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Author: Dave Riggert

Cardinals complete sweep of Orioles

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Associated Press

Playing in a ballpark known as a haven for hitters, Lance Berkman hit a couple of drives that would have cleared the wall in just about any stadium in the country.

Berkman had his 29th career two-homer game, Jon Jay hit a three-run shot, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Baltimore Orioles 9-6 on Thursday night to complete a three-game sweep.

The Cardinals never trailed in the series and outscored Baltimore 20-9. In the finale, St. Louis built an 8-0 lead in the fourth inning and coasted to its fourth win in nine games since slugger Albert Pujols went on the disabled list with a fractured wrist.

Berkman hit a two-run drive in the second inning measured at 422 feet and led off the seventh with a clout that traveled an estimated 444 feet.

“It just feels good,” he said with a laugh. “A lot of times, even when you hit a home run, you don’t quite catch all of it. But I got most of both of those balls.”

The last one easily cleared the 25-foot scoreboard in right field and scattered the crowd on Eutaw Street.

It was his fourth multihomer game of the season, and marked the second time in 2011 that he homered from both sides of the plate.

“I’m better right-handed than I’ve been in a couple of years,” Berkman said, “I don’t know if there’s anything more to it than that.”

With Berkman leading the way, the Cardinals righted themselves after being swept at home by Toronto.

“We’ve got some hot bats right now,” manager Tony La Russa said. “Lance had a big game. This game over here is so tough because you have the American League rules and the ballpark. But we were swinging tonight.”

The Cardinals did most of their damage against Brian Matusz (1-4), who was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after the game. Matusz yielded a career-high eight runs and nine hits in 3 1/3 innings, lost his fourth straight start and departed with an 8.77 ERA.

The left-hander started six games since coming off the disabled list with a rib injury and still hasn’t regained the velocity he displayed in 2010. His fastball reached 90 mph at least once in this outing, but most of the time it was in the 86-88 range.

“I am not getting it done up here. It’s not fair for the team, every fifth day I go out there and make starts like this,” Matusz said.

Nolan Reimold homered and had four RBIs and Mark Reynolds also connected for the Orioles, who fell a season-worst eight games under .500 (35-43).

Baltimore’s Nick Markakis extended his career-high hitting streak to 19 games and Derrek Lee got his 1,900th career hit, a single in the second inning. He’s the 315th player to accomplish the feat, according to the Orioles.

Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia (7-3) gave up five runs, 10 hits and a walk in 5 1/3 innings. It was only the second time in 17 starts this season that the left-hander allowed more than three earned runs.

“I made a couple of mistakes and I paid for it,” Garcia said. “It was great that we scored some runs so that made it easier for me, because they have a good lineup.”

Fernando Salas worked the ninth to earn his 13th save and conclude the Cardinals’ first sweep on the road this season.

For a third straight game, St. Louis took the lead for good in the second inning. David Freese singled, took second on a walk to Yadier Molina and scored on a single by Tony Cruz. Skip Schumaker followed with a sacrifice fly.

The Cardinals made it 4-0 in the third when Matt Holliday doubled and Berkman drove a 1-2 pitch into the seats in left.

In the fourth, Ryan Theriot singled in a run and Jay hit his sixth homer with two aboard to chase Matusz, who was booed by many in the crowd of 28,340.

The next time Matusz throws in a game, it will be at the Triple-A level.

“I think he needs to get the ball every fifth day and continue to work on some things that he’s aware of,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “It’s a tough time for him. He’s a young man who hasn’t had much failure pitching in his career, but just about everybody does at some point. It’s how you handle it.”

Reimold hit a three-run homer in the fourth and Reynolds ended Garcia’s night with a two-run drive in the sixth.

Berkman made it 9-5 with his 20th home run of the season, off Alfredo Simon, and Reimold singled in a run in the eighth.

