COMPILING BIG NUMBERS; SE OFFENSE COUNTS ON MATH MAJOR -- COLLIER

LaMonte Collier has a lot of confidence in his ability to play baseball. That's why the sensational season he is having doesn't really surprise him.

Without trying to sound cocky, Collier says he always felt like he had the ability to be the Ohio Valley's Conference best hitter.

And based on batting average, that's exactly what the Southeast Missouri State University senior is. Collier, entering a big weekend series against Tennessee-Martin, leads the OVC with a .436 mark. He is also tied for the league lead in doubles with 17 and is second in stolen bases with 23.

"I think I always had the capability of hitting this well," said Collier, who also leads the Indians in runs batted in (31) and is tied for the team lead in home runs (4). "It's just a matter of a few more hits falling in. Last year I hit the ball hard a lot, but guys were making good plays.

"The way I feel right now, I'm a real confident hitter at the plate. I feel like I can hit about .450. Even if I get out once, I feel like I can get a few more hits the rest of the game."

Collier batted .313 for the Indians last year after transferring from Jefferson College, where he earned junior-college All-American honors. Collier had a solid junior season for the Tribe, but Southeast coach Mark Hogan knew he was capable of so much more.

"LaMonte was a really big sign for us," said Hogan. "He had a decent year as a junior, but we knew there was so much more talent there."

A rigorous offseason weight training program helped add muscle to Collier's already-sturdy 5-foot-9, 185-pound frame and he credits pumping iron as a big reason for his success this year.

"I worked hard in the weight room to get some muscles, for the ladies as well as baseball," said the good-natured Collier with a laugh. "But seriously, I think it's really helped me out. I feel a lot stronger this year."

Defensively, Collier has been at second base for most of the season after starting out the year at shortstop. He played a variety of positions last season, including third base and the outfield.

"I've moved around so much, it's tough to get used to one position," Collier said. "But I'm starting to feel more and more comfortable."

Hogan says Collier has helped solidify the Indians' defense at second base, but at the plate is where he has really opened eyes.

"If there is a better hitter in the midwest, I'd like to see him," said Hogan. "LaMonte hammered Mississippi State, Oklahoma State and Wichita State (three nationally-ranked teams Southeast played). Each of those coaches would rave about him after we played them."

Collier, a St. Louis native, is majoring in math, with a minor in economics. After this semester, he said he'll be about 12 hours short of earning his degree, which he plans to do. But he wouldn't mind skipping summer school this year to play a little professional baseball.

With his hitting prowess, exceptional speed and rocket arm, Hogan believes that Collier should be drafted this year.

"LaMonte runs exceptionally well and his arm is major league caliber," Hogan said. "He needs to develop his defense, but he will. Scouts tell me they like him at second base. That's a position where his arm is above major league caliber.

"He's rock solid. I think he's a legitimate prospect. Based on other players I've had in my programs that have been drafted, I'd say he should go somewhere between the 15th and 30th rounds."

Collier would like nothing better than to give pro baseball a shot, just like his good friend, Kerry Robinson, a former Southeast standout who was second in the OVC in hitting in 1995 and is now playing for the St. Louis Cardinals' AA team in Little Rock, Ark.

"We're real close. We played on a summer team together and it's great to see him doing so well," said Collier. "He's given me a few pointers that have really helped me out."

While Collier is hopeful of being drafted and playing professionally, he's trying not to get his hopes up too high.

"Hopefully it will work out, if all goes well. If not, I'll have my education to fall back on," he said. "I'm hopeful of being drafted, but I'm not really planning on it. Scouts have told me they like me. I'm just hoping for the best."