xt7pzg6g294m https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7pzg6g294m/data/mets.xml Wildcat News Company 1988 Volume 12 -- Number 31 athletic publications English Wildcat News Company Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. The Cats' Pause UKAW University of Kentucky Men's Basketball (1987-1988) coaches Sutton, Eddie assistant coaches Casey, Dwane players Farmer, Richie Mills, Chris University of Kentucky Football (1988) Willis, Ken Claiborne, Jerry NCAA investigation (1988) University of Kentucky Baseball (1988) statistics schedules recruiting Cats' Pause Combs, Oscar The Cats' Pause, May 28, 1988 text The Cats' Pause, May 28, 1988 1988 2012 true xt7pzg6g294m section xt7pzg6g294m / The Talk Of Tlie Town.
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Volume 12, Number 31
SATURDAY, MAY 28, 1988
LEXINGTON, KENTU
Head For SEC Tourney &7i& (oat&>' &au&&
May 28, /y<9<9
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PUBLICATION NO. USPS 707340 Published By WILDCAT NEWS COMPANY P.O.Box 7297 Lexington. Kentucky 40522 Second Class Postage paid at Lexington, Kentucky 40511 and additional mailing offices
Editor and Publisher
OSCAR L. COMBS Associate Editor NICK NICHOLAS Associate Editor MIKE ESTEP Staff Writer JIM EASTERWOOD National Recruiting Columnist BOB GIBBONS
Columnist LARRY VAUGHT State Columnist BOB WATKINS
Columnist RUSSELL RICE National Basketball Columnist LARRY DONALD
Columnist TODD HALLUM SEC Columnist STAN TORGERSON SEC Columnist ELMORE "SCOOP" HUDGINS Kentucky Basketball Recruiting RICK BOLUS Contributing Columnist JAMIE VAUGHT Columnist DAN BRANDENBURG Contributing Columnist BERNIE VONDERHEIDE Business Manager DONNA COMBS Staff Photographer GARY CROMWELL Staff Photographer DAVID STERLING Circulation Coordinator
WANDA HOOKER Crossword Puzzle Editor DAN KRUECKEBERG
Published Weekly: Sept. I3-April II Monthly: May. June. July. August
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1988 Southeastern
Conference Baseball Tourney Bracket
May 12-15 Dudy Noble Field Mississippi State University Starkville, Miss.
THURSDAY, May 12
Game 1 (Noon, CDT)
Game 2 (4 pn, CDT)
Game 3 (8 pm, CDT)
FRIDAY, May 13
Game 4 (Noon, CDT)
Game 5 (4 pn, CDT)
Game 6 (8 pn, CDT)
No.2 Kentucky (34-21, 18-9) vs. No.5 LSU (36-19, 16-11) No.l Florida (39-15-1, 21-6) vs. No.6 Georgia (27-26, 11-16) No.3 Miss.State (39-16, 17-10) vs. No.4 Auburn (39-14, 16-10)
Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 3 Winner Game 2 vs. Loser Game 1 Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 3
*** IF FOUR TEAMS REMAIN AFTER GAME 6 ***
SATURDAY, May 14
Game 7 (12:30 pn, CDT) Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 6
Game 8 (4:30 pm, CDT) Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6
Game 9 (8 pm, CDT) Winner Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8
SUNDAY-, May 15
Game 10 (2 pm, CDT) Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game-9
Game 11 (8 pm, CDT) Same two teams meet again (if necessary)
*** ^ FIVE TEAMS REMAIN AFTER GAME 6 ***
SATURDAY, May 14
Game 7 (12:30 pn, CDT) Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6 Game 8 (4:30 pn, CDT) Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5 Game 9 (8 pn, CDT) Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 7
SUNDAY, May 15 Game 10 (2 pm, CDT) Game 11 (8 pn, CDT)
SUNDAY, May 15 Game 10 (2 pm, CDT)
Game 11 (8 pn, CDT)
*** IF TWO TEAMS REMAIN AFTER GAME 9 ***
Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 9
Same two teams meet again (if necessary)
*** IF THREE TEAMS REMAIN AFTER GAME 9 ***
Winner Game 8 vs. Loser Game 9 Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10 May 28, /pc?c?
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OSCAR L. COMBS
Mills/Casey Case Continues To Draw Attention
It's been over a month now since a Los Angeles newspaper reported that a package to the father of Kentucky signee Chris Mills accidentially burst open in handling.
