Evans not specific about reasons for leaving

After an 8-4 freshman season, the pitcher said he was not comfortable and may attend a junior college in New Mexico.

Joey Evans said there was really nothing specific he could put his finger on regarding why he left Southeast Missouri State's baseball program earlier this summer after a strong freshman season.

But he did say he has plenty of respect for Southeast coach Mark Hogan and his staff, and they had nothing to do with Evans' departure.

"I had no problem at all. I respect all the coaches. Everything they offered me [instructionally], I took a lot away from them," Evans said Wednesday afternoon from his home in Whitehouse, Texas. "But I felt at this point it was not the place I needed to be.

"I didn't have a problem [at Southeast]. I just didn't feel like it was a good fit for me personally. It's just a matter of me being comfortable, and I just didn't feel like at this point I was comfortable."

Although he has not yet made up his mind, Evans said it is likely he will transfer to New Mexico Junior College, which won this year's national junior college Division I championship.

Evans said that New Mexico Junior College coach Ray Birmingham is a longtime friend of the family, and he recruited Evans out of high school.

"He wanted me out of high school but I said I wanted to go Division I and to Southeast," Evans said. "He said if I ever had a problem, let him know, and me being uncomfortable [at Southeast], it was nice to know I had some place I could go.

"I'd say it's 75 percent sure I'm going there, unless some big program offers me."

Hogan said recently that Evans departed Southeast because he wanted to try and compete at a higher level of Division I baseball. Evans said he ultimately might like to do that, but it's not the reason he left the Redhawks program.

"I feel like I can [pitch at a higher level], but that didn't really factor too much into it," Evans said.

Evans said he does hope to translate a big sophomore season at New Mexico Junior College into either a professional opportunity or a chance to play for a major Division I program.

New Mexico Junior College, located in Hobbs, has had more than 80 players drafted during the 16-year history of the program, and two former Thunderbirds are currently in the major leagues.

"I hope to go there, then either go pro or transfer to a bigger program," Evans said.

Evans, a right-hander, was 8-4 with a 3.66 earned-run average for Southeast in 2005. He led the Redhawks' full-time pitchers in wins, ERA, innings pitched (98 1/3), strikeouts (77) and complete games (five), while tossing Southeast's only shutout.