Southeast baseball team features eight area players

There is a definite local flavor to the 2009 Southeast Missouri State baseball team.

Eight of the Redhawks' 30 players attended area high schools, including four players who received significant action last season.

"They're good players, they've earned it," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said of the local contingent. "The last thing we look at is what town they're from.

"But it's nice when they're good players and they're from around here."

Sophomore third baseman Trenton Moses from Advance started 44 of Southeast's 52 games a year ago as he took advantage of an early injury to break into the lineup.

Moses batted .264 with four homers, eight doubles and 24 RBIs to make the Ohio Valley Conference all-freshman team.

"At this time last year, we had no idea that Trenton would do what he did," Hogan said. "He had a really impressive freshman season."

Sophomore outfielder Blake Slattery from Cape Central started 25 games. He hit just .200 -- with two homers, four doubles and eight RBIs -- but showed plenty of potential.

Sophomore pitcher Brad LaBruyere from Cape Central also displayed promise as a freshman despite not having impressive final numbers.

LaBruyere, a right-hander who made three starts among his 14 appearances, went 2-1 with a 7.82 ERA in 25 1/3 innings.

"They've both gotten better," Hogan said. "Brad is throwing really well. Blake is extremely talented, but we've got such a hard outfield to make the lineup."

Junior left-hander Andy Stephens from Scott City worked only 8 2/3 innings and had no decisions, but his 2.08 ERA was tops on the squad.

"Andy is valuable as a good matchup guy against left-handed hitters," Hogan said.

Freshman outfielder Blake Dirnberger from Scott City redshirted last year, while infielder Kody Campbell from Oran is the only true freshman among the locals. Campbell can play third or first.

"Kody has looked good. He should see some action," Hogan said. "Blake could surface."

Two more area products are juniors in their first season with the program.

Kelly graduate Kendal Deason was a walk-on member of the Southeast basketball team last year, but he dropped that sport this season in favor of baseball, where he plays shortstop.

Notre Dame graduate Kirk Boeller is a right-handed pitcher who transferred from Mineral Area College.

"Kendal's a role player. He's a good defender, steady," Hogan said. "Kirk has a nice, live arm."

Strong academics

During the fall semester, Southeast registered a 3.187 team grade point average, the highest in Hogan's 15 years. Of the 30 players on the roster, 21 earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

"I'm tremendously proud of the entire team. It's a great accomplishment," Hogan said. "At the start of the fall I asked the guys to improve as a player on the field, but the main goal for the semester was to get a 3.0 as a team.

"For them to answer this well is pretty resounding. It says a lot about the caliber of people we have on our roster."

Six players earned a perfect 4.0 GPA, four more registered a 3.5 or better and 11 others finished above the 3.0 mark.

Those with a perfect 4.0 GPA were Campbell, Greg Dambach, Kyle Gumieny, Jim Klocke, Josh Syberg and Andrew Wiese.

Home cooking

Southeast's 55-game schedule features 33 home contests.

After opening the season with this weekend's three-game series at Alabama, Southeast has 14 of its next 15 games at Capaha Field, beginning Tuesday against Lyon College.

"I think we've got a really good home schedule," said Hogan, whose squad has a four-game set with Big 10 Conference member Purdue late this month. "It's great for our fans it's great for all of us."

Captains named

Three players have been voted captains by their teammates for this season.

Receiving the nod were all-OVC first-team first baseman Matt Wagner, second basemen Tony Spencer and Gumieny, a pitcher.

Wagner and Spencer are both returning seniors, while Gumieny is a junior college transfer.