Herbig's persistence pays off

How much does Derek Herbig love baseball?

While a teenager in rural Kansas, he drove about 60 miles each way to practice -- all because his high school didn't field a team.

"My dad was the superintendent at my high school, and I think he helped get a cooperative agreement started with the school I played for," said Herbig, a native of Caldwell, Kan., who played high school baseball at Dexter, Kan. "I mean, it was a dream to play baseball, and my dad really helped me out with that dream."

Herbig's dedication paid off, first with a scholarship to Cowley County College in his home state. That led him to Southeast Missouri State University, where the sophomore left-hander has turned into one of Indians' most dependable starters.

"He's really been a difference maker, especially with the losses we've had," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan, noting the Indians' top two returning pitchers, Bill Clayton and Jon Nourie, have missed virtually all of the season with injuries. "If Derek hadn't stepped up, we'd have really been in a lot of trouble."

Herbig is scheduled to start the finale of today's 1 p.m. doubleheader as Southeast (18-23, 8-9) visits Morehead State (12-30, 5-13) for a three-game weekend series.

The Indians are sixth among 10 Ohio Valley Conference teams and leading seventh-place Murray State by just one-half game. Only the top six finishers qualify for the OVC tournament. The Eagles are tied for last place.

"It's a huge series for us," Hogan said. "We really have to get something going."

After a slow start caused in part by a layoff of well over a year, Herbig has gotten going.

The lanky 6-foot-3 hurler, despite a 3-4 record, ranks eighth in the OVC with a 4.14 earned-run average. Herbig leads the league and is 14th nationally in strikeouts per nine innings (11.63), having fanned 59 in 45 2/3 frames. He is also second in the OVC in opponents' batting average, limiting the opposition to a .237 mark.

"I think I've pitched pretty good, but you can't really be satisfied when the team is 18-23," Herbig said. "You just have to go out there, do the best you can and hope for the best. We're struggling right now, but hopefully we can turn things around."

Herbig pitched as a freshman at Cowley County College, then missed his entire sophomore season with an arm injury, although he redshirted and did not lose a year of eligibility.

Southeast's coaching staff saw enough of Herbig to sign him prior to his injury, which did not require surgery. He had to shake off plenty of rust early this season before breaking into the regular rotation.

"I don't think it was so much the injury, but I hadn't been on the mound in about a year and a half," said Herbig, who has allowed just 41 hits in his 45 2/3 innings, with 28 walks. "It still bothers me every once in a while, but you have to throw threw the pain."

Said Hogan, "We sure thought he could be a very good pitcher for us because he really has good stuff. The concern was being rusty, and not being competitive for over a year, he was a little rough at the start, but he has really come on."

The Indians graduated virtually all of last year's top players, making for an inexperienced squad featuring primarily junior college transfers. Throw in that Clayton and Nourie, expected to lead the rotation, have hardly pitched and it's made for a trying season so far. But Herbig said the future for the traditional OVC power is bright.

"We still have a lot to look forward to this year, but I'm really excited about next year," Herbig said. "I think if we can keep everybody healthy, the future of Southeast baseball is really bright."