Pistons foil another prognostication

Well, another prediction of mine turned out to be a flop -- and I wasn't the only one.

All right, a quick show of hands. How many people, other than those with Detroit ties, actually thought the Pistons would prevail in the NBA Finals -- or even win a game or two?

I thought so.

To be sure, virtually all of civilized America believed the Lakers would have their way with the supposedly overmatched Pistons.

Instead, the Pistons pulled off what is being billed as one of the biggest upsets in NBA Finals history. And it wasn't even close as they dominated the series, romping in five games. Really, the Lakers were lucky to claim one victory because they needed a six-point rally in the last 40 seconds of Game 2's fourth quarter to force overtime.

Shows you what I know about predicting the outcome of sporting events -- not that it's going to stop me from continuing to prognosticate.

Add another former Southeast Missouri State University baseball player to the professional ranks as Gary Gilbert recently signed with the Gateway Grizzlies, who compete in the independent Frontier League and are based in Sauget, Ill.

Gilbert batted .333 for the Indians this year as a senior and made the Ohio Valley Conference all-tournament team.

The infielder got off to a hot start with the Grizzlies, batting .556 (5-for-9) in his first three games, with two home runs, one triple, one double and five runs batted in.

Gilbert joins three other Southeast products in the Frontier League, including his Grizzlies teammate Phil Warren and the River City Rascals' Justin Christian, who are both among the league's top hitters.

In all, nine Southeast products are competing professionally in the independent ranks, another three are in the minor leagues and Kerry Robinson, of course, is in the majors.

Speaking of Robinson, who was traded prior to this season from the Cardinals to the Padres, the reserve outfielder recently benefited from increased playing time to increase his batting average by more than 50 points.

Robinson, who has primarily been used by the Padres as a pinch-hitter and late-inning replacement, entered the weekend on a 7-for-13 streak that boosted his average from .241 to .299.

Southeast's women's soccer team figures to be bolstered by some prime new talent this year because all five of coach Heather Nelson's incoming freshmen recruits made the St. Louis Post-Dispatch All-Metro Team.

Alaina Lacopo from Triad High School in Troy, Ill., along with Lauren Costello and Margie Schaeffler -- both from state champion Incarnate Word Academy -- all were first-team All-Metro selections.

Megan Matter (Hazelwood West) and Emily Newsham (St. Charles West) were on the second and third teams, respectively.

Best wishes to Brad Lively on a speedy recovery from his recent injuries suffered while on duty as a Missouri state trooper.

Brad was a key player on Notre Dame Regional High School's back-to-back state championship basketball teams in the mid-1980s and, despite not playing high school football, he went on to a solid college career as a tight end at Southeast.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.