Short stop from home

As far as Megan McDonald's softball life, things couldn't be much better.

The Cape Girardeau Central High School graduate is starring for her hometown university, where her family and friends can see her on a regular basis.

"I know my parents are really happy when softball season rolls around," McDonald said with a smile.

Not to mention Southeast Missouri State coach Lana Richmond, who sung the praises of her junior shortstop during the Redhawks' media day Wednesday inside their Houck Field House locker room.

"Every coach would like to have her on the team," said Richmond, whose squad opens the season Feb. 17 at the Tennessee-Martin tournament.

It's easy to see why.

McDonald has been one of the Ohio Valley Conference's top players ever since she began her college career.

In 2005, McDonald was voted the OVC's freshman of the year and also made first-team all-conference after batting .327 with eight home runs, 12 doubles and 26 runs batted in.

There was no sophomore jinx for McDonald, who last year repeated on the all-league first team by hitting a team-high .364 -- which ranked second in the OVC -- with six homers, 12 doubles and 28 RBIs.

And all the while McDonald has provided strong defense at one of the most important positions on the field.

"She brings such a presence on the field, not only offensively but defensively," Richmond said. "She's just an all-around player."

That she gets to display her athletic skills for the university she grew up rooting for makes what she is accomplishing even more special.

"My sister [Erica] played here and I used to come to all the games. I've known coach a long time," McDonald said. "I've always wanted to play at SEMO.

"It's great playing at home. I get to talk to a lot of people who I've known since high school, and my family gets to come to all the games."

McDonald said she is somewhat surprised by all the success she has had so far at Southeast -- but her father is definitely not.

Rick McDonald, who was the longtime director of the Cape Girardeau Girls Softball League, coached his daughters, including Jessica, who played at NAIA McKendree, Ill.

"He coached us from the time we were little kids and he taught me everything about softball," McDonald said. "I didn't expect [all the college success], but my dad always said I would do it."

Richmond is quick to point out that not only is McDonald a star on the field, she also shines in the classroom. The Southeast Scholar Athlete has a cumulative grade-point average of better than 3.5 in communications disorders/speech pathology.

"She's a great student, and that's a very tough field she's in," Richmond said.

Richmond, in her 25th season at Southeast, said she began to know from McDonald's early softball beginnings that she might be a prospect to keep an eye on for the future.

"I think I've watched her since she was 8 years old. I watched her grow up here in Cape Girardeau," Richmond said. "We're really happy she decided to come here."

McDonald, who is one of Southeast's captains for this year, will be particularly happy if the Redhawks can build on last year's solid campaign.

Southeast, after three straight losing seasons, improved to 28-24 in 2006, and the Redhawks' 14-13 OVC record was their best since 2001.

With only two seniors on the roster, McDonald believes the best is yet to come for the Redhawks, who under Richmond's direction won five straight OVC titles from 1995 to 1999.

"We've got a lot of potential," McDonald said. "We want to get an OVC championship. I really think we can do it."