The Los Angeles Daily News also reported that the package, shipped by University of Kentucky assistant coach Dwane Casey, contained $1,000 cash in it.
A package containing a videotape of Mills in a high school game was being returned to Mills' father, Claud, by Casey. Casey and UK officials have denied any money being put in the package. After the package was resealed by Emery officials, it was delivered to Mills' home where it was accepted and signed for by Chris. His father said the package contained no money in it when it arrived at their residence.
To say those allegations touched off a controversy would be the understatement of the year. Since then, there has been story after another on every possible aspect of the Kentucky basketball program.
There have been threats of law suits and an NCAA investigation is well underway. Because the future eligibility of Mills is at stake, there should be some resolution within the next couple months.
Speculation on the outcome would be foolish. Foolish is something most human beings have a tendency of being in times like this. Most every basketball observer has an opinion on everyone's guilt or innocence in this situation, yet, no one other than the principals know who really is telling the truth.
The latest development in the matter came recently when a federal judge ordered employees of the Emery Worldwide Air Freight firm to submit to recorded depositions to be taken by legal counsel of the University of Kentucky.
If the allegations prove to be truth, you can expect some major shake-ups in the athletics department. If on the other hand, the allegations are false, you can expect some expensive law suits and settlements favoring Casey.
? ? ?
Basketball fans will have an opportunity to get a first hand report on UK signees Chris Mills, Sean Woods, Shawn Kemp and Richie Farmer on May 14 with a team of USA AAU prep players take on the Soviet National Junior Team at Memorial Coliseum.
The game will tip off at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are on sale at Dawahare's throughout Kentucky and Memorial Coliseum.
Some of the other top stars playing for the USA/AAU are Damon Bailey of Bedford (Ind.) North Lawrence, Pat Graham of New Albany (Ind.) Floyd Central, Travis Ford of Madisonville-North Hopkins, Michael Allen of Lexington Bryan Station, Scott Boley of LaRue County and Notre Dame-bound Keith Adkins of PaintsviHe.
The Soviet team is composed of players 18 years of age and under. Russia's 1992
Olympic team is expected to have several of the Junior stars on its roster.
? ? ?
It's summertime and that means summer basketball all-star camps are just around the corner. There are some major changes in the dates this summer because the NCAA has shortened the time period college recruiters can watch prep players work out.
Coaches cannot watch players in the month of June so most of the highly-regarded camps won't be staged until July where the B/C All-Stars, Garfinkel Five-Stars, and Nike's famous Ail-American Camp will be going head-to-head for all the attention.
Following is a list of some of the major camps this summer:
? Nike All-American Camp, July 8-15 (Princeton, N.Y.)
?B/C Camp, July 10-15 (Gettysburg, Pa.)
? B/C Camp, July 10-15 (Carnesville,
Ga.)
?B/C Camp, July 24-29 (Carnesville, Ga.)
?B/C Camp, July 17-22 (Rensselaer, Ind.)
? Cage Scope/High Potential, June 12-17 (Highland Heights)
?Cage Scope/High Potential, July 10-15 (Highland Heights)
?Cage Scope/High Potential, July 24-29 (Highland Heights)
? Prep Stars Camp, July 17-22 (Charlotte, N.C.)
?Prep Stars Camp, July 24-29 (Charlotte, N.C.)
? Five-Star Camp, July 6-13 (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
?Five-Star Camp, July 14-20 (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
?Five-Star Camp, July 22-29 (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
? Five-Star Camp, July 30-Aug. 6 (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
?Five-Star Camp, June 11-18 (Radford, Va.)
?Five-Star Camp, June 20-27 (Honesdale, Pa.)
? Five-Star Camp, Aug. 27-Sept. 3 (Honesdale, Pa.)
The state's best camps in preparing youngsters for major college ball, the Blue-Chip Camps, will begin June 12-17 with the second week being July 10-15 and the third being July 24-29 at Northern Kentucky University.
On the local front, Madisonville's Eddie Ford will again stage Brown Badgett's Kentucky Prep All-Star Festival on July 15-17.
If last year is any indication to the caliber of competition, it should be one of the best in the country. Last summer such stars as Darrian Hancock, Sean Woods, Shawn Kemp, Chris Mills, Don MacLean, Chris Jent, Damon Bailey, Richie Farmer and Travis Ford were among the top players.
