OVC series win would be step in right direction for Redhawks

It so far has been a disappointing season for Southeast Missouri State's baseball team -- and there really is no other way to slice things.

Hopes were extremely high for the Redhawks entering the campaign, as they returned many of the key players from last year's squad that finished strong while also adding some key newcomers.

But after Saturday's doubleheader split at Austin Peay, the Redhawks find themselves with a 13-20 overall record and a 4-7 Ohio Valley Conference mark, as they continue to be mired toward the bottom of the 10-team league.

There was, however, perhaps a hint of a silver lining Saturday, as Southeast won the opener of a conference series for the first time this year and also played a solid second game before falling short.

Today's rubber game of the series, while just one of 27 OVC contests on the schedule, could go a long way toward boosting the Redhawks' confidence if they are able to prevail and win their first league series of the season.

There is plenty of baseball left to be played, and it's way too early to bury the Redhawks no matter what happens today.

But there is no question that the Redhawks can't continue dropping two out of three in every conference series if they want to push their way up the standings -- or even qualify for the six-team league tournament.

* It's nice to see Southeast's softball team, which has struggled some in recent years after dominating the OVC for much of the 1990s, putting together a bounce-back season.

After sweeping a doubleheader from visiting Samford on Saturday, the Redhawks are 22-16 overall and 10-4 in OVC play. They are tied for first place on the loss side, although Jacksonville State has two more victories.

Southeast already has won six more games than it did all of last season, when it went 16-36, and the 10 league victories equals its total from a year ago.

A young local product has played a major role in the Redhawks' resurgence. Megan McDonald from Cape Girardeau Central High School is having a sensational freshman season.

* Southeast's track program is strong year in and year out, but the Redhawks just might have outdone even themselves on April 9.

Competing in the Mississippi Invitational, Southeast turned in several performances that rank among the nation's best in Division I at this point in the season.

Leading the way, of course, was sensational sophomore Miles Smith, who ripped off a sizzling 45.95 400-meter dash, a time that entered this weekend No. 1 nationally.

Smith, Southeast's lone qualifier for the NCAA indoor nationals, only figures to go faster the rest of the year as the weather continues heating up. There's no telling how long he'll remain No. 1 in the ultra-competitive 400, but to even have reached that status at all is a terrific accomplishment.

Smith also anchors the Redhawks 1,600-meter relay team that ranks 11th nationally with a time of 3:07.33. Other relay members are Alonzo Nelson, Chris Poindexter and Chaz Brown.

Also ranked nationally entering the weekend were Brooke Woodruff (15th in the 800 meters, 2:08.61) and Nelson (30th in the 400-meter hurdles, 52.06).

* This coming weekend will either be an exciting or nerve-wracking one -- depending on their perspective -- for a few Southeast football products.

The NFL draft has a good chance to include offensive lineman Dan Connolly, who is projected to be a second-day selection (rounds 4 through 7).

Offensive lineman Dan Bieg and tight end Ray Goodson are regarded as potential late-round picks but more likely they'll wind up in training camps as undrafted free agents.

It's always interesting to see how the draft shakes out, not only from a Southeast angle but also from the Rams' perspective and just in general.

* A comment in last Sunday's FanSpeak ripped Southeast men's basketball for either failing to sign -- or failing to recruit -- Lafayette High School senior guard Landon Shipley.

Shipley, the son of former Southeast guard Dave Shipley, was the St. Louis Post-Dispatch player of the year. He signed with Austin Peay, an OVC rival of the Redhawks.

First of all, I think it would be wise to see what kind of player Shipley turns out to be for Austin Peay before criticizing Southeast's coaching staff, which to my knowledge did not actively recruit him.

I have never seen Shipley play and have no idea how he'll fare on the Division I level. But just because he excelled in high school level doesn't automatically translate into college success.

We'll just have to see what kind of career Shipley ends up having.

* My sincere condolences to the family and friends of Bill Lewis, the longtime supporter of Southeast athletics who recently passed away.

Bill was for years a fixture at most Southeast contests, and it was always fun for me to talk sports with him.

* Here's wishing all the best to Tennessee Tech men's basketball coach Mike Sutton, who was recently listed in critical condition on a ventilator after being stricken with Miller Fisher Syndrome, a rare disease that attacks the immune system.

Sutton is expected to make a complete recovery, and hopefully that turns out to be the case.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.