Snyder leads in Redhawks' search for new QB

The battle to replace Southeast Missouri State record-setting quarterback Matt Scheible begins in earnest today when the Redhawks kick off spring workouts at 6 a.m.

While the competition certainly will carry over into fall practice, it will be an upset if Kyle Snyder doesn't open the season as the Redhawks' starter.

Snyder is a transfer from FBS program Ohio University, where he compiled solid statistics during limited action as a redshirt freshman reserve last year.

Trey Lewis is the only other member of Southeast's roster who has played quarterback in a college game but is listed as a wide receiver entering spring drills. The Sikeston native saw limited action as a true freshman last season after winning the job to back up Scheible.

Others slated to take snaps at quarterback this spring, along with Snyder, are Tyler Peoples, Zach Levy and Scott Lathrop.

Peoples, who figures to be Snyder's primary challenger if Lewis stays at wide receiver, has been in the program two years. He redshirted as a freshman in 2010.

Levy has been in the program three years, while Lathrop redshirted as a freshman last season.

College football teams are allowed 15 spring practice sessions, including a spring game, which for the Redhawks will be noon April 28.

Southeast primarily will practice at 6 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with scrimmages set for noon April 14 and 21.

All Southeast practices and scrimmages are held at Houck Stadium and open to the public.

Southeast opens the 2012 season Aug. 30 at FBS program Central Michigan. The Chippewas went 3-9 overall and 2-6 in the Mid-American Conference last year.

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Former Southeast pitcher Logan Mahon recently was released by the Colorado Rockies organization but has signed with the Gateway (Ill.) Grizzlies of the independent Frontier League.

Mahon, a left-hander who completed his eligibility at Southeast last year, was drafted by Colorado in the 22nd round. He worked just six innings with the Casper (Wyo.) Ghosts of the rookie Pioneer League due to arm issues.

Justin Christian now is the only ex-Southeast baseball player currently with a major league organization. Christian, who played his lone season at Southeast in 2003, hit .255 in 47 at-bats covering 18 games after being called up by the San Francisco Giants in September.

Christian, an outfielder, recently was removed from the Giants' 40-man roster but cleared waivers and re-signed with the orginization.

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Area track and field enthusiasts will have a chance to watch their sport this weekend when Southeast hosts the 31st annual Joey Haines Invitational.

Although the meet begins Friday with the hammer throw, virtually all of the competition will be held Saturday.

And local track enthusiasts will have a second chance to watch a college meet in Cape Girardeau this year because it's Southeast's turn to host the Ohio Valley Conference outdoor championships, set for May 4 and 5.

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Another exciting NCAA basketball tournament has just about reached its climactic end.

The Final Four featured nothing but blue-blood, high-major programs from power conferences after an early spate of upsets by unheralded, low-seeded teams.

The two squads left standing, Kentucky and Kansas, are the two winningest programs in college basketball history. They'll square off tonight to decide the championship.

Kentucky, loaded with NBA lottery picks, entered the tournament as the favorite and has done nothing to change anybody's mind.

Kansas, which lost four starters from last year's powerhouse team, is somewhat of a surprise finalist.

The Wildcats are solid favorites to finish off the job tonight. I'll be surprised if they don't, but hopefully we'll have a great game to put a fitting cap on the college hoops season.

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Former Scott County Central standout Otto Porter was one of 16 Division I men's basketball players selected to the Kyle Macy Freshman All-America team.

Porter finished his rookie season at Georgetown fourth on the squad in scoring (9.7 points per game) and led the Hoyas in rebounding (6.7 per contest, which ranked 13th in the Big East Conference).

Porter also was eighth in the Big East in field-goal percentage at 52.5.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.