We'll have more on the festival in next month's issue of TCP.
? ? ?
A must year for Jerry Claiborne and his staff. That's what most everyone is predicting for the Wildcats as they meet head-on with possibly the toughest Wildcat schedule in more than a decade in Big Blue Country.
Kentucky picks up both Auburn and Alabama this fall and must visit LSU in Baton Rouge for a second straight year. The only thing in the Wildcats' favor is a seven-game home schedule.
Yet, many people feel this could be a successful season if the Wildcats should win five games.
To the surprise of many though, Jerry Claiborne's colleagues in the SEC recently predicted that UK would tie Vanderbilt for seventh place in the league this fall.
In the Birmingham News annual spring poll of league coaches, the Auburn Tigers were picked to win the league title. Picked to finish below the Wildcats and Commodores are Mississippi and Mississippi State.
? ? ?
Congratulations to UK baseball coach Keith Madison and his Bat Cats, who captured second place in the regular-season SEC race.
Hampered all spring with key injuries, the Bats Cats could have chucked it in several times, but kept fighting back and captured second place by pounding Georgia twice on the next to last day of the regular season.
Preseason All-American candidate Chris Estep was hampered early when he suffered a severe gash on his forearm as he made a sensational catch preventing a home run. The end result was a visit to the doctors and over two weeks on the pines as his throwing arm healed from some 15 stitches.
It proved costly in some respects, but the Bat Cats came on strong during the pennant chase and into the league's postseason tournament in Starkville, Miss.
This week, the Bat Cats hope to win their first postseason title, but if they don't, look for them to still have an excellent shot at an at-large berth in the NCAA tournament leading up to the College World Series in June.
Despite some less-than-impressive losses to non-conference foes, Kentucky did play well in the highly-regarded SEC and a second-place finish in the regular season (barring a complete flop in the SEC tourney this week) should be enough to earn UK its first-ever NCAA tournament invitation.
? ? ?
Kentucky's spring basketball recruiting produced one signee and although Eddie Sutton had hoped for three. Other possible signings were short-circuited for good when the Chris Mills story broke the second day into the national letter signing period.
Richie Fanner, who dazzled fans once
again in the annual KHSAA state tournament, won the MVP honors for the second year in a row and capped his brilliant career with the Mr. Basketball title.
On the first day of national signing period, he inked a letter of intent with UK.
Earlier, Fanner had indicated he would make visits to Vanderbilt, Western Kentucky and LSU before making his final decision.
He paid a moral-obligation visit to Western Kentucky, where he had become good friends with coach Murray Arnold, then decided to pass on the other official visit offers to sign with UK.
Kentucky had high hopes of winning over Don MacLean of Simi Valley (Calif.) High and Maurice Brittian of Hutchinson (Kan.) Junior College.
It's difficult to say if UK would have signed either if the Mills story had not erupted, but it's safe to say the controversy certainly didn't help UK's chances.
Eventually, MacLean eliminated Kentucky from his list of choices before finally deciding on UCLA over Georgia Tech. To me, I have to believe that if MacLean ever wanted to attend Tech, he would have done so back last November. It's no secret that MacLean was hoping that UCLA would lure Larry Brown back to Los Angeles.
When Brown said no, you have to believe MacLean would have been interested in Kentucky. Rumor out of Pittsburgh had it that MacLean had expressed interest in UK as late as the Dapper Dan Classic in Pittsburgh right after the Final Four.
The final recruit to turn away from UK was Brittian who had Kansas, Georgia Tech and Kentucky among his final three choices. Brittian even visited UK after the Mills story broke, but in the end, he chose Georgia Tech.
One has to wonder if MacLean had opted for Georgia Tech, would Brittian still have selected Bobby Cremins' program? Had MacLean gone to Tech, it says here that Brittian still would not have chosen UK. Lexington is too hot a spot for recruits right now, right or wrong.
? ? ?
