New coach Price: KU baseball working to ‘change image’

By Levi Chronister     Nov 8, 2002

After 6:30 a.m. conditioning drills and daily workouts during the fall, Kansas University baseball coach Ritch Price thinks his team is on the turnaround track.

It’ll take that kind of dedication and labor to realize Price’s goal of making the Big 12 Tournament after four straight years below .500 and back-to-back finishes at the bottom of the Big 12 Conference.

“We’ve been trying to change the image of what Kansas baseball is,” Price said. “And our players understand that there are no shortcuts. It starts with hard work, and I think the players appreciate that.”

Improving upon last year’s 22-29 record will also require better results from the pitching staff. The Jayhawks posted a 5.25 ERA last season and the bullpen blew six leads after the seventh inning.

Sophomore left-hander Tom Gorzelanny, 3-7 with a 5.90 ERA last season, should be the top starter for the Jayhawks after a good fall showing.

“Gorzelanny has a chance to be special,” Price said. “He has all the physical tools to be one of the best guys in the Big 12.”

Junior-college transfers Josh Duran and Ryan Knippschild and senior Pat Holmes, who spent most of last year as a first baseman and designated hitter, round out the starting rotation.

Ryan Jakubov is likely to be the closer, although Price said Kansas may receive a junior-college transfer in January who could take over those duties.

Senior catcher Sean Flynn, a transfer from the University of Texas-Pan American, could be a big part of an improvement on the mound. Price thinks Flynn is very important defensively, an aspect on which Price is focusing.

Kansas committed 94 errors last season, a number Price will have to lower with many of the same players who contributed to it. This year’s lineup is expected to be very similar to last year’s ” Casey Spanish returns at first base and Brandon Shepard at shortstop. Travis Metcalf will take over third for Ryan Klocksien, Price’s son Ritchie will play second and Flynn will catch.

The outfield will look almost the same, as well. Ryan Baty, who led the team in nearly every important offensive category last year, will play left field. Matt Tribble will start in center field and Kevin Wheeler, who will also see some time on the mound, will play right. Jason Appuhn will be the designated hitter, and Price said Lance Hayes will see a lot of time in the outfield.

Now that he’s spent a couple months with his new players, Price thinks they have the ability to move up the Big 12 standings.

“They’re so hungry to win,” he said. “It’s been a pleasure to work with them, and I think we’re going to shock some people.”

  • Hometown Jayhawks: Freshman left-hander Eric Peterson, a 2002 Free State High graduate, will be used as a situational reliever. Price said Peterson’s three-quarter delivery would be difficult for left-handed hitters to adjust to late in games.

Peterson’s former Lawrence Raiders teammate and 2002 Lawrence High graduate Derek Bailey is the team’s only walk-on. Price said Bailey showed a good hitting stroke during fall practice and has a good chance of playing in the outfield in the future.

  • Injury news: Price received two big blows to the team Monday, as sophomore right-hander Tyson Bothof underwent Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow and catcher Beau Thompson learned of a career-ending stress fracture in his back.

Left-hander Chris Jones is expected to be out until spring after having surgery on his pitching elbow earlier this fall.

  • Roster update: Besides Thompson, 11 non-seniors from last year’s roster are no longer on the team. They are outfielders Devin Warner, Matt Van Alsburg, Dwayne White, Adam Rachlin, Bobby Bartow and Brett Iba; catchers Cole Armstrong, Jason Kutash and Brad Gilliam; and pitchers Dustin Schroer and Joe Costello.

Armstrong, who asked for his release shortly after Price was named coach, has transferred to Chipola Junior College in Marianna, Fla. He is now teammates with fellow Canadian and longtime friend Adam Loewen, a left-handed pitcher who was the fourth overall pick by the Baltimore Orioles in last year’s major league draft.

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