Loss an emotional one for Southeast Missouri State baseball seniors

JACKSON, Tenn. -- For Southeast Missouri State senior center fielder Cole Bieser, Saturday's season-ending loss to Jacksonville State in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament was devastating.

Bieser's voice was steady while he talked about the outcome of the game but he had to take a deep breath and fight back tears when talking about the realization that he wouldn't play for his father, Southeast coach Steve Bieser, again.

He and his teammates, including fellow seniors Skylar Cobb, Derek Gibson, Matt Tellor and John Logan Zink, embraced outside their dugout following the loss, which by their estimation prematurely ended one of the most successful seasons in program history. Tellor's eyes showed that he'd been crying, and Gibson said the end of his college career was extremely emotional because "you put your whole life into this," before struggling to fight back tears.

"It's one of those things, it's been my life, baseball in general, and Southeast the last five years," Cole Bieser said. "You know, it's just so strange because it seems like yesterday Derek and I were back home watching the tournament. To grow, and just so many things have happened at Southeast, there's been so many extremely high highs and very low lows. And I'm just happy that this year -- today was a low low, but this year is the highest I've ever felt in baseball.

"No matter what, when the dust settles on this tournament we're still the conference champions. I think we earned the respect of everyone, and everyone knows we were the conference champs. One week here doesn't define our season, it doesn't define who we are as a team. We're an outstanding team. I've never been around a better group of guys, and it was just really emotional. You get in the huddle, and it really hadn't set in just yet and then I kind of peeked out into center and realized that I wouldn't be going back out there in a Redhawk uniform, and that's when it really hit me."

"I really lost it when I hugged dad because even if I'm lucky enough to keep playing ball, I never get to play for him again," Cole Bieser said. "That was truly the pleasure of my life so far is being able to play almost my entire career for my dad, and it was something that no one can ever take away from me no matter what happened today. I'll remember it until the day I die. It was truly the pleasure of my life to be a Redhawk. It's so strange because when you go through the recruiting process you never plan on landing at Southeast, you plan on going to a big school. If I could do it again I'd still sign the dotted line for SEMO."

Steve Bieser has a great appreciation for his son and his career at Southeast and realizes that it hasn't been the easiest situation for Cole.

"It's something special," Steve Bieser said. "Not many people get to coach their sons at this level. Typically we get to coach them at the Little League level and they move on. I'm going to tell you, it's extremely difficult for a player to play for his dad."

The coach paused briefly before he continued: "I'm not sure that I've done the best job coaching him. It's just difficult because you expect so much more of your son. He's grown up around the game, he's been in big-league clubhouses with me, and you just take for granted that he's picked up those things and knows more than [you think]. I just expected so much of him and was really harder on him than any other player that I've ever coached. He's done an outstanding job being able to handle those things. It's a special thing."

That's not to say that the other seniors weren't special to their coach or the program. Steve Bieser said that this group is special because there are so few of them.

Two of the obvious players that will be missed in the Redhawks lineup are first baseman and OVC Player of the Year Tellor and designated hitter and first-team all-OVC team selection Gibson.

"Matt Tellor, what a phenomenal season," Steve Bieser said. "He was outstanding all season long. I know he didn't have the tournament that he wanted to have but he's one of the reasons we were where we were this year. Just proud of what he accomplished. It's tough saying goodbye to those guys because they pour it out every single day. Their heart's into it. And they don't have reasons to show up to the park unhappy because they're in the lineup every single day, they're ready to produce. Derek Gibson, the career that he's put together here has just been phenomenal, you know, just the last three seasons being that ultimate hitter and finding ways to get it accomplished every single day."

"I know our three guys there in Matt, Cole and Derek, they really want to continue to play, and I'm going to do my best to find them a place to continue to play," Steve Bieser said. "They all have some interest, and I'm very hopeful that they all get a shot. They're quality guys and they're going to find a home and they're going to be successful."

Cobb, a relief pitcher from Scott City, Missouri, and Zink, who pinch ran several times this season while recording just 13 at-bats, often have their contributions overlooked, but Steve Bieser stressed their importance to the team's successful season.

"We talk about John Logan Zink, who is the ultimate team player," Steve Bieser said. "He does everything that's asked of him, never shows up to the ballpark with a frown on his face, and he's just been excellent all season long for us in his role. Then you've got Skylar Cobb, who's just been outstanding in his time here. He's been able to do all those things out of the bullpen. Over 24 appearances this year of coming in and just being steady. I mean, those things that they were able to do as role players was extremely exciting for me because to be a good team you have to have your role players, and those two guys are two of the best role players that I've ever seen in their respective positions."

While some of the Redhawks seniors will turn their attention to the potential of having their name called at the MLB draft June 5, the rest of the team will look forward to defending the Redhawks' conference title.

"I hope they just take away that what you put in is what you get out," Tellor said. "All year we put in everything we got and we got the number one seed coming in. Just keep working hard and the next time you get here, hopefully it'll be successful."

The Redhawks will return eight position players who saw regular time in the starting lineup and nine pitchers who threw 28 innings or more, including OVC Co-Pitcher of the Year Travis Hayes and Friday starter Alex Winkelman, who finished with a record of 6-2.

"I'm extremely proud of our young guys," Gibson said. "They've done an extremely good job of whenever the older guys, whenever we're not playing well they're always there to back us up. They're a great group of guys and work really hard just like we have. I'm extremely confident with them in the next couple years with the program, I think they're going to do extremely well. I have no doubt in my mind that they're going to keep growing, and you know, I just want them to keep working hard and keep doing what they've been doing. I don't want them to change a thing. I want them to come out and win every single day like we did and focus on game by game."