage (.389).
Moreover, Tabb, a senior from Oklahoma City, had her best offensive season by far despite playing with a damaged rotator cuff in her right throwing shoulder.
How bad was that shoulder injury?
“One game I took myself out,” she said, “because my arm stopped working.”
Tabb’s bat never stopped working, and she became one of two Jayhawks third baseman Megan Urquhart was the other to earn first-team All-Big 12 honors.
Tabb underwent surgery to repair the shoulder damage last summer and has been given a clean bill of health. Two other KU players who underwent off-season shoulder surgery have not, however.
Center fielder Shelly Musser and shortstop Courtney Wright, both second-team All-Big 12 selections last spring, haven’t fully recovered.
“Shelly’s not 100 percent, but we think we’ve solved the problem with her shoulder,” KU coach Tracy Bunge said. “Within a month, I hope her strength comes back. Courtney isn’t ready. She can’t throw and may not be able to until mid- to late March.”
Wright will probably be used as the designated player she led the team in hitting last year with a .314 average until she can play in the field. In the interim, sophomores Sandy Smith and Melanie Wallach, will fill in at shortstop.
Otherwise, if you have one of last year’s programs, you won’t need to buy one this year. Bunge lost only one player to graduation, outfielder Erin Garvey, and signed just two freshmen outfielder Lindsey Weinstein and pitcher Serena Settlemier.
Weinstein, a left-handed slap-hitter like Garvey, is likely the new right fielder. Settlemier looms as a potential No. 2 starter behind Kara Pierce, who went 22-11 with a 1.91 ERA and was selected Big 12 freshman of the year.
“We’re looking for Kara to make the next big step and that’s by being more consistent,” Bunge said. “She has to be more consistent with her location and leave fewer pitches out over the plate.”
Kirsten Milhoan, last year’s No. 2 pitcher, stumbled to an 8-13 record in 2001, mostly because of walks and wild pitches, but is, according to Bunge, “head and shoulders above last year.”
Bunge will have one of the most experienced squads in the country with six senior starters. In addition to Tabb, Urquhart, Wright and Musser, the Jayhawks have two other seasoned starters in leftfielder Christi Musser (Shelly’s twin) and second baseman Amy Hulse.
Last year’s KU edition clubbed a school-record 86 doubles and 26 home runs, yet the Jayhawks finished with a 32-27 record. However, picked to finish ninth in the 10-team Big 12, they wound up tied for third with a 10-8 record.
Now, of course, the goals are higher.
“We’ve spent a lot of time talking about dealing with expectations,” Bunge said. “We’ve talked about how not to be complacent and how to avoid the ups and downs we’ve had in the past.”
Optimism burns like a beacon with the season openers scheduled Feb. 8-10 at the Fiesta Bowl Classic in Phoenix.
“We’re calling this our Storybook Season,” Bunge said. “The story is unwritten, but we want to write the script throughout the year.”
|
|||
Leah Tabb has already envisioned it. She swings late, the softball careens past the first baseman into the right-field corner and she scoots into third base standing up.
“I’m aiming for a triple this year,” says Tabb, a Kansas University catcher-outfielder. “I haven’t had one in my whole career.”
No triples, maybe, but lots of home runs a school-record 12 last season along with a team-leading 38 RBIs and 94 total bases. Tabb also led the Jayhawks in walks (28) and on-base percentage (.389).
Moreover, Tabb, a senior from Oklahoma City, had her best offensive season by far despite playing with a damaged rotator cuff in her right throwing shoulder.
How bad was that shoulder injury?
“One game I took myself out,” she said, “because my arm stopped working.”
Tabb’s bat never stopped working, and she became one of two Jayhawks third baseman Megan Urquhart was the other to earn first-team All-Big 12 honors.
Tabb underwent surgery to repair the shoulder damage last summer and has been given a clean bill of health. Two other KU players who underwent off-season shoulder surgery have not, however.
