Opening day goes down as memorable for local products

It's been a very good week for two professional baseball players with strong Cape Girardeau ties.

First, former Southeast Missouri State University standout Kerry Robinson experienced his initial opening day on a major league roster -- and with his hometown team no less -- when the St. Louis Cardinals hosted the Colorado Rockies Monday.

Robinson, a reserve outfielder for the Cardinals, spent much of last season with the Redbirds but began the year in the minor leagues. And previously, his two other stints in the majors had been after being called up late in the season.

And then later in the week, Central High School graduate Talley Haines began a season in Triple A for the first time. He is with the Durham Bulls, the top farm team of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Haines, a relief pitcher in his fifth season of pro ball, had spent the very end of the last two seasons with the Bulls after being called up from Double A. But this is the first time he's started a year on the level directly below the big leagues, meaning he has moved ever closer to getting the call he's probably dreamed of his entire life.

Here's hoping the 2002 baseball season holds nothing but good things for both Robinson and Haines, who are classy young men as well as talented athletes.

Matt Whiteside, another local product playing professional baseball, is starting the season with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, the Triple A farm team of the Colorado Rockies.

A Charleston High School graduate, the relief pitcher is in his 13th pro season, with most of the previous six spent for various major-league squads, including last year with the Atlanta Braves.

Several others with area ties are playing in lower levels of pro baseball and have either not yet been assigned to teams or have not yet started their seasons.

I'll try to fill everybody in during the coming weeks.

Congratulations to Southeast baseball coach Mark Hogan for notching his 600th overall career victory Saturday, which includes wins on the Division I, Division II and junior college levels.

I was saddened by the recent death of Mack Estes, who I got to know well over the years through his involvement with Cape Girardeau's American Legion post and the Southeast Booster Club.

Mack was quite a guy, seemingly always wearing a big grin when I saw him either at an American Legion baseball game or a Southeast Booster Club function. He will be sorely missed.

I don't know about you, but I'm kind of sad that the college basketball season is over.

Now I guess I'll have to fill my roundball cravings with the NBA, which I guess won't be too bad once the playoffs start.

Still, in my book there's nothing like college hoops.

I missed with my pick of Kansas to win it all, but Maryland definitely proved to be the best team in the NCAA Tournament.

And Juan Dixon proved to be the tournament's top player. Maryland's senior guard was sensational.

I've heard the so-called experts question just how successful an NBA player they think Dixon will be, but I believe he'll be a good one.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.