HITS AND MISSES . . . Coach Eddie Sutton and his Wildcats are supposed to play in the Great Alaska Shootout, but there are unconfirmed reports that UK officials are trying to get out of the commitment so the 'Cats can make a trip to Hawaii this winter. I'm all for that . . . Should the NCAA determine that UK has violated NCAA rules and hands down a rule which would include sanctions such as a ban on postseason tournaments and live television, it could tremendously affect other schools on the UK schedule. A ban on television would, no doubt, affect the SEC television schedule because no UK games could be shown and that would affect SEC rivals as well. Another question would have to be dealt with. [Continued On Page 22] 'Cats Need To Get Stronger In Order To Tackle Tough 1988 Schedule; Team Accepts Apology From Chandler
By TCP Columnist Nick Nicholas
Notes, Quotes & Observationsfollowing the UK-Bank One Blue-White Spring game: Almost four months separate the University of Kentucky football program and perhaps its most difficult schedule ever.
Watching last April's Blue-White intras-quad scrimmage, obviously there's a lot of work to be done in the summer months ahead if UK's even to survive a killer schedule that includes Auburn, Indiana, Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee. Throw in Vanderbilt, a program on the upswing, and the Wildcats' slate, by anyone's standards, would have to be rated as one of the country's most difficult.
As a team, the players' winter progress didn't meet Jerry Claiborne's standards. His latest gripe has been the lack of strength, especially on the offensive line. "We've got to get stronger," he said. "There's no question about that."
Sure, he lost strongmen Dermontti Dawson, Greg Kunkel. But for any football team to have continued sucess those second and third-string youngsters must develop into solid first-string players. . .players that one day can be counted on.
Kentucky has failed in this area. Whether it's coaching, recruiting woes, lack of effort on the players' part or a combination of all three, UK's biggest problem today as it was six years ago is depth.
This will be the first summer the Wildcats tone their muscles in the spacious, brand-spanking new Erv Nutter Training Center. And with all thetelk surrounding UK's lack of strength, maybe some of the players will tiquire about taking up residence at the complex.
Claiborne is not upset with his players' overall conditioning. It's upper-body strength that worries the Wildcat coach.
Last season before the start of spring practice, 11 Wildcats benched 400 pounds or more. This year that number shrunk to five. And UK's overall bench-press numbers dipped from 315.09 pounds (Spring of 1987) to 312.19. Nothing drastic, but every coach wants some kind of improvement each season.
The team average also declined in the "cleans" department293.60 (lbs.) to 2.84.80 per player. However, there was overall improvement in squats484.39 in 1987 to 496.81.
"Our people this summer are going to have tp get in that weight room on their own, pump those weights and get stronger," Claiborne stressed.
Jerry, can you make sure your kids hit the-weights diligently this summer? Or will they possibly dillydally their time this summer?
"No, we can't make sure they will lift," Claiborne answered, noting a hands off policy given to coaches during the offseason. "I hope that our seniors and our leaders (have influence); I hope they have that kind of character, in wanting to work on the weights this summer. This group has worked hard and we've improved since we've started. But they've got to continue to work in the weight room.
"We've got good size. We just need strength."
? ? ?
On the positive side, Claiborne had several subjects to be optimistic about:
?The running of Al Baker.
Injuries and a shortage of confidence have had an effect on the sophomore, much like a sparkplug taken from a high-powered engine. This spring, Baker charged into camp ready to be a force in UK's backfield.
"I was watching (Mark Higgs) run last
David Johnson Signs Autographs Following Blue-White Game
year," said Baker, who gained 89 yards on 17 carries for the Whites. "I kinda tried to run like he did, instead of running like I used towith power and speed. The coaches kept getting on me, telling me that I don't need to cut, but just run. So I started watching Ivy Joe (Hunter). He's more of a runner like I amhe run's hard with speed."
More than once in the spring game, Baker broke tackles, something he was known for at Trigg County but not in his first two seasons at UK.
"He ran the ball strong," said Claiborne, "and we're glad to see that.
"I think he has got his confidence back now. He ran strong this spring. He still has a habit (where) in high school he'd bring the ball outside and outrun some people, or break a tackle and go down the sidelines. Sometimes he breaks to the outside too many times. Against a good football team, they'll move laterally."
"He's had a good spring and we think he can have a good fall."
?Solid defensive play.
On paper, the '88 Kentucky's defense is perhaps the strongest since Claiborne, a former UK defensive back, returned to Lexington. This spring the vacancies created by graduation were filled and then some.