Center fielder Shelly Musser and shortstop Courtney Wright, both second-team All-Big 12 selections last spring, haven’t fully recovered.
“Shelly’s not 100 percent, but we think we’ve solved the problem with her shoulder,” KU coach Tracy Bunge said. “Within a month, I hope her strength comes back. Courtney isn’t ready. She can’t throw and may not be able to until mid- to late March.”
Wright will probably be used as the designated player she led the team in hitting last year with a .314 average until she can play in the field. In the interim, sophomores Sandy Smith and Melanie Wallach, will fill in at shortstop.
Otherwise, if you have one of last year’s programs, you won’t need to buy one this year. Bunge lost only one player to graduation, outfielder Erin Garvey, and signed just two freshmen outfielder Lindsey Weinstein and pitcher Serena Settlemier.
Weinstein, a left-handed slap-hitter like Garvey, is likely the new right fielder. Settlemier looms as a potential No. 2 starter behind Kara Pierce, who went 22-11 with a 1.91 ERA and was selected Big 12 freshman of the year.
“We’re looking for Kara to make the next big step and that’s by being more consistent,” Bunge said. “She has to be more consistent with her location and leave fewer pitches out over the plate.”
Kirsten Milhoan, last year’s No. 2 pitcher, stumbled to an 8-13 record in 2001, mostly because of walks and wild pitches, but is, according to Bunge, “head and shoulders above last year.”
Bunge will have one of the most experienced squads in the country with six senior starters. In addition to Tabb, Urquhart, Wright and Musser, the Jayhawks have two other seasoned starters in leftfielder Christi Musser (Shelly’s twin) and second baseman Amy Hulse.
Last year’s KU edition clubbed a school-record 86 doubles and 26 home runs, yet the Jayhawks finished with a 32-27 record. However, picked to finish ninth in the 10-team Big 12, they wound up tied for third with a 10-8 record.
Now, of course, the goals are higher.
“We’ve spent a lot of time talking about dealing with expectations,” Bunge said. “We’ve talked about how not to be complacent and how to avoid the ups and downs we’ve had in the past.”
Optimism burns like a beacon with the season openers scheduled Feb. 8-10 at the Fiesta Bowl Classic in Phoenix.
“We’re calling this our Storybook Season,” Bunge said. “The story is unwritten, but we want to write the script throughout the year.”
|
|||
Leah Tabb has already envisioned it. She swings late, the softball careens past the first baseman into the right-field corner and she scoots into third base standing up.
“I’m aiming for a triple this year,” says Tabb, a Kansas University catcher-outfielder. “I haven’t had one in my whole career.”
No triples, maybe, but lots of home runs a school-record 12 last season along with a team-leading 38 RBIs and 94 total bases. Tabb also led the Jayhawks in walks (28) and on-base percentage (.389).
Moreover, Tabb, a senior from Oklahoma City, had her best offensive season by far despite playing with a damaged rotator cuff in her right throwing shoulder.
How bad was that shoulder injury?
“One game I took myself out,” she said, “because my arm stopped working.”
Tabb’s bat never stopped working, and she became one of two Jayhawks third baseman Megan Urquhart was the other to earn first-team All-Big 12 honors.
Tabb underwent surgery to repair the shoulder damage last summer and has been given a clean bill of health. Two other KU players who underwent off-season shoulder surgery have not, however.
Center fielder Shelly Musser and shortstop Courtney Wright, both second-team All-Big 12 selections last spring, haven’t fully recovered.
“Shelly’s not 100 percent, but we think we’ve solved the problem with her shoulder,” KU coach Tracy Bunge said. “Within a month, I hope her strength comes back. Courtney isn’t ready. She can’t throw and may not be able to until mid- to late March.”
Wright will probably be used as the designated player she led the team in hitting last year with a .314 average until she can play in the field. In the interim, sophomores Sandy Smith and Melanie Wallach, will fill in at shortstop.
Otherwise, if you have one of last year’s programs, you won’t need to buy one this year. Bunge lost only one player to graduation, outfielder Erin Garvey, and signed just two freshmen outfielder Lindsey Weinstein and pitcher Serena Settlemier.
