MAJOR AMBITIONS

The following is a listing of players with area ties who are competing in professional baseball.

Included in the list are each players' local connection, his last year as an amateur and his major league affiliation (if applicable). Statistics are through Sunday.

Steve Bieser, OF (Ste. Genevieve High School, Southeast Missouri State 1989) St. Louis Cardinals:

Bieser, a 12-year minor league veteran who has played parts of two seasons in the majors, is batting .270 with 11 doubles, two triples, 10 RBIs, 34 runs scored and five stolen bases for the Class AAA Memphis (Tenn.) Redbirds.

Talley Haines, RHP (Cape Central High School, Southeast Missouri State, Freed Hardeman 1998) Tampa Bay Devil Rays:

Haines, who is in his third pro season and first with the Class AA Orlando (Fla.) Rays, has a 3-2 record with three saves and a 1.23 ERA. In 44 innings, he has allowed 28 hits while striking out 35 and walking 18.

Dan Huesgen, RHP (Southeast Missouri State 2000), Toronto Blue Jays:

Huesgen, selected in the 38th round of this year's draft, is 1-1 with a 1.62 ERA for the Rookie League Queens (N.Y.) Kings. In 16 2/3 innings, he has allowed 19 hits while striking out eight and walking seven.

Jeremy Johnson, OF (Egyptian High School, Southeast Missouri State 2000) Toronto Blue Jays:

Johnson, selected in the 26th round of this year's draft, is batting .384 with six home runs, 20 doubles, three triples, 45 RBIs, 55 runs scored and one stolen base for the Advanced Rookie League Medicine Hat (Alberta) Blue Jays.

Darin Kinsolving, IF (Southeast Missouri State 2000):

Kinsolving, who was not selected in this year's draft, signed recently with the River City (Mo.) Rascals of the Independent Frontier League. He is batting .091 (1-for-11) with five runs scored.

Steve Lowe, IF (Southeast Missouri State 1999) Cleveland Indians:

Lowe, in his second pro season, is batting .267 with one home run, four doubles, three triples, 19 RBIs, 16 runs scored and three stolen bases for the Class A Columbus (Ga.) Redstixx.

Cliff Politte, RHP (Cape Girardeau Capahas 1997) Philadelphia Phillies:

Politte, who is in his fourth pro season and has spent parts of two previous seasons in the majors, was recently sent back down from the Phillies to Class AAA Scranton-Wilkes Barre after his second stint with Philadelphia.

He is 6-4 with a 3.42 ERA, allowing 80 hits while striking out 88 and walking 38 in 97 1/3 innings.

Kerry Robinson OF (Southeast Missouri State 1995) New York Yankees:

Robinson, who is in his sixth pro season and has spent brief parts of two seasons in the majors, is batting .294 with 14 doubles, seven triples, 25 RBIs, 56 runs scored and 31 stolen bases for the Class AAA Columbus (Ohio) Clippers.

Ryan Spille, LHP (Southeast Missouri State 1999) Toronto Blue Jays:

Spille, in his second pro season, was recently promoted to the Class AA Tennessee Smokies. In two appearances covering 11 2/3 innings, he is 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA, allowing 14 hits while striking out three and walking six.

Kevin Vent, RHP (Sikeston High School, Arkansas 1999) San Francisco Giants:

Vent, in his second pro season, is 2-7 with a 5.99 ERA for the Class A Bakersfield (Calif.) Blaze. In 67 2/3 innings, he has allowed 102 hits while striking out 50 and walking 42.

Matt Whiteside, RHP (Charleston High School, Arkansas State 1990) San Diego Padres:

Whiteside, who is in his 11th pro season and has spent most of five previous seasons in the majors, was recently sent back down from the Padres to Class AAA Las Vegas, where he started the year. Since going back to Las Vegas, he is 1-2 with a 2.79 ERA, allowing 13 hits while striking out 18 and walking nine in 19 1/3 innings.

Phil Warren, OF (Southeast Missouri State 2000):

Warren, who was not selected in this year's draft, signed earlier this summer with the Chillicothe (Ohio) Paints of the Independent Frontier League. He is batting .340 with one home run, three doubles, five RBIs and 10 runs scored.