Friday, April 17, 2009
Tuesday’s baseball game may have seemed like just another game on the surface, but there was much more going on than a casual viewer could see. Forget the fact that the victory over Creighton on Tuesday pushed Kansas’ winning streak to six games. The Jayhawks also had a freshly earned national ranking on the line.
The last time the Jayhawks were ranked was back in 2006, when they won the Big 12 Conference championship. Why can’t they do it again this year? Kansas has now swept two ranked teams this season, one of which was then-No. 1 Texas.
The road ahead for the Jayhawks has some speed bumps, but none that would upset the momentum of this team. No. 10 Oklahoma and No. 21 Kansas State remain on the conference schedule, but besides those two teams the Jayhawks will face three of the four worst teams in the conference.
Texas Tech, Nebraska and Missouri shouldn’t be too much trouble for Kansas. The one wrench in the works is that Kansas will face Texas Tech and Missouri on the road, where the team has struggled at times. But, the Jayhawks consist of several freshman and sophomores that have thrived in their playing time.
Kansas is making its youthfulness work though. Sophomore Tony Thompson is turning into one of the best power hitters in the conference. He leads the Big 12 with 44 RBIs and is second in doubles and fourth in homeruns. Thompson has definitely been a spark for the Jayhawk offense.
The pitching staff has gotten its fair share of production from the freshmen and sophomores as well. T.J. Walz and Lee Ridenhour have paired with junior ace Shaeffer Hall to form a solid starting rotation. Kansas boasts the second best team ERA in the Big 12.
Just look at the baseball team’s success this way; no one expected anything from them. Rivals.com picked Kansas to finish dead last in the conference, and they’re currently fifth. 2006 played out in a similar manner. The Jayhawks entered the conference tournament as the sixth seed with a sub-.500 conference record. The team proceeded to sweep its pool and win the conference championship, which led to an automatic berth in the College World Series.
That team in 2006 was young with numerous freshmen and sophomores contributing, just like this year’s team. The names may have changed, but the game is still the same. Don’t underestimate the Jayhawks. That’s when the team thrives. With no pressure, Kansas can play a relaxed game and continue to pile up the victories. Maybe one of those victories will come in the conference tournament championship again.
— —Edited by Sam Speer
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Baseball holds the element of surprise
Winning the conference tournament gives an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament, the top 8 teams from that make it to the College World Series. KU proceeded to get swept right out of the NCAA tournament, not a chance they will ever make it to the College World Series
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