Southeast Missouri State baseball team opens season today vs. Bowling Green

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team's path to an Ohio Valley Conference title will look a little different this season.

The defending OVC champions won't be able to sneak up on any opponents after finishing last season 37-20 and 23-7 in conference.

"That's the way that I like to coach," Southeast coach Steve Bieser said. "I want us to be considered the best team in the conference. I want people gunning for us every single day because that allows us to be prepared to bring our best every single day. We know that teams are going to bring their best. As we were making that climb we did the same thing. I could see our team -- when we went to play the Austin Peays and the Tennessee Techs when they were sitting atop the conference, there was a different level of energy from our team because we were wanting to prove things. Now our group has to understand that's what we're getting from every single team in the conference.

"Whether it's a team in the conference that's sitting at the bottom, they're still going to come and give a better effort than they would if they were playing the other team at the bottom. That's what they have to understand is you cannot take a day off when you're in the position, and that's what we need in our program."

Bieser officially begins his third season leading the Redhawks when they host Bowling Green today in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. at Capaha Field. The teams also will play at noon Saturday.

He isn't putting any limitations on what the program can do, and he and his players talk about attaining other goals than just an OVC title. Bieser said it will take more success for the Redhawks to get to that point where further postseason play is completely on the table, but the players also need to believe that it's possible to reach greater heights than the conference championship.

Southeast returns several key players from last year's OVC championship team, but will have to replace OVC Player of the Year and first baseman Matt Tellor, who was drafted by the Atlanta Braves; first-team all-conference outfielder and designated hitter Derek Gibson, who signed as an undrafted free agent by the St. Louis Cardinals; and center fielder Cole Bieser, who played for the Gateway Grizzlies last summer.

"What we do have is a good mix of very good athletes that are capable of putting up the same type of season, if not a better season, than what we did last year," Bieser said. "A lot of that just comes from the experience."

Bieser expects more consistency from his pitching staff earlier in the season this year as the Redhawks return most of the staff, including senior OVC Co-Pitcher of the Year Travis Hayes and junior Alex Winkleman. Senior Ryan Lenaburg, who will start Saturday's game, and junior transfer Joey Lucchesi round out the four starters that Bieser said can be "interchangeable."

Southeast returns second baseman and senior Jason Blum, who's started every game the past two seasons, starting third baseman Andy Lennington, shortstops Branden Boggetto and Andy Lack, as well as starting catchers Scott Mitchell and Cole Ferguson. Outfielders Dalton Hewitt and Clayton Evans also return.

"The returners that we have are just key guys that do things right all the time," Bieser said. "I mean, I think we've got a team that could run practice themselves without us out there. That's how disciplined they are. *... The guys that we've brought in have gravitated to those leaders and they understand what our program's about. And our leaders, I don't think they let anybody off the hook. They make sure that they're following in suit with what's supposed to be going on."

Blum, who was one of six recipients of the OVC's Scholar Athlete award in November, hit .272, scored 60 runs, stole 23 bases and drew 38 walks in the Redhawks' leadoff spot last year.

"Jason Blum's been the true leader of this club, and that's the guy that I think most of our players turn to all the time," Bieser added. "He's our catalyst, he's hitting in the leadoff spot. When Jason goes, the team goes extremely well. He's one of our key guys."

The Redhawks will turn to junior transfers Garrett Gandolfo and Ryan Rippee to play first base in "a platoon-type situation."

Cincinnati transfer Brendon Neel, who sat out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, is expected to play center field while freshman infielder Trevor Ezell and versatile junior transfer Hunter Leeper also will be expected to contribute.

"From the position-player standpoint, the thing that we have this year that we didn't have last year is we have depth," Bieser said. "We have one and two guys at positions that on any given day can be better than the other guy. Last year we knew that our depth was not there. We pretty much had a starting nine. And I think at times, when that's the case -- I think we've got great guys and I don't think anybody let up last year, but it does help to have that competition right behind you and that extra push to maybe on those days that you feel like taking a day off you know you can't because you've got the competition behind you."