SPILLE NAMED A THIRD TEAM ALL-AMERICAN

WICHITA, Kan. -- The honors keep rolling in for Southeast Missouri State University pitcher Ryan Spille.

The lefthander was Thursday named to the Louisville Slugger NCAA Division I All-American third team.

A junior in his first season at Southeast, Spille was the Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year. Prior to Thursday night's game against Wichita State in the NCAA Midwest Regional, Spille was 11-1 with a 2.39 earned-run average.

Spille's 11 victories ties him for the single-season school record and his 128 strikeouts in 105 1/3 innings pitched is Southeast's single-season record.

"This is a great honor for Ryan and something he really deserves," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan. "He just has had a phenomenal season."

Spille becomes the first Southeast baseball player to earn Division I All-American honors. He is also the only OVC player on any of the top three teams.

"It's tremendous for Ryan and it's also great for our program," Hogan said.

Two members of the Wichita State squad that is the top seed and host for the Midwest Regional earned first-team honors.

Shockers' outfielder Jeff Ryan was batting .454 with 23 home runs and 105 runs batted in prior to Thursday's game while teammate Pat Magness was at .467 with 21 homers and 99 RBIs. Magness made the elite squad as a designated hitter.

Two players from Missouri also were named All-Americans Thursday. Southwest Missouri State first baseman Jason Hart made the second team while Missouri outfielder Ryan Fry made the third team.

* Arkansas, which lost to Arizona State 8-4 in Thursday's opening game of the Midwest Regional, has gotten a strong season out of former Sikeston High standout Kevin Vent.

A righthanded pitcher who has primarily been used in relief this year, Vent entered the Midwest Regional with a 5-0 record, three saves and a team-best 2.87 ERA. He hurled 1 1/3 scoreless innings Thursday.

Vent pitched the last two seasons at Mineral Area College in Park Hills, compiling an 18-5 record and an ERA of under 2.00 both years.

At Sikeston High, Vent went 13-3 his final two seasons.

Vent spent last summer pitching for the Cape Girardeau Capahas and there is a possibility he will play for the Capahas again this summer.