Pitching Highlights Kansas Baseball Scrimmage

Sept. 26, 2010

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Kansas redshirt sophomore Lee Ridenhour made his first appearance in a Kansas uniform since 2009, while fellow sophomore Thomas Taylor struck out the side in the first inning as the Jayhawks completed their second scrimmage of the weekend Sunday morning at Hoglund Ballpark.

Ridenhour, who went 6-3 as a freshman in 2009, missed the entire season last year with an ankle injury. He recorded a scoreless first inning and pitched two frames Sunday. His opposite number, sophomore Thomas Taylor, struck out the side in the first and fanned four in his two innings of work.

“(Taylor) had a really good first inning and then he struggled in the second inning,” Kansas head coach Ritch Price said. “But it was good to see him out there with his velocity up, and the ball down in the zone and pitching downhill.”

“It was probably the highlight of the day for me to see Ridenhour back out there on the mound. He had an outstanding freshman year and it was a devastating loss for us when he didn’t pitch last year. It was really good to see.”

Price was also impressed with the way some of his veteran position players swung the bat. Junior Chris Manship added an RBI double to his three extra base hits on Saturday, while seniors Jimmy Waters and Brandon Macias each added a pair of hits.

“All three of those guys have to be impact players in the middle of our order this year,” Price said. “If we’re going to be a team that finishes in the top five in our league, we need Macias and Manship and (Jake) Marasco to play at the same level that (former Jayhawks Tony) Thompson, (Robby) Price and (Brian) Heere played at.”

The Jayhawks will have Monday off before resuming fall practices on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.