Former Jayhawk Price named assistant baseball coach

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KU Sports Information

Former South Dakota State head coach – and Jayhawk standout – Ritchie Price has been named an assistant coach for the Jayhawk baseball program. Price will work with the team’s offense, infielders, handle recruiting duties and also be the team’s third base coach.

Price has spent the last three seasons as the head coach at South Dakota State University. In his time at SDSU, Price has led the Jackrabbits to a 102-71 career record, with signature wins over Arkansas, Minnesota, Iowa and Creighton. He helped SDSU appear in the Summit League Championship game for a third consecutive year in 2011, falling to eventual NCAA Tournament participant Oral Roberts this season.

Price’s 2011 team become the first team in Summit League history, outside of Oral Roberts, to record 20 league victories. The Jackrabbits finished 15th in the country in team batting average (.315), 20th in runs per game (6.9) and had seven regulars finish with batting averages above .300.

Price’s 2010 team won the Summit League regular season title with a 39-21 overall record, which helped Price earn Coach of the Year honors. SDSU finished fourth in the country, scoring 9.67 runs per game and fifth with a .350 team batting average. In his first full season as head coach, Price’s team finished 17-10 in conference play, placing third in the Summit League.

“I’m fired up to have Ritchie back with the Jayhawk baseball program,” Associate Athletic Director Sean Lester said. “His accomplishments as a coach at South Dakota State and as a player at Kansas speak for themselves. We expect him to help us get our program back to where we need to be.”

Price came to SDSU as a graduate assistant in 2008, serving as the team’s infield coach and recruiting coordinator for one season. During his time as an assistant, he signed players from 11 different states and had two of them earn all-conference honors in their careers.

Ritchie Price was a four-year starter at shortstop, for his father, head coach Ritch Price, at the University of Kansas, where he eclipsed 24 school records and was named the best shortstop in the Big 12 by Baseball America in 2004. He served as the team’s captain in 2005 and 2006, helping the Jayhawks win the Big 12 Tournament title in 2006.

“I’m thrilled to have Ritchie returning to our program,” said Kansas head coach Ritch Price. “As the youngest Division I head coach in the country, his accomplishments at South Dakota State were amazing. I’m thrilled to have him return to the University of Kansas baseball program as an assistant coach.”

Following his senior season, he was selected by the New York Mets in the 18th round of the 2006 MLB First-Year Player Draft. He played one full season in the Mets organization, before joining the staff at SDSU.

“I’m excited to see Ritchie return to the Jayhawk baseball program,” former Kansas teammate and current Philadelphia Phillie Mike Zagurski said. “He is the finest young coach in the country with a proven track record for recruiting great players. I’m really excited about the future of Kansas baseball.”

Price will replace former Kansas assistant coach Jay Uhlman, who left to pursue other opportunities earlier this week.

Mustangs roll to easy win over Omaha

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The St. Joseph Mustangs scored eight runs in the first inning Wednesday night and cruised to an easy non-league win over the Omaha Strike Zone, 13-7, inside Phil Welch Stadium.

Brent Seifert hit a three-run home run in the first inning to get St. Joe’s summer college baseball team on the board and then Ryan Richardson, playing in his first game as a Mustang, hit a two-run double.

Bishop LeBlond graduate Andrew Nellestein continued the inning as he drove in a run with a single, Jon Wegener had an RBI double and Seifert capped the inning off with an RBI single.

St. Joseph added two more runs in the second inning to take a 10-0 lead before Omaha scored four two-out runs in the third inning.  That was as close as the Strike Zone would get.

The Mustangs pounded out 17 hits as Wegener led the way.  The Central Missouri graduate played in his first game with St. Joe and went 4-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored.  Nellestein added three hits and two RBI, while Seifert, Richardson,  Spiker Helms, Jeff Roy, and Jake Kretzer had two hits each.

Cody Cunningham went six innings on the mound to improve to 4-0 this summer.  He allowed four runs on eight hits, but struck out eight and walked none.

