Kansas Freshman Smith Named MVP of Tournament

Kansas freshman outfielder Dakota Smith was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2011 Connie Mack World Series this past weekend as his Midland Redskins won their third title at Rickets Field in Farmington, N.M.

Smith, a 5-foot-11 freshman from Leavenworth, Kan., collected a tournament-high 15 total bases, which included a pair of homers and eight RBIs. He also received the tournament’s Comcast “Big Stick” Award.

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Kansas Senior Manship Named Northwoods League Postseason All-Star

Kansas senior catcher/first baseman Chris Manship has been named to the Northwoods League’s Postseason All-Star team, which was announced by the league office Monday.
Manship, a 6-foot-2 senior from Cave Creek, Ariz., batted .291 in the wood bat league in 65 games during the summer. His summer numbers included 23 doubles, four homers, 35 RBIs and 30 runs scored. Manship, who played the year with the Duluth Huskies, was selected to the league’s midseason all-star team.

He played in 37 games with the Jayhawks in 2011, batting .250 with five doubles, two homers and 13 RBIs. He saw most of his action as the team’s designated hitter and also made two starts at first base.

Manship was one of 32 players named to the Northwoods League’s Postseason All-Star team. The league is one of the biggest collegiate summer leagues in the country, with 16 squads in the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. Manship and Duluth completed their summer season with a record of 30-37.

Jayhawks in the Pros



Former Kansas outfielder Brian Heere
batted .347 during the month of July
with the Lake County Captains.



Throughout the course of the 2011 season, kuathletics.com will update the progress of the 15 former Jayhawks who are currently playing within the ranks of professional baseball.

"I'm really proud of the success our players are having in professional baseball," Kansas Head Coach Ritch Price said. "I think it's a testament to my assistant coaches for preparing guys to play at the next level and also to the Big 12 Conference. Our great league gives  players a taste of what they'll see every day in the minor leagues." 

Major Leagues

Tom GorzelannyFormer Kansas pitcher Tom Gorzelanny is in his seventh major league season and his first with the Washington Nationals. The 6-foot-2 lefty, who played at KU in 2002, is 2-6 this year with a 4.57 ERA in 15 starts. In his seven big league seasons, Gorzelanny has posted a 38-43 record and made 110 starts. He was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second round of the 2003 MLB Amateur Draft.

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