Area digest 10/4/02

Southeast hosts fall softball event for charity

Southeast will host all of the NCAA Division I schools in Missouri for the Missouri Classic Charity Softball Tournament Saturday and Sunday.

All funds raised during the annual fall tournament will go to St. Francis Medical Center.

In addition to host Southeast, the event features the University of Missouri, Missouri-Kansas City, Saint Louis University and Southwest Missouri State. The NCAA softball season is held in the spring, but most teams play a fall practice schedule that does not count against their record.

There is no set admission charge, but donations are encouraged. T-shirts and concessions will also be sold.

Saturday's schedule features Southeast vs. Missouri, 9 a.m.; Southwest vs. Missouri, 11 a.m.; Southeast vs. UMKC, 1 p.m.; Southwest vs. SLU, 3 p.m.; UMKC vs. SLU, 5 p.m.

Sunday, the schedule is Southeast vs. Southwest, 9 a.m.; Missouri vs. UMKC, 11 a.m.; UMKC vs. Southwest, 1 p.m.; Missouri vs. SLU, 3 p.m.; Southeast vs. SLU, 5 p.m.

Southeast's Ponder on list for Payton Award

Southeast Missouri State University senior wide receiver Willie Ponder has been added to The Sports Network's 16-man Payton Watch list, a preliminary grouping of candidates for the Walter Payton Award, the Division I-AA football equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.

"It's a great honor for Willie," said Southeast coach Tim Billings. "He is deserving because he is one of the top receivers in the nation."

Ponder has 37 catches for 585 after five games this season. He leads the Ohio Valley Conference in all receiving categories and ranks eighth nationally in receptions per game and receiving yards per game.

Also, Southeast has been honored as the national Division I-AA co-team of the week by the Web site www.dopke.com.

The recognition came after the Indians beat Division I-A Middle Tennessee 24-14 last Saturday.

-- From staff reports