The Mustangs improve to 23-7 and return to MINK League play Thursday as they entertain the Omaha Diamond Spirit inside Phil Welch Stadium.  The first pitch is at 7:00 p.m.

Royals gets swept by Padres

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Associated Press

SAN DIEGO — Thanks to a fortuitous sun ball, the suddenly surging San Diego Padres are no longer in last place in the NL West.

Tim Stauffer won consecutive starts for the first time this year and his popup led to four unearned runs with two outs in the third inning, sending San Diego to a 4-1 win over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.

It was the first sweep of the year for the Padres, who have won four straight and seven of eight. San Diego went 5-1 against Atlanta and Kansas City for its first winning homestand of 2011.

With the Los Angeles Dodgers losing 1-0 at Minnesota, the Padres broke out of a tie for last in the NL West and are in sole possession of fourth place. But they have a long way to go to challenge division-leading San Francisco.

“Nice. It’s good to get out of that cellar and keep on creeping up,” Stauffer said.

Stauffer (4-5) allowed one run and four hits in seven innings to lower his ERA to 2.97. After going 1-4 with a 3.99 ERA in his first 12 starts, Stauffer has gone 3-1 with a 1.00 ERA in his last five outings.

Heath Bell pitched the ninth for his 23rd save in 24 chances, allowing two singles.

Bell, who along with Ryan Ludwick are expected to be traded by the budget-conscious Padres, said continuing the strong performance during the next few weeks could keep the Padres from becoming sellers.

“We’re going to have to keep winning like we are right now. We’re going to really have to play well and play hard,” he said.

The Padres grabbed control in the third inning thanks to third baseman Mike Moustakas’ error on a sun ball.

With San Diego trailing 1-0, Stauffer started the decisive third with a popup. First baseman Eric Hosmer lost it in the sun and ducked out of the way. Moustakas, who ran all the way over to the first-base side of the mound, stuck out his glove and the ball bounced off it. He reached out again to try to grab the ball but it hit off his glove again and hit the ground for error.

“It went up in the air and we didn’t communicate very well,” Moustakas said. “There is a tough sun up there on that side of the field and I came in at the last second, saw the ball coming down and tried to take a swipe at it. I almost had it a couple of times. It was a weird play. But that ball has got to be caught.”

Chris Denorfia followed with a single before left-hander Bruce Chen retired the next two batters. Ryan Ludwick doubled to left to bring in Stauffer with the tying run. Rizzo hit a two-run single to right, took second on the throw home and scored on Orlando Hudson’s high chopper.

“You never know in this game. That’s why you run it out,” Stauffer said. “It was a little earlier game start than normal. It’s pretty sunny out there. I’ve seen that happen a few times. That’s a tough little spot where three or four guys are converging. We’re fortunate that got us going that inning. Any game I can get two at-bats in an inning, whether I go 0 for 2 or 2 for 2 in the inning, I’m pretty happy. Getting that lead gives you a little extra kick out there.”

Stauffer came up again with the bases loaded and grounded out to end the inning.

“I think we’re playing the brand of baseball we needed to play to be successful,” Stauffer said. “Limiting the runs given up early, then getting the lead and sticking with it with our pitching and defense, we feel pretty confident about playing with anybody. That’s how we’ve had success this homestand and hopefully we keep it rolling on the road.”

Kansas City scored its run in the top half of the inning when Melky Cabrera doubled with one out and scored on Hosmer’s single to center.

Chen (4-2), making his second start since May 5, allowed four runs, none earned, and eight hits in six innings. He returned Friday from a stint on the disabled list with a strained back muscle.

Carpenter, Rasmus lead Cardinals past Baltimore

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Associated Press

BALTIMORE — The St. Louis Cardinals were operating with a depleted bullpen on Wednesday night, and manager Tony La Russa was counting on Chris Carpenter to go deep into the game against the Baltimore Orioles.