Weinstein, a left-handed slap-hitter like Garvey, is likely the new right fielder. Settlemier looms as a potential No. 2 starter behind Kara Pierce, who went 22-11 with a 1.91 ERA and was selected Big 12 freshman of the year.
“We’re looking for Kara to make the next big step and that’s by being more consistent,” Bunge said. “She has to be more consistent with her location and leave fewer pitches out over the plate.”
Kirsten Milhoan, last year’s No. 2 pitcher, stumbled to an 8-13 record in 2001, mostly because of walks and wild pitches, but is, according to Bunge, “head and shoulders above last year.”
Bunge will have one of the most experienced squads in the country with six senior starters. In addition to Tabb, Urquhart, Wright and Musser, the Jayhawks have two other seasoned starters in leftfielder Christi Musser (Shelly’s twin) and second baseman Amy Hulse.
Last year’s KU edition clubbed a school-record 86 doubles and 26 home runs, yet the Jayhawks finished with a 32-27 record. However, picked to finish ninth in the 10-team Big 12, they wound up tied for third with a 10-8 record.
Now, of course, the goals are higher.
“We’ve spent a lot of time talking about dealing with expectations,” Bunge said. “We’ve talked about how not to be complacent and how to avoid the ups and downs we’ve had in the past.”
Optimism burns like a beacon with the season openers scheduled Feb. 8-10 at the Fiesta Bowl Classic in Phoenix.
“We’re calling this our Storybook Season,” Bunge said. “The story is unwritten, but we want to write the script throughout the year.”
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Fresh from Tuesday’s two-game sweep of defending NAIA champion Oklahoma City University, Kansas’ softball team will return to Big 12 play today against Missouri.
Game time is 4 p.m. at Jayhawk Field.
Kansas, predicted to finish ninth in the Big 12 in a preseason coaches poll, currently is third with a 6-4 record. Missouri is 4-6.
KU has five players with a .300-or-better batting average led by Erin Garvey’s .338 but Missouri has two of the best three hitters in the league.
Junior infielder Erin Erickson, a Perry-Lecompton product, leads the Tigers with four home runs and ranks second in RBIs with 23.
Kansas will send freshman standout Kara Pierce (17-7, 1.67 earned run average) to the mound to face Missouri veteran Stephanie Falk (19-14, 1.32.)
Kansas, 26-20 overall, has won 12 of its 14 home games.
Player AB R H RBI Avg.
Erin Garvey 133 26 45 3 .338
Amy Hulse 119 16 39 12 .328
Courtney Wright 139 21 45 26 .324
Megan Urquhart 137 26 42 20 .307
Shelly Musser 123 22 37 15 .301
Leah Hansen 89 7 25 7 .281
Christi Musser 114 21 31 13 .272
Leah Tabb 130 28 35 31 .269
Sandy Smith 28 0 7 1 .250
Dani May 20 2 5 1 .250
Katie Campbell 121 8 23 19 .190
Kelly Campbell 9 0 1 1 .111
Mel Wallach 18 6 1 0 .056
Leah Mountain 6 0 0 0 .000
Pitcher G IP W L ERA
Kara Pierce 29 150.2 17 7 1.67
Kirsten Milhoan 21 95.2 7 10 2.63
Katie Campbell 17 55.2 2 3 3.40
College Station, Texas ? Kansas will be hoping to climb above .500 in Big 12 Conference softball when the Jayhawks tangle with Texas A&M this weekend.
KU, 2-2 in the league and 17-16 overall, has won five of its last six, all at home. A&M, 1-3 and 24-9, has played its last five on the road.
Game times are 3 p.m. today and 1 p.m. on Sunday at the Aggie Softball Complex. Kara Pierce (10-7, 1.98 ERA) is expected to start on the mound for the Jayhawks today with Kirsten Milhoan (6-7, 3.12) to go on Sunday.