ROBINSON, CROSNOE HEAD FOR FLORIDA

A pair of former Southeast Missouri State University baseball players begin professional careers this week as they head to Florida for rookie minicamp before receiving minor league assignments.

Center fielder Kerry Robinson and catcher Rex Crosnoe, who both recently finished impressive senior seasons at Southeast and were All-Ohio Valley Conference and All-OVC Tournament selections, were taken last weekend during baseball's annual amateur draft.

Robinson, a graduate of Hazelwood East High in St. Louis County, was claimed in the 34th round by the St. Louis Cardinals. Crosnoe, a Cape Girardeau Central High product, was taken by the Cleveland Indians in the 46th round.

Robinson leaves today for a week-and-a-half-long minicamp in St. Petersburg, Fla., and will then be assigned to the Johnson City Cardinals, St. Louis' Class A rookie league affiliate in Tennessee. Johnson City's 68-game season begins June 19.

"It's really exciting," Robinson said. "I had a great year in college and hope to continue this summer."

Robinson expected to be chosen be an American League club as scouts from those teams displayed the most interest in him this season. Having heard little from the Cardinals, he was surprised they picked him.

"I'm happy they drafted me," Robinson said. "First of all, they're the hometown team and, second, that's the team my dad played for."

His father, Rogers Robinson, played 10 seasons in the Cardinals organization, mainly during the 1960s, and got as high as Triple A.

Crosnoe, the OVC Player of the Year and All-South Region team selection, also leaves today to report for a four-day minicamp at Winterhaven, Fla., a suburb of Orlando. Team assignments will be determined following the camp.

Being drafted "opens up an opportunity for me to go down, give it a shot and see what happens," Crosnoe said.

He added that he is as yet unsure what plans the organization has for him.

Crosnoe also has familial ties to profession baseball through his older brother Cory, who played at the Double A level in the Atlanta Braves organization.

"He told me to just have fun and that it will take a lot of work because so many other people are competing for the same job," Rex said of his brother's advice. "I'll have to be able to do baseball 24 hours a day, seven days a week and have to be committed to it."