Carpenter did so with a marvelous 132-pitch effort that inflicted more pain on the Orioles than the pitcher’s tireless right arm.

Carpenter scattered seven hits for his second complete game of the season and Colby Rasmus homered to help the Cardinals cruise to a 5-1 victory on Wednesday night.

Carpenter (3-7) won his second straight start following a five-game losing streak. The right-hander struck out five, walked one and surrendered just one extra-base hit — an RBI double to Nick Markakis in the third inning.

As Carpenter’s pitch count mounted, pitching coach Dave Duncan began to wonder if Carpenter had enough strength to go the distance.

“Dunc asked me after the sixth, after the seventh, after the eighth,” Carpenter said. “To be honest with you, I felt just as good at the end of the game as I did at the beginning.”

The Cardinals cut struggling reliever Ryan Franklin before the game, and La Russa used three relievers in a win on Tuesday night. So the objective was to avoid going to the bullpen unless it was absolutely necessary.

“Today we were a little short. That was classic there; he knew what he had to do,” La Russa said of Carpenter. “Carp was the best guy we had. He has no fear, has a lot of talent. Pitching like he was tonight is what you hope for.”

Carpenter’s other complete game came on May 25, an eight-inning effort in a 3-1 loss at San Diego. The last time he had a complete-game victory was Sept. 30, 2010, against the Colorado Rockies.

The 35-year-old has 31 complete games over 14 seasons.

Carpenter last faced the Orioles nine years earlier, when he was with the Toronto Blue Jays. He now has eight career wins over Baltimore, more than any other AL opponent.

“He’s a big horse. He was able to locate on both sides of the plate,” Orioles catcher Matt Wieters said. “He used his cutter, used his sinker, got a good curveball. We got him up to 132 pitches but couldn’t get him out of the game.”

Rasmus hit a two-run shot in the second inning to give St. Louis a 2-0 lead. It was his second homer of the series, third in five games and No. 8 on the year. He went 17 games without a home run before his recent run.

That was enough offense for the Cardinals, who will attempt to complete a three-game sweep on Thursday night.

Markakis went 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 18 games. Over that time he has raised his batting average from .236 to .282.

Orioles starter Chris Jakubauskas (2-1) gave up five runs and seven hits in five innings.

It was the first time Jakubauskas faced Lance Berkman since the slugger hit a line drive off the pitcher’s head in April 2010, when Jakubauskas was with Pittsburgh. The rematch was far less eventful: Berkman walked in the second inning ahead of Rasmus’ homer, hit a sacrifice fly in the third and received an intentional walk in the fifth.

St. Louis made it 4-0 in the third. Nick Punto doubled and scored on a double by Skip Schumaker, who came home on a fly ball by Berkman.

Baltimore got a run in the bottom half when J.J. Hardy hit a two-out single off Carpenter’s leg before Markakis doubled.

David Freese hit an RBI single in the fifth, and the Orioles loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom half but failed to score. After giving up three straight singles, Carpenter got Markakis to hit into a fielder’s choice at the plate before retiring Adam Jones and Vladimir Guerrero on fly balls.

“He rose to the occasion,” La Russa said. “Pitching out of that one inning was the game.”

Carpenter gave up only one hit the rest of the way.

“He’s our ace,” Schumaker said. “He is the kind of pitcher who can rattle off a 10-game string, or the kind of guy who can bring us out of a funk.”

St. Louis has won two straight after dropping five of six.

K-State’s Simouneau, Welker to be enshrined in Kansas Sports Hall of Fame

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KSU Sports Information

In an announcement by the State of Kansas Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday, former K-State standouts Mark Simoneau (football) and Kendra Wecker (women’s basketball) have been selected as members of the 50th Anniversary Class of 2011. The induction class of 2011 will be enshrined in ceremonies on October 2 at the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in the Wichita Boathouse.

