CRAFT, HAINES LEAVING SEMO BASEBALL PROGRAM

A pair of Cape Girardeau Central High School graduates will not return to Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team next season.

Lance Craft and Talley Haines, who completed their sophomore seasons at Southeast this year, will be transferring to different schools.

Haines plans to attend Freed-Hardeman, an NAIA school near Nashville, Tenn. Craft is considering several colleges, among then Arkansas State and Southwest Missouri State.

Craft, playing left field, batted .260 for the Indians this year. He was second on the team in stolen bases with 23. Craft hit .263 as a freshman in 1996.

Haines, a righthanded pitcher, was 2-4 with a 7.20 earned-run average this year. He also had three saves. As a freshman in 1996, Haines was 6-1 with a 5.40 ERA.

"I think both guys feel like a change of scenery will do them good," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan. "We certainly wish them the best."