Indians solid in first step toward title defense

If you're a Southeast Missouri State University baseball fan, days don't get much better than Saturday afternoon at Capaha Field.

The weather, although perhaps a bit cooler than normal for this time of the year, was almost picture-perfect. And Kohlfeld Distributing provided free beverages for the more than 1,200 fans in attendance. It was a festive atmosphere to say the least.

And best of all for Southeast supporters, the Indians began defense of their Ohio Valley Conference championship with a doubleheader sweep of Tennessee Tech, winning 5-0 and 6-5.

Both games were well played, and the second contest went down to the wire with the Indians squeezing across a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to prevail after the visiting Eagles had staged a pair of late rallies that showed their mettle as a title contender.

While Tim Alvarez -- who is having an unbelievable season -- pitched a shutout in the opener to improve his record to 8-0, perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the day for the Indians was the second-game mound performance by Bill Clayton.

Clayton, a Southern Illinois transfer, has a major-league arm. That's why he was drafted in the 10th round out of high school a few years ago. But Clayton has struggled to find consistency and stamina this year.

Saturday, Clayton pitched five brilliant innings and worked into the sixth before being lifted. That kind of performance will not only increase his confidence tremendously but also boost the spirit of the entire squad.

If Southeast followers liked what happened Saturday, they should expect more of the same when the squads close out their three-game series at 1 p.m. today.

Still on the subject of Southeast baseball, the catch freshman right fielder Aaron Fangman made to help save Wednesday's win at Southern Illinois was one of the best I have ever seen on any level.

For those of you who weren't at the game or didn't read my story, Fangman made a catch on an all-out dive with his back to home plate on a ball that looked like it was already several feet behind him.

When Fangman began chasing the line drive and then left his feet, I told myself there's no way anybody could come up with that ball. But he did, and it saved at least three runs during what became a 7-5 Southeast victory.

I know that people might think I'm exaggerating, but trust me, I'm not. The catch was that good.

Southeast's football program will wrap up spring practice Saturday night with the annual spring game at Houck Stadium that will feature two area television anchors as celebrity coaches.

TIffany Sisson of KFVS-TV will coach the White team and Angie Wyatt of WSIL-TV will direct the Red squad in the 6:30 p.m. contest. Southeast coach Tim Billings insists Sisson and Wyatt will call the plays, which should make things interesting.

As for the football itself, coming off their best season since 1969 and losing very few starters, the Indians are understandably excited about a 2003 season that holds plenty of promise, although the schedule is brutal.

One of those missing Southeast football starters from this past season -- sensational wide receiver Willie Ponder -- reportedly has run several impressive 40-yard dash times for scouts in recent weeks.

That means Ponder's chance of being selected in the NFL draft this month is increasing all the time.

Really, after watching him dominate opponents the last two years, I don't think I'm the only person who believes Ponder stands a solid chance of making it in the NFL.

It was great to see former Southeast baseball star Kerry Robinson start the season with the Cardinals after a lot of people -- himself included -- believed he would begin the year at Triple A Memphis.

Kerry is one of my all-time favorite athletes from the area -- I felt that way even before he signed his first professional contract -- and you can't help but root for a good guy like that.

Let's hope Kerry does will with the Cardinals -- he was a solid player off the bench last year -- and stays in St. Louis the entire season.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.