Simoneau, a consensus first team All-State football star out of Smith Center, was one of the best linebackers ever to play at Kansas State. He played for the Wildcats from 1996-99 and currently ranks No. 3 all-time in tackles (400) and in tackles for losses. He played in four bowl games for K-State, led the team in tackles as a junior and senior. In 1999, Simoneau was named first-team All-American, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and was the runner-up for the Butkus Award. He was also named the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in 1996. Simoneau played 10 seasons in the NFL with Atlanta, Philadelphia and New Orleans and had 370 tackles. He was also the state 3A shot put champion at Smith Center in 1995 with a mark of over 60-feet.

Wecker, a native of Marysville, was a three-time first-team All-Big 12 Conference selection at K-State, Big 12 Player of the Year and consensus first-team All-American in 2005. She played for the Wildcats from 2002-05 and ranks No. 1 in points scored (2,333) and rebounds (1,087). Wecker averaged 18.2 points and 8.5 points a game for her career and her No. 53 was retired by K-State in 2005.

A three-time consensus first-team all-state selection at Marysville High School, Wecker scored 2,305 points and grabbed 1,051 rebounds, becoming the first Kansas female prep player to accomplish the 2000/1000 feat. In 2001, she was named “Miss Kansas Basketball” by the KBCA and the Kansas Player of the Year by the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. In track and field, she set the national high school record in javelin and was a three-time state champion. She was also a first team All-State volleyball player and won the national Punt, Pass and Kick competition as a middle school student. Wecker’s athletic stardom in every sport has earned for her, the reputation as Kansas’ greatest all-around female athlete. She was also a strong student at K-State earning the 2005 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award, was a three-time CoSIDA Academic All-District VII second team honoree and a three-time first team Academic All-Big 12 choice.

The nine-person induction class raises the total of inductees to 210 in the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame, which now includes 36 representatives with ties to K-State.

Trio of Storm Chasers named to PCL All-Star Team

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Royals Media Relations

A trio of Omaha Storm Chasers have been chosen to represent the Pacific Coast League in the 2011 All-Star Game in Salt Lake, the league office announced Wednesday. Second baseman Johnny Giavotella and first baseman/designated hitter Clint Robinson will be in the PCL’s starting lineup, while league ERA leader Luis Mendoza will be in the bullpen for the PCL All-Stars when they take on the International League on Wednesday, July 13.

Giavotella, who will celebrate his 24th birthday July 10, is hitting .323 with five homers and 53 RBI as the Chasers’ primary No. 2 hitter. Through 79 games, he has collected a team-best 105 hits, rapped 22 doubles and has stolen nine bases. He is tops in the league defensively at second base in total chances, putouts, assists and double plays, and ranks third in fielding percentage among second basemen with a .979 mark.

Robinson, last year’s Triple Crown winner in the Texas League, leads the Storm Chasers in hitting (.330), home runs (17), runs batted in (54), runs scored (54) and slugging percentage (.573). He has started 38 games at first base and 38 at designated hitter this season, but will be the starting DH for the Pacific Coast League All-Stars. Both Robinson and Giavotella represented Northwest Arkansas in the Texas League All-Star Game a season ago.

Mendoza, far and away the PCL leader in earned run average, will be in the bullpen for All-Star manager Lorenzo Bundy. The 27-year-old righthander is 5-3 with a 2.75 ERA in 22 appearances for the Storm Chasers this season, including seven starts. He has allowed one run or fewer in eight-consecutive appearances (five starts) dating back to May 26, going 4-0 with a 0.99 ERA in 45.2 innings pitched during that stretch. Mendoza’s 2.75 ERA is a remarkable 0.95 better than the next qualified pitcher in the league leaders, Nashville’s Sam Narron (3.70).

