Club baseball expands after one year on campus

By By Kayvon Sarraf

Friday, August 18, 2006

With one year of experience under its belt, the University of Kansas club baseball team intends to improve upon last year’s success.

After tying for the Mid Plains South Conference championship a season ago, the team plans to add a junior varsity team and play more games this season, highlighted by the hosting of the Econo Lodge Baseball Classic in the fall.

“We hope to have more people try out since we’ll have two teams, and more people will get a chance to play baseball,” said B.J. Rains, club president.

Adding a second team will give more talented players an opportunity to play. A deep talent pool was something the Jayhawks used to their advantage last season. Rains said all team members played at the high school level, with some playing as high as the junior college level.

Josh Crain, Overland Park junior and winner of the Cy Young Award given to the team’s best pitcher, said the team’s only downfall last season was experience.

That’s why we’re all here — to extend our careers,

- Josh Crain, Overland Park Junior

“There’s no question the talent is there,” Crain said. “Some of our reserves would start at most of the schools we played. We just need to play more games, and we’ll be in great shape.”

More games are on tap for this season. In addition to the eight-team tournament to take place in Lawrence, the club scheduled several more games in the fall. The team will play exhibitions throughout the season to give itself a head start on spring league action.

“Going into last spring, we were kind of behind since we didn’t do much in the fall,” Rains said.

Last year’s roster could only hold 20 players, so some interested participants were unable to play. With a junior varsity team this season, the club intends to keep 40 players on the roster.

“The JV team is a great idea. It means more at-bats for everyone. That’s why we’re all here — to extend our careers,” Crain said.

All club members are required to help raise funds for the club. As a club sport, the team is self-sufficient financially. Last year, the team played host to a trivia night dinner. Rains said it was a big hit.

Anyone interested in participating on the club baseball team should attend a meeting at 7:30 p.m. Monday, August 28th at the Student Recreation Fitness Center. For more information, e-mail Rains at stlku27@ku.edu or visit www.jayhawkclubbaseball.com.

Kansan sportswriter Kayvon Sarraf can be contacted at ksarraf@kansan.com.

— Edited by Shanxi Upsdell

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