BEATTY DECIDES TO LEAVE SEMO

A desire to stay home has resulted in Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team losing its second-leading hitter off the 2001 squad.

Brad Beatty, who batted .353 as a true freshman this year, told the Southeast Missourian Sunday night that he plans to transfer to Southwestern Illinois Junior College in his hometown of Belleville, Ill.

"I was happy at SEMO, but I just wanted to stay around home and live at home," said Beatty.

Beatty, who was one of the Ohio Valley Conference's top hitters during the 2001 season as he earned Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American Honorable Mention honors, had four home runs and 32 runs batted in this year while primarily serving as the Indians' designated hitter.

"It's a loss. We'll recover from it, but it's always disappointing when a young player who has the success he had doesn't want to come back," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan. "That's part of it. Year in and year out you have some attrition.

"Brad had a tremendous offensive year. He hit the ball well and was a big part of our offense. It's unfortunate he's not coming back, but it's that what he wants to do, it's his decision."