Jayhawks hot entering league play

By J-W Staff Reports     Mar 24, 2007

? Nearly a month ago, Kansas University’s softball team was muddling along with a 6-5-1 record. But the Jayhawks have won 15 of 19 games since and are on a roll going into Big 12 Conference play.

KU (21-9-1) will open its league season with games at 2 p.m. today and at 1 p.m. Sunday against Oklahoma State at Cowgirl Stadium.

“Offensively, we’ve had a number of kids who have swung the bats well,” KU coach Tracy Bunge said. “Our run production has been better than I thought it would be.”

Four Jayhawks boast batting averages above .300, led by sophomore shortstop Stevie Crisosto at .362. Crisosto is also 9-for-9 in stolen base attempts. Crisosto batted only .204 as the starting center fielder last season.

“I still consider Stevie one of our young players,” Bunge said, “because this is her first year at shortstop.”

First baseman Amanda Jobe, a freshman from Shawnee Mission Northwest, is batting .329 with a team-high on-base percentage of .430.

“The thing I’ve been most impressed with about Jobe,” Bunge said, “is her consistency.”

Catcher Elle Pottorf, a red-shirt sophomore from Washburn Rural, carries a .320 batting average and leads the team in home runs with five and RBIs with 26.

Also hitting over .300 is right-fielder Dougie McCaulley, a transfer from Odessa (Texas) Junior College who checks in at .313. McCaulley shares the team lead in stolen bases with Crisosto. She has been successful on 9-of-11 theft attempts.

Senior right-hander Kassie Humphreys is off to a fast start in the circle with an 11-3 record and a 1.42 earned-run average, the fifth lowest in the Big 12. Sophomore hurler Valerie George is 6-2 with a 2.12 ERA and freshman Sarah Vertelka is 4-4 with a 2.55 ERA.

“Our two young kids have shown some good things over the last couple of weeks,” Bunge said about George and Vertelka.

Oklahoma State (19-16) boasts Courtney Totte, a senior catcher who leads the Big 12 in a handful of conference statistical categories. Totte is hitting .429 with 43 RBIs.

The Cowgirls’ pitching has been spotty, however. Their team ERA of 3.98 ranks ninth in the 10-team league. OSU senior pitcher Jessica Hoppock, a right-hander from Wichita Campus High, has a 10-9 record and a 3.68 ERA.

The Jayhawks, who have played only seven games at home, are also scheduled for a doubleheader Tuesday at Missouri State before opening conference play at home March 31 against Baylor.

“We’re not worried about the road thing,” Bunge said. “If you’re looking for excuses, you could use that, but I think this team is excited about beginning conference play.”

PREV POST

Tar Heels pull off biggest rally of season

NEXT POST

24244Jayhawks hot entering league play