Randy HoIIeran. a late bloomer last year, and Craig Benzinger should make up for the departure of steady linebacker Jeff Kremer. Guard Jerry Bell and linebacker Steve Kelley
have raised eyebrows this spring with their enthusiastic play. And with Doug Houser and Donnie Gardner having proved their worth this spring, the worries of replacing All-SEC tackle Jerry Reese have been lessened.
Everything else returns intact, as well as improved.
Oliver Barnett, the Wildcats' top defensive tackle, already is looking forward to working alongside Houser.
"He's learned his plays real good," said Barnett. "We work good together. Hopefully, we'll party back in the backfield just like me and Jerry did."
If the offense can generate its fair share of drivesallowing the defensive unit to catch its breaththen the 'Cats might be able to avoid agonizing defeats like the one they suffered against Georgia last year (17-14). You'll recall that Kentucky failed to score in the second, third and fourth quarters. This was the same unit. . .on the same day that scored two first-quarter touchdowns to take a surprising 14-0. This also was the same offense which rushed for 48 yards in the first quarter, but [Continued On Page 22]
Overall, Claiborne Remains Optimistic
"Orrly
time will tell just how far the University of Kentucky football team progressed during the recently completed 1988 spring drills.
After the Blues captured a 14-0 victory over the Whites (April 23) in the UK-Bank One Spring Football game, head coach Jerry Claiborne did believe some improvement was made since opening drills began on March 23.
"I felt this football team progressed during the spring," Claiborne said. "We especially progressed in the offensive line."
Indeed, it was a necessity for the Wildcats to progress in the offensive interior. Four starters are gone from last year's offensive wall as only three players, junior Mike Pfeifer (6-7, 290), senior Tony Mills (6-4, 261) and Dean Wilks (6-3, 282) return as lettermen.
Pfeifer started all 11 games last season and Mills missed spring drills because of shoulder surgery. Wilks earned most of his playing time last season as the team's long snapper.
"We still lack strength up front," Claiborne said. "We have decent size, but we must have better upper-body strength. I'd much rather have a smaller player at 260 pounds that had a lot of upper-body strength than a 280-pounder with little strength."
If Kentucky opened the 1988 season today, Pfeifer and either Bo Smith (6-3, 256) or Mike Nord (6-7, 275) would start at tackle. At guard, Bill Hulette (6-2,255) and Brian Denham (6-1,251) would get the starting nod and Brian Cralle (6-1, 271) would get the call at center.
Another area which troubled Claiborne before the drills began was finding a backup to quarterback Glenn Fohr. Claiborne found plenty of help in junior Chuck Broughton (6-4, 223), senior Bill Allen (6-0, 200) and redshirt freshman Freddie Maggard (6-2, 190).
"We feel all four of our quarterbacks will have the opportunity to help us next season," Claiborne said. "Our depth is much better at quarterback than it was a [Continued On Page 22]
