SEMO'S SEVEN SENIORS IN STAR-STUDDED GROUP

A host of players have contributed to Southeast Missouri State University's record-setting baseball team this year, but it would be hard for coach Mark Hogan to imagine just where his squad might be without its seven seniors.

The numbers those seven have put up this season -- and for many of them, throughout their careers -- are nothing short of sensational.

And it will be those seven seniors who will shoulder much of the burden as the Indians attempt to win their second Ohio Valley Conference Tournament title in the past three seasons when the six-team event begins today at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau.

The seniors have helped lead the Indians to a 35-15 record, which is the most single-season wins in school history. And they nearly helped Southeast gain its first-ever OVC regular-season championship; the Indians lost to Eastern Kentucky Sunday to fall one-half game short of the title.

"These seniors have been the backbone of our team," said Hogan. "They lead every day, on and off the field. The character of these seven guys has been tremendous. I couldn't be happier for their success."

The seven seniors are right fielder Jeremy Johnson, center fielder Kevin Meyer, left fielder Charlie Marino, first baseman Darin Kinsolving, designated hitter Phil Warren and starting pitchers Dan Huesgen and Lanson Debrock.

Johnson, Kinsolving, Warren, Huesgen and Debrock have been with the program the past four years while Marino and Meyer were junior-college transfers.

All of the seven except for Meyer, who was not yet in the program, played key roles on Southeast's 1998 team that qualified for the NCAA Division I tournament for the first time in school history.

"All seven have been a sheer joy to coach," Hogan said. "I couldn't imagine where we'd be without them."

Following is a capsule look at the seasons and careers of the seven seniors:

Jeremy Johnson

Arguably one of the finest players in Southeast history, the former Egyptian (Ill.) High star stepped into the starting lineup from day one and basically never came out.

Johnson has all but rewritten the school's record books, setting career marks for hits (283), doubles (65), runs scored (208), runs batted in (181), at-bats (787) and games played (212). He also ranks second in career homers (48), triples (11) and walks (111), and is third in stolen bases (39).

After leading the OVC with a .412 batting average last year, Johnson is currently second in the conference at .415. He leads the league in home runs (18) and runs scored (55), he's fifth in runs batted in (52) and has not committed an error all season.

Not surprisingly, Johnson was earlier this week named OVC Player of the Year. And he doesn't just shine on the field; during Southeast's recent end-of-year awards celebration, he received the prestigious Jewel Award given to the school's graduating male senior athlete with the highest grade-point average for his career.

Of his days at Southeast, Johnson said, "It's gone by so fast. I'm going to miss these guys a lot; it's kind of sad in a way. But I'm sure we'll keep in touch."

Said Hogan, "Jeremy has had an unbelievable career for us. He's truly the epitome of what a student-athlete should be."

Darin Kinsolving

Like Johnson, Kinsolving has left his mark on the Southeast record books. He's first in walks (114); second in games played (197), runs scored (147) and home runs (48, tied with Johnson); and third in hits (195), RBIs (149) and at-bats (632).

This year Kinsolving, an all-OVC first-team selection, is seventh in the OVC in hitting (.386) and third in home runs (16) while having 49 RBIs.

As a freshman, the former East Prairie High star batted just .185 as a part-time starter. But he kept working to become the feared slugger he is today.

"Through sheer determination and hard work, Darin became a tremendous player," Hogan said.

Said Kinsolving with a grin, "The time here has really gone quick. It seems like yesterday when I was just coming into the program, and now it's almost over. All the seniors have gotten real tight."

Charlie Marino

This powerful slugger made his mark on Southeast baseball almost immediately after joining the program from the California junior-college ranks.

In his first season with the Indians, in 1998, Marino belted 21 homers to set the school's single-season record.

A knee injury forced Marino to be a medical redshirt last year (he did homer once before being hurt), but he hasn't missed a beat this season, batting .344 with 17 homers and 61 RBIs, the latter two figures ranking second in the OVC. He also has a team-high 18 stolen bases and made the all-league first team.

Despite playing just two seasons at Southeast, Marino is tied for fourth in career stolen bases (34) while ranking fifth in both homers (39) and RBIs (114). His 61 RBIs this year are second on the school's single-season list.

"What a two years Charlie has had for us," said Hogan. "He's bounced back from the knee injury to have a fantastic year."

Kevin Meyer

After coming into the program from the juco ranks last year, Meyer had a solid rookie season, batting .272. But he's really come on this year, with a .361 average, 52 runs scored (second in the OVC), a school single-season record 21 doubles, eight homers, 35 RBIs and 17 stolen bases.

Meyer earned all-OVC second-team honors this week, putting all three Southeast starting outfielders on either the all-conference first or second squads.

"Kevin got so much stronger in the offseason and he has really improved offensively, plus he's played a great center field," said Hogan.

Phil Warren

Perhaps the most unsung among the seniors, Warren has been extremely valuable nonetheless, both on and off the field.

A three-year starter, Warren missed 16 games this season with a broken wrist suffered midway through the campaign. But he's put up impressive numbers, batting .331 with 16 doubles, seven homers and 34 RBIs. Warren is second in the OVC in doubles per game and he's tied for fifth at Southeast in career doubles (37).

"Phil has really had a solid career for us, and he's one of our leaders in the clubhouse," Hogan said. "We really missed him when he was out, both on and off the field."

Dan Huesgen

One of Southeast's most dependable starting pitchers for three years, Huesgen's numbers this season might not seem all that eye-opening as he is 5-4 with a 3.52 earned-run average.

But, as the Indians' No. 1 starter for OVC games, the right-hander is generally matched against the opposition's top hurler, meaning runs are sometimes at a premium.

For his career, Huesgen has a 21-13 record. In Southeast's career record books, he's second in innings pitched (278 1/3), tied for third in wins and sixth in strikeouts (197).

"Danny has been so solid for us during his career," said Hogan. "His record this year could be so much better, but he's pitched in a lot of tough luck."

Lanson Debrock

A former Notre Dame High standout, Debrock was up and down during his first three seasons at Southeast, compiling a 7-12 record.

But his final collegiate campaign has been nothing short of sensational. The right-hander is 9-4 with a 3.10 ERA and the victory total ranks third on Southeast's single-season list. He's also six in career innings pitched (223).

Debrock, second in the OVC in wins and third in ERA, made the all-league first team and was runner-up for OVC Pitcher of the Year honors.

"What a tremendous senior season Lanson has had," Hogan said. "I said before the year that he would be a big key to our success and he really has been."