Indians' postseason pitching call was a curious move

Another successful Southeast Missouri State University baseball season ended on a sour note when the Indians were dispatched from the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament in three games despite entering as one of the favorites.

A lack of timely hitting from an offense that produced well most of the year was a major tournament downfall for the Indians, who got into a hole right off the bat by losing in Wednesday's first round to Eastern Kentucky.

That opening contest also featured a move by Southeast's coaching staff that was questioned by plenty of people -- the decision to start Bill Clayton instead of ace Tim Alvarez, the OVC Pitcher of the Year.

First of all, let me say that I would have used my best pitcher to begin the tournament -- and that means going with Alvarez. But I'm not about to criticize the move for several reasons.

For one, plenty of teams across the country in similar situations choose to play it the same way. For another, Clayton arguably had been the Indians' most effective hurler over the few weeks preceding the tournament.

And perhaps most importantly, think back to last year's NCAA regional. Although OVC Pitcher of the Year Brad Purcell and Brandon Smith both wound up the season with 12 wins, Purcell was considered the Indians' ace. But Hogan decided to start Smith in the regional opener against heavily favored Alabama, and the Indians stunned the Crimson Tide. Purcell then lost the following day. I didn't hear anybody beefing about the rotation back then, myself included.

Also, before too many people rip coach Mark Hogan's decision, the way the tournament played out, the Indians wound up in no different position had Alvarez won the opener and Clayton lost the second game instead of it being the other way around.

Sure, you can't automatically assume Clayton would have lost in the second round, but you also can't automatically assume Alvarez would have won in the first round.

The point is, regardless of the order, if the Indians went 1-1 in their first two games -- which is what happened -- they still would have faced the prospect of needing four straight victories Friday and Saturday to successfully defend their title. They never even got close.

A fourth consecutive season of at least 30 wins -- the Indians finished 31-20 -- is no small accomplishment, although for the many fine Southeast seniors, it was certainly not even close to the way they wanted to end their stellar careers.

The Indians didn't have a good tournament, but Thursday's no-hitter by Alvarez against Austin Peay will go down as one of the finest individual performances in league history.

One of the most incredible things about the no-hitter --which was the first in the tournament -- is that Austin Peay never even hit a ball really hard. That's amazing.

On paper, the Indians face a major rebuilding project next year because virtually all of their top players were seniors.

But before anybody quickly dismisses the Indians' chances of being successful next season, remember that other Southeast teams in recent years have been hammered by graduation -- yet Hogan and his staff always manage to put a strong product on the field.

It will be interesting to see what happens in 2004.

You have to admire the loyalty and passion for Southeast's baseball program displayed by Clemente Bonilla Sr.

Bonilla was a fixture at Southeast games -- home and away -- from 1999 to 2002 as he followed son Clemente Jr., who had a brilliant four-year career with the Indians.

Even though Clemente Jr. completed his eligibility last year and is playing professionally, Clemente Sr. -- who lives in California -- was in Paducah Wednesday through Friday to root for the Indians.

Clemente Sr. told me he simply wanted to support the Indians in general and particularly the players he got to know well while following Southeast the past few years.

Now that is a real fan.

Special thanks to Southeast sports information graduate assistant Justin Maskus, who provided me with all kinds of helpful information regarding Indians baseball this season and last year as well.

Keiki Misipeka, a standout running back during his only season at Southeast in 2002, has signed a contract with the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos, whose training camp began over the weekend.

Longtime Capahas manager Jess Bolen spends plenty of time bragging on grandson Michael Troth -- and who can blame him?

Troth, senior at Southern Boone High School near Columbia, has been one of the state's top baseball players the past four years. This year, he broke the state's all-time single-season runs batted in record with an amazing 61 RBIs. He finished his career with an equally impressive 52 home runs.

The strapping Troth, who spends plenty of time each summer in Cape Girardeau watching the Capahas and likely will play for them in the not-too-distant future, has signed with Jefferson Junior College.

Speaking of the Capahas, Cape Girardeau's tradition-rich summer baseball team will open its 37th season under Bolen Saturday with a 1 p.m. home doubleheader against Valmeyer, Ill.

Bolen, who always produces a strong and highly entertaining team featuring numerous college standouts, has compiled nearly 1,200 wins with fewer than 300 losses.

Now that's a record a coach or manager on any level would love to have.

Lane Lohr, a standout athlete at Jackson High School in the early 1980s, recently was hired as the head track and field coach at Lindenwood University, an NAIA school in St. Charles, Mo.

Lohr was a two-time state champion in the pole vault who went on to an All-American career at the University of Illinois. He has spent the past decade as track coach and assistant football coach at MICDS, a high school in St. Louis.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.