Starting along with Giavotella and Robinson in the PCL lineup will be catcher Anthony Recker (Sacramento), first baseman Bryan LaHair (Iowa), third baseman Brian Barden (Round Rock), shortstop Cody Ransom (Reno) and outfielders Collin Cowgill (Reno), Trayvon Robinson (Albuquerque) and former Nebraska Cornhusker Andrew Brown (Memphis). Las Vegas lefthander Brad Mills is expected to be the starting pitcher for the Pacific Coast League.

The Storm Chasers will also be represented by All-Star hitting coach Tommy Gregg, who will have the privilege of working with two of his top pupils in Salt Lake. The 47-year-old Gregg is in his third season in Omaha, fifth in the Kansas City organization and ninth overall in Minor League Baseball.

The 24th Annual Triple-A All-Star Game, pitting the best players from the 16-team Pacific Coast League against the 14-team International League, will be broadcast nationwide on MLB Network Wednesday, July 13 at 8 p.m. Central Time.

Three former Jayhawks to be inducted into Kansas Sports Hall of Fame

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KU Media Relations

Three former Kansas Jayhawks – Raef LaFrentz, Bob Frederick and Dick Harp – will be inducted into the state of Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Oct. 2 it was announced Wednesday.

LaFrentz was an All-American basketball player at Kansas from 1995-98; Frederick, a longtime administrator and coach, served as KU’s AD from 1987-2001; and Harp was the school’s basketball coach from 1956-64.

The trio of former Jayhawks are part of a nine-person class, which marks the 50th Anniversary Class of the Hall of Fame.  The Hall, located in Wichita, Kan., will have 210 individuals enshrined all-time.

Other members of this year’s class include KSU basketball player Kendra Wecker, KSU football player Mark Simoneau, Emporia State track star John Camien, Wichita State baseball pitcher Don Heinkel, Wichita State football coach Willie Jeffries and Pittsburg State football player Ronnie West.

Raef LaFrentz

Raef LaFrentz, a two-time consensus basketball first-team All-American (1997-98) and two-time Big 12 Player of the Year (1997-98), is also the third-leading scorer in Kansas history.  He earned first-team all-conference honors three times from 1996-98.

LaFrentz, who played at Kansas from 1995-98, is one of three players in school history to score 2,000 points.  His 1,186 career rebounds placed him second all-time for the Jayhawks.

Ranked among the top 10 in Jayhawk history for career field goals, field goal attempts, free throws, free throw attempts, field goal percentage and blocked shots, LaFrentz is the Kansas leader for career double-doubles at 56.

He played an integral part in helping KU win 35 games during the 1997-98 season, as he averaged 19.8 points and 11.4 rebounds per game.

LaFrentz’s jersey was officially retired at Kansas on Feb. 16, 2003.

LaFrentz was the third pick in the 1998 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets and spent three and one-half seasons with the team.  He then played one and one-half years with Dallas, three years with Boston and two years with Portland, finishing his professional career in 2008.

LaFrentz averaged 10.1 points and 6.1 rebounds in 563 games in his 10-year NBA career.

Born in Hampton, Iowa, May 29, 1976, LaFrentz was a McDonald’s All-American and a USA Today first-team selection in high school.

Bob Frederick

Bob Frederick served as athletics director at the University of Kansas longer than anyone except the legendary Forrest “Phog” Allen.

Frederick became KU’s 12th athletics director in June 1987 and served in that position until July 2001. His 14-year tenure is the second-longest for a Kansas A.D., behind Allen’s 19 years.  From 2001 until his death from injuries sustained in a bicycle accident in June of 2009, Frederick taught in KU’s Department of Health, Sport and Exercise Science in the School of Education, and for two years served as department chair.  He specialized in sport management, sport law and sport facilities.

In 2001 Kansas Athletics named its Senior Scholar-Athlete Awards after Frederick.  The awards are presented annually to the top male and female senior scholar-athletes at KU.

