STRONG FINISH HELPS BUILD SE BASEBALL'S HOPES FOR NEXT YEAR

The season ended on a disappointing note -- just one win away from a trip to the NCAA Tournament -- but Southeast Missouri State University baseball coach Mark Hogan saw enough positives in the late going to be encouraged about the prospects for next year.

Overall this year, the Indians were an inconsistent bunch during Hogan's third season as their coach.

A brutal non-league schedule went a long way toward explaining Southeast's 24-33 overall record, but the Indians also struggled in the less-than-rugged Ohio Valley Conference, going just 11-13 and finishing fifth out of nine teams.

But Southeast's up-and-down tendencies were almost wiped from the memory banks during a near-miss in the recent OVC Tournament.

Entering as the fifth seed out of six teams, Southeast won its first three games to advance to the championship round as the only undefeated squad in the double-elimination event.

Southeast was poised for its first-ever NCAA tourney berth on the Division I level. But the Indians lost twice to Tennessee Tech as the Eagles came from the loser's bracket to capture the title.

"What I thought our club could be is what we were in the tournament," said Hogan. "We ended up playing two freshmen and four sophomores in the everyday lineup and the three wins we got (in the OVC tourney) were with guys we'll have returning on the mound.

"So we've got reason to be optimistic for the future. Yet at the same time, we were disappointed with the season because we expected a lot more."

The Indians will have some key holes to fill next season -- they lose eight seniors -- but will return quite a few young players who turned in strong performances this year.

Of the eight seniors, several were among the top players on the squad, led by all-OVC first-teamer LaMonte Collier.

Collier simply had an unbelievable season, leading the OVC in batting average (.426) while breaking the school's single-season record for doubles (20). The second baseman also led the team in home runs (8), runs batted in (43) and stolen bases (24).

"What can you say about LaMonte," said Hogan. "He had a fantastic season."

Mike Miller, who spent much of the campaign as a designated hitter, was second on the team in batting average (.359) and home runs (7) while tying for second in RBIs (39).

"Mike really stepped up as a senior and had a great year," Hogan said.

Right fielder Steve Goodman (.274) is the third senior who was a full-time starter.

Three other senior position players, Jim Gerwitz, Jeff Bebej and Todd Pehle, were basically used as role players.

The pitching staff loses two key seniors, Dave Siboda (4-7, 6.43 earned-run average) and Troy Pehle (4-5, 5.72 ERA).

"We'll miss all the seniors," Hogan said. "They've meant a lot to our program."

Plenty of underclassman put up impressive numbers, including three sophomores who were holdovers from last year: Lance Craft, Kyle Yount and Brad Hoehner.

Craft (.260), playing left field, was second in stolen bases (23); third baseman Yount was fourth in hitting (.302) and led in triples (3); while Hoehner, who barely played last season and again wasn't slated for much action entering the '97 campaign, got a chance at catcher when Miller was injured. He wound up third in hitting (.308).

"Brad has worked so hard to get to this point," said Hogan. "When Mike (Miller) hurt his hand, Brad just stepped in and did a fantastic job."

Also coming through with a big year was freshman center fielder Jeremy Johnson, who just last season was roaming the Capaha Park outfield for Cape Girardeau's American Legion squad.

Johnson was fifth in hitting (.288), first in runs scored (57), third in homers (6), third in stolen bases (13) and tied for second in RBIs (39). He also proved to be an iron man, playing in more games during one season -- 57 -- than any other player in school history.

"Jeremy had an all-world freshman season," said Hogan.

Another freshman, Darin Kinsolving, started most of the last half of the season at first base. His average weren't impressive (.185), but Hogan likes his promise.

Sophomore Scott Sullivan, who transferred into the program, was inserted at shortstop midway through the season and Hogan said he helped solidify the middle defense. He also improved greatly at the plate late in the season (.255).

Among others slated to return next season, junior Brian Pepper (.183) saw plenty of action at first base early in the season before Kinsolving took over.

In the pitching department, juniors David Michel (6-7, 4.80 ERA)) and Jason Swearingen (5-4, 4.99) and sophomore Talley Haines (2-4, 3 saves, 7.20) all came on toward the end of the season and all won games in the OVC tourney.

Two freshmen proved to be major additions to the mound corps as Lanson DeBrock (1-3, 4.91) and Dan Huesgen (1-1, 3 saves, 4.41) turned into solid contributors.

Looking toward next season, Hogan said, "We need to add some solid players but I'm excited about what we've got coming back."

Hogan has already signed a few players for next season, including former Oak Ridge High standout Chad Bogenpohl, a pitcher who had a dominating season for Jefferson College in Hillsboro.