BLUE WHITE
First downs..........................13 6
Rushes-yards.................... 39-126 24-56
Passing yards.......................149 24
Attempts-completions-interceptions.....16-9-0 16-3-1
Total yards......................... 275 80
Return yards.........................3 0
Punts-average.....................4-35.0 5-37.0
Fumbles-lost........................0-0 0-0
Penalties-yards......................1-15 2-14
Possession time....................23:14 16:46
Blue........................ 0 14 0 0 14
White....................... 0 0 0 00
BLUEPennington 2 pass from Fohr (kick tailed) BLUEMeece 9 pass (rom Maggard (two-point conversion Phillips pass from Maggard) Attendance10,328
BLUES
RUSHING ATT GAIN LOST NET TDS LONG
Fohr 1 0 1 (-1) 0 (-D
Bilberry 17 60 3 57 0 9
Knox 12 59 0 59 0 15
Bolden 1 0 0 0 0 0
Maggard 6 22 12 10 0 8
Winter 2 3 2 1 0 3
TOTALS 39 144 18 126 0 15
PASSING ATT COMP INT YDS TDS LONG
Fohr 12 6 0 113 1 42
Maggard 4 3 0 36 1 22
TOTALS 16 9 0 149 2 42
PASS RECEIVING NO YDS TDS LONG
Meece 2 51 1 42
Bolden 2 49 0 27
Pennington 2 7 1 5
Bilberry 1 10 0 10
Knox 1 20 0 20
Hum 1 12 0 12
TOTALS 9 149 2 42
PUNTING NO YDS AVG LONG
Nelson 4 164 35 52
TOTALS 4 141 35.2 52
FIELD GOALS ATT MADE LONG
-
TOTALS - - -
PUNTS KICKOFFS INTS
ALL RETURNS NO YDS NO YDS NO YDS
Massey 1 3 -
Meyer 1 3
Phillips 1 2 -
Jerolaman 0 -
TOTALS 3 5 - - 1 3

WHITES
RUSHING ATT GAIN LOST NET TDS LONG
Baker 17 89 0 89 0 13
Allen 3 0 35 (-35) 0 (9)
Houk 2 5 8 (-3) 0 5
Mahan 1 4 0 4 0 4
Bartlett 1 1 0 1 0 I
TOTALS 24 99 43 56 0 13
PASSING ATT COMP INT YDS TDS LONG
Allen 9 2 0 21 0 14
Broughton 5 1 0 3 0 3
Houk 2 0 0 0 0 0
TOTALS 16 3 0 24 0 14
PASS RECEIVING NO YDS TDS LONG
Darringlon 2 10 0 7
Gover 1 14 0 14
TOTALS 3 24 0 14
PUNTING NO YDS AVG LONG
Bianconcini 5 184 36.8 57
TOTALS 5 184 36.6 57
FIELD GOALS ATT MADE LONG

TOTALS - - -
PUNTS KICKOFFS INTS
ALL RETURNS NO YDS NO YDS NO YDS

TOTALS
Cats Pause Chart
&ay& 6
'CATS OA/ THE RUN (Top Left, Clockwise) In Last Month's Annual Blue-White Scrimmage, Running Back Al Baker Eluded The Grasp Of More Than One Tackier On This Evening, Turning In A Game-High 89-Yard Effort; Tailback Paul Winter, Recruited As A QB, Tries Out His New Position; And Freshman Redshirt Freddie Maggard Uses His Scrambling Skills In Hopes Of Avoiding A Mike Meiners' Sack.
(Photos By David Sterling) May 2c?, /p&<9
Bat Cats Take Two Of Three From Bulldogs, Head Into SEC Tourney Action As No. 2 Seed
Bat Cat Final Regular-Season Batting, Pitching Stats
(55-game totals)
OVERALL.: 34-21 SEC: 18-9
* BATTING Statistics
PLAYER BA G/ GS AB R H RBI 2B 3B HS SB/SBA SB\ SO BB HBP S/SF TB/SLUCi ON BASE PCT. GWH HSTK
Erik McDonald 1.000 1/ o 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0/ 0 .000 0 0 0 0/ o 1/ .000 1/ 1 i .ooo 0 1
Joe Welch .500 4/ 0 4 1 2 3 0 0 1 0/ a .000 1 1 0 0/ 0 .250 V 5 .600 0 2
Jim Dill .375 7/ 0 8 1 3 2 0 0 0 0/ 0 .000 0 1 0 y/ o 3/ .375 4/ 9 .444 0 u
Vince Custaldo .358 55/ 55 201 48 72 52 19 2 4 19/ 25 .760 31 41 2 1/ i 107/ .532 115/ 245 .469 5 7