Under the direction of Frederick, Kansas teams won 32 conference championships, a national title in men’s basketball in 1988 and produced 41 Academic All-Americans.  During the 1992-93 academic year, Kansas became the first school to win a football bowl game, reach the men’s basketball Final Four and advance to the baseball College World Series in the same school year.

While KU’s A.D., Frederick served as the chair of the prestigious NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee in 1995 and 1996.

Frederick oversaw more than $50 million in facilities upgrades in his final 10 years as athletics director, including a $35-million renovation of Memorial Stadium and Allen Fieldhouse.

A Jayhawk for most of his career, Frederick earned all three of his degrees from KU: a bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1962, a master’s degree in secondary school administration in 1964 and his doctorate degree in educational administration in 1984.  He served as director of the Williams Education Fund at KU from 1981-85. Prior to becoming KU athletics director, Frederick served in the same position at Illinois State from 1985-87.

Frederick played basketball at Kansas in 1960-61 under head coach Dick Harp. He was a KU assistant basketball coach under Harp from 1963-64 and later under Ted Owens in 1971-72.

He coached basketball at Rich Central High School in Illinois from 1964-66, Russell High School in Kansas from 1966-70, Coffeyville Community College from 1970-71 and Lawrence High School from 1977-81. He was an assistant coach at Brigham Young University from 1972-75 and Stanford University from 1975-77.

In 2001 Frederick received the National Invitation Tournament Distinguished Service Award. In 1997 the National Association of Basketball Coaches presented him with the Cliff Wells Appreciation Award for outstanding contributions to college basketball. That same year he was honored with the Buford M. Watson Public Service Award by the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce. The NIT named him Man of the Year in 1996.

Frederick File

Basketball Coaching Career

1962-64 – Graduate assistant coach, Kansas
1964-66 – Assistant coach, Rich Central (Ill.) High School
1966-70 – Head coach Russell (Kan.) High School
1970-71 – Head coach Coffeyville (Kan.) Junior College
1971-72 – Assistant coach, Kansas
1972-75 – Assistant coach, Brigham Young
1977-81 – Head coach, Lawrence (Kan.) High School

Administration Career

1981-85 – Assistant AD – Williams Education Fund, Kansas
1985-87 – Athletics Director, Illinois State
1987-2001 – Athletics Director, Kansas
2001-09 – Assistant Professor, Health, Sport and Exercise Science

Professional Organizations

Division I Men’s Basketball Committee, 1991-96 (chair in 1995 and 1996)
USA Basketball Select Team Committee, 1992-96
National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics
NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics
American Football Coaches Association
National Association of Basketball Coaches Committee on Basketball Issues

Playing Career

1960-61 – Basketball walk-on at Kansas

Education

Bachelor’s in chemistry, Kansas, 1962
Masters in education, Kansas, 1964
Doctorate in education, Kansas, 1984

Personal

Born – March 4, 1940 in Kirkwood, Mo.
Died – June 12, 2009 in Lawrence, Kan. at the age of 69
Wife – Margey
Sons – Brian, Brad, Mark and Chris

Dick Harp

After gaining a wealth of knowledge as Phog Allen’s understudy, Harp became the Kansas basketball head coach from 1956-64. Harp compiled a 121-82 record in those eight seasons and led the Jay­hawks to two conference titles and two NCAA tournament berths. In 1957, the Jayhawks captured the Midwest Re­gional and made it to the finals, only to be stopped by North Carolina in a memorable 54-53 loss in triple overtime in Kansas City, Mo. Under Harp’s guidance, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Bridges achieved All-American status.

Harp had served as Phog Allen’s assistant for eight seasons before taking over for Allen in 1956. Prior to that, Harp was head coach for two seasons at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo. Harp played basketball at KU, lettering from 1938-40 and was one of the starting guards on the 1940 team that lost to Indiana in the NCAA finals.

Harp served as the director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for 13 years after leaving the Jayhawks. Harp is one of only five people to have played and coached in an NCAA title game. He served as an assistant coach at North Carolina for Dean Smith from 1986-89.

