Southeast's top pitcher Evans plans to transfer

On paper at least, the Southeast Missouri State pitching staff will have a major -- and unexpected -- hole to fill next season.

Joey Evans, who as a freshman became the ace of the Redhawks' staff in 2005, recently informed coach Mark Hogan that he was transferring.

Hogan said Evans did not specify where he would play next season, only that he wished to try his hand at a higher level of competition than the Ohio Valley Conference. Evans could not be reached to comment.

"He's going to try and go to a bigger school. I'm not sure where," Hogan said. "I don't think he was unhappy here. After the year he had he felt he could play on a bigger level, so we gave him his release. There's no reason not to if a kid doesn't want to stay."

By gaining his release, Evans will be immediately eligible to play for another NCAA Division I program next season. Football and basketball are the only sports in which the NCAA requires transfers within Division I to sit out a year.

Evans, a right-hander from Whitehouse, Texas, went 8-4 with a 3.66 earned-run average in 2005. He led the Redhawks' full-time pitchers in wins, ERA, innings pitched (98 1/3), strikeouts (77) and complete games (five), while tossing Southeast's only shutout.

"He had a good year for us. We would have liked to have him back," Hogan said. "Obviously you hate to lose anybody like him, but at the same time he's not the only guy that can contribute.

"I think with what we have coming back and the people we signed, we'll be in good shape on the mound."