Rick Norton .357 16/ 8 42 9 15 8 4 0 0 0/ 1 000 9 2 0 0/ 0 19/ .452 "/ 44 .386 1 0
Robhie Buchanan .352 49/ 44 145 37 51 41 9 0 7 6/ 7 857 20 37 1 1/1 81/ .559 89/ 184 .484 4 0
John Hampton .351 28/ 20 74 20 26 12 3 0 0 6/ 7 857 23 15 0 0/ 0 29/ .392 41/ 89 .461 0 0
Sara Taylor .346 52/ 50 191 44 66 43 7 0 10 11/ 2 917 14 23 1 4/ 4 103/ .539 90/ 219 .411 3 0
Billy White .341 55/ 55 208 67 71 29 15 1 4 19/ 24 792 32 38 3 1/ 2 100/ .481 m/ 250 .452 3 1
David Ray .318 18/ 12 14 7 14 6 0 1 1 0/ 1 000 12 7 0 0/ 2 19/ .432 21/ 53 .3% I 1
Jolin Marshall .313 52/ 52 192 34 60 38 13 0 1 0/ 1 000 33 25 0 0/ 4 94/ .490 85/ 221 .385 2 0
Hark Blytlie .308 49/ 47 169 40 52 50 7 0 12 3/ 6 500 16 11 4 3/ V 95/ .562 67/ 190 .353 . 7 7
Bobby Olinick .307 36/ 27 101 23 31 20 5 1 4 4/ 5 800 16 17 0 1/ 1 50/ .495 48/ 119 .403 0 1
Chris Estep _ .307 51/ 50 176 45 54 34 8 3 11 12/ 6 750 56 27 10 1/ o 101/ .574 91/ 213 .427 0 3
Darin Ritman .237 52/ 51 181 34 52 34 15 1 8 4/ 5 800 40 35 2 0/ 2 93/ .514 89/ 220 .405 4 0
kuoer Gum .250 37/ 24 100 16 25 10 2 0 1 5/ 5 1 000 14 11 0 4/ 1 30/ .300 36/ 112 .321 0 1
Scott Pruitt .167 18/ 0 6 3 1 0 0 0 0 1/ 1 1 000 0 1 0 0/ 0 1/ .167 2/ 7 .286 0 0
Dave Voit .000 1/ o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0/ 0 000 0 0 0 0/ 0 0/ .000 0/ 0 .000 0 0
Jon Hudson .000 1/ o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0/ 0 000 0 0 0 0/ 0 0/ .0G0 0/ 0 .000 0 0
Kentucky .323 55/ 55 1843 430 596 383 107 70 90/116 776 317 292 23 16/25 931/ .505 912/2181 .418 30 -
Opponent Totals .268 55/ 55 1748 313 468 267 90 5 44 50/ 69 725 334 261 35 18/10 700/ .400 764/2054 .372 16
... PITCHING Statistics **
PITCHES ERA G/ GS W L PCT SAVE CG SHTOUT IP R H ER SO BB ZBB HB WP BK 2B 3B HS TB/S LUG\ AB/BAVG.
Dave Voit 2.21 28/ 0 7 1 .875 6 0 0 53.0 14 36 13 60 19 3 6 4 0 7 0 2 49/ .265 165/ .195
Matthew Coleman 2.56 6/ 6 3 2 .600 0 1 0 31 7 11 22 9 15 12 0 0 0 0 5 0 4 39/ .325 120/ .1S3
Bruce Wise 3.86 6/ 0 0 1 .000 0 0 0 11 7 9 11 5 12 5 0 3 3 0 2 0 1 16/ '348 46/ .239
Jim Law 4.06 9/ 5 4 0 1.000 0 0 0 37 7 22 30 17 22 14 0 4 5 0 5 0 4 47/ .315 149/ .201
Tom Deller 4.50 16/ 11 4 3 .571 0 2 0 62 0 45 64 31 47 46 0 6 7 0 11 0 4 87/ 367 237/ .270
Doug Sutton 5.13 15/ 13 7 3 .700 0 5 1 79 0 52 82 45 38 48 0 4 9 3 13 0 10 125/ 411 304/ .270
Jon Hudson 5.58 22/ 0 3 3 .500 0 0 0 50 0 36 57 31 58 31 0 9 5 0 10 0 1 70/ 354 198/ .288
Roy Bailey 6.19 11/ 4 2 1 .667 1 0 0 36 3 30 45 25 21 16 0 1 6 0 7 1 7 7S/ 484 155/ .290
Vince Tyra 6.58 15/ 14 3 5 .375 0 1 0 52 0 50 74 38 28 40 1 2 8 0 17 2 4 107/ .484 221/ .335
John Ofstun 11.32 10/ 1 1 1 .500 0 0 0 20 7 27 35 26 21 19 0 0 2 0 10 2 3 58/ .637 91/ .385
Steve Dixon 14.90 6/ 1 0 1 >600 0 0 0 9.7 17 12 16 12 11 0 0 3 0 1 0 4 25/ 595 42/ .266
Kentucky 5.19 55/ 55 34 21 .618 7 9 1 443.7 313 468 256 334 261 4 35 52 3 88 5 44 698/ 399 1748/ .268
Opponent Totals 7.22 55/ 55 21 34 .382 8 7 2 437 7 431 596 351 317 291 3 23 60 7 107 9 70 931/ .505 1843/ .323
By TCP Columnist Nick Nicholas
Kentucky closed out the regular season on a sour note, dropping a 9-2 decision to the visiting Georgia Bulldogs at Shively Field May 8.