Harp died on March 18, 2000, at the age of 81.

Coaching Career

1947-49 – Head coach, William Jewell (Mo.) College
1949-56 – Assistant coach, Kansas
1956-64 – Head coach, Kansas
1986-89 – Assistant coach, North Carolina

Mustangs rally from 4-0 deficit to defeat Clarinda

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After a day off Monday, the St. Joseph Mustangs rallied from a 4-0 deficit Tuesday to beat Clarinda, 6-4, inside Phil Welch Stadium.

St. Joe’s summer college baseball team had lost four of their last six games before the win Tuesday.  They improve to 22-7 and 18-7 in the MINK League.

Cody Lane started the game for the Mustangs but didn’t make it out of the third inning as he allowed four runs on three hits.  He walked two and struck out three.

That was all Clarinda would get though as Ben Baker came on in relief and went 5.1 innings and he gave up just one hit and no runs, while striking out seven and walking one.  Baker earned the win and Mark Robinette picked up the save with a scoreless ninth inning.

The pitching of Baker allowed the Mustangs to hang around until their bats got hot.  St. Joseph was able to get one run back in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly from Cameron Bentley that scored T.J. Dailey.

Then the Mustangs took the lead for good with a five-run seventh inning.

Dailey drove in Robinette with a single and then Spike Helms singled with the bases loaded.  All three runs scored after a throwing error and then Brent Seifert drove in Helms with a double.

Seifert and Dailey had two hits each to lead St. Joe.

The Mustangs are back in action Wednesday as they host the Omaha Strike Zone at 7:00 p.m. inside Phil Welch Stadium.  The game can be heard on 680 KFEQ.

Royals lose second straight at San Diego

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Associated Press

SAN DIEGO — Clayton Richard won for the first time in 12 home starts since August and the San Diego Padres beat the Kansas City Royals 4-2 on Tuesday night for their third straight series win.

The Padres have won six of seven, including series wins against Boston and Atlanta. Jeff Francoeur homered and threw out a runner at home for the Royals, who have lost two straight and eight of 10.

Richard (4-9) hadn’t won at Petco Park since beating Arizona on Aug. 24. The Padres had lost his 11 home starts since Aug. 29, tied for the longest such stretch in club history. The left-hander was 0-8 in those 11 starts.

Including Tuesday night’s game, Richard’s ERA in his last 12 home starts is 2.76. He held the Royals to two runs and five hits in seven innings, struck out five and walked one.

Heath Bell pitched the ninth for his 22nd save in 23 chances.

Cameron Maybin had three hits and scored twice for the Padres, who gave Richard some early run support.

Ryan Ludwick hit an RBI single in the first inning. The Royals tied it in the second when Matt Treanor singled in Francoeur, who had walked and stolen second. Earlier in his at-bat, a foul ball bounced up and hit Treanor in the face.

Maybin beat out a high chopper leading off the second and scored on Kyle Phillips’ double to the gap in left-center. Richard sacrificed and Phillips scored on Will Venable’s sacrifice fly for a 3-1 lead.

Francoeur threw out rookie Anthony Rizzo trying to score from second on Orlando Hudson’s single to end the third. It was the 17th outfield assist at the plate for the Royals this season and their fifth in the last six games. Overall they have 31 outfield assists, tops in the majors.

They also had an error that allowed the Padres to pad their lead. Maybin singled leading off the fourth and stole second. He bluffed on Phillips’ fly out to left, and Alex Gordon’s high throw glanced off third baseman Wilson Betemit’s glove, went between the legs of pitcher Felipe Paulino backing up the play and into the Royals’ dugout, allowing Maybin to score.

Francoeur homered off Richard in the seventh, his 11th.

Paulino (0-2) allowed four runs, three earned, and 11 hits in seven innings, struck out seven and walked one.

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