Nevertheless, UK finished the season with an impressive 18-9 Southeastern Conference tally, along with a 34-21 overall mark. Next up for Keith Madison's Bat 'Cats is an SEC Tournament date with LSU (36-19, 16-11), Thursday at Starkville, Miss.
? For complete lineup of SEC tourney action, please turn to page 2.
First pitch is scheduled to be delivered at 1 p.m. (EDT). At press time, Doug Sutton (7-3 overall, 0-1 against LSU) was to get the start for UK.
"It's been a strange season," said Madison, assessing his club this season. "In Southeastern Conference play I've been extremely happy. But we've had a lot of disappointments, in that we haven't played up to our ability in the nonconference games. And that could hurt us as far as getting a bid."
Florida, 21-6 in the SEC, ended the year three games ahead of Kentucky.
When asked if he thought his team already had earned at least an at-large bid in the NCAA Regionals, Madison paused before giving an answer.
"Oh. . .1 say we should be," said the UK coach. "If the Kentucky basketball team finishes second in the regular season, I think they get a bid. J think we should be treated just as fairly as they are."
Of the six teams in the SEC Tournament, only Georgia has a worse overall record (27-26) than does UK.
Last year, you'll recall UK's 40-15 record wasn't good enough to qualify for an NCAA bid. This time around, to clinch a bid in the eyes of the selection committee the 'Cats might need to win at least one game in the double-elimination league tournament.
"The selection committee, they're such sticklers for the nice looking record and we really needed that win (loss to Georgia) to solidify an at-large bid," noted center-fielder Chris Estep. "That kinda hurt us."
On the other hand, "I don't see how they can keep us out," Estep said, whose team swept Saturday's double-header from Georgia11-0 and 7-2. "But I think with a CO ilple of wins down in Starkville we'll be OK."
As far as looking down the road in the SEC Tournament, Estep said, "It doesn't really matter who we play. Every team has a little bit of everything, except for LSU where the pitching dominates everything. They have great pitching but their hitting lacks sometimes.
"But I'm not taking anything away from them because they took it to us down there."
Early in the season the Bat Cats lost two of three to the Tigers, dropping the first two3-1, 2-1before escaping Baton Rouge with a 3-1 win.
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Plagued by four errors, UK allowed Georgia to turn a 2-0 deficit into a 9-2 victory on Sunday. UGA's win, along with Vanderbilt's 8-7, 12-inning setback at Florida, catapulted the Bulldogs into sixth place in the SEC and the final spot in this week's tournament.
Errors by UK's Darin Rieman (2), Vince Castaldo (1) and Billy White (1), hampered the return of starting pitcher Matthew
Coleman.
Heading into the top of the fifth, UK, with Coleman on the mound, held a 2-1 lead. But in their next five times up the Bulldogs dented the plate, highlighted by a two-run eighth and a three-run ninth.
This wasn't a performance an SEC title contender would be proud of.
Even the Bat Cats' ace in the bullpen, Dave Voit (7-1, 2.21 ERA), couldn't get the job done. The Lexington senior gave up three earned runs on four hits, while working the final two frames.
Georgia's hero at the plate was Brian Jester, who went four-for-five on the day, including the game-winning hit and a two-run insurance home run off Voit in the ninth.
UK, batting .326 as a team, was on the verge of sweeping its canine counterpart. Kentucky jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first off lefty Steve Muh. Mark Blythe then blasted his 12th bellringer of the year, clearing the left-field fence.
After giving up a third-inning single to Estep, Muh (7-6) settled down. The Georgia starter didn't allow another Bat Cat hit until Vince Castaldo's line drive to right-center in eighth.
Muh was relieved in the ninth after giving up back-to-back walks.
"What happend, I think, is that we rested on our laurels," said Estep. "We didn't come out and executewe made a lot of stupid errors. In the first four innings we had four errors. We really gave the game away.
"It's bad to end on a sour note but it's kinda good to get it out of our system."
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If there's one good thing to come out of Sunday's loss, UK's Madison has to be smiling because of Coleman's return to the starting rotation.
Scheduled to go six innings, Cole