Summer school in session

Southeast Missouri State coach Mark Hogan does not require his non-seniors to play summer baseball.

But Hogan sure hopes they choose that path.

In that regard, Hogan is a happy man these days.

All 19 of Southeast's freshmen, sophomores and juniors from this year's team who plan to return next season are playing summer ball, many of them in traditional collegiate leagues that span the nation.

"Some years are bigger than others as far as the guys playing ball in the summer, and this is one of the biggest years we've had," Hogan said. "Some kids might have to work, or want to go to summer school, or just take the summer off.

Southeast Missouri State University first baseman on April 6, 2007. (Kit Doyle)

"Ultimately, this is the player's decision. It's their call. I would never say 'do this, or else.' But they do it because they love the game, and it really helps them."

Hogan said there should be noticeable improvement in all 19 players when they return to campus and begin fall workouts.

"Most of these guys, when they come back, will have played 45 to 50 games this summer," said Hogan, Southeast's all-time baseball coaching wins leader who recently completed his 13th season at the university. "We'll notice a big difference when they get back here.

"It's basically like playing another college season. It's a huge curve of growth for them. Every guy will come back a better player, more mature."

Some Southeast players are competing this summer far away from home, while others are playing close to or in their hometowns.

Teammates congratulate Southeast Missouri State University first baseman on MAY 13, 2007. (Kit Doyle)

Hogan said he also pretty much leaves that up the individuals. If they do decide they want to compete in the highest level summer league possible no matter the location, Hogan and his staff try to find a nice fit for them.

"Some kids want to get closer to home, some don't care where they play. It's a little of both," Hogan said. "A lot of the bigger leagues, they start calling in October. They might say they're looking for a shortstop, or they heard we have a pitcher they might be interested in.

"A lot of it is trying to find a place where they can get on the field. You want to make sure they fit their team and league, so they don't get stuck on the bench."

One of the reasons players generally have to spread out across the country is that the NCAA limits the number of players (with collegiate eligibility remaining) from one college program who can compete on the same summer team. The maximum is four.

"That's why we can never have very many of our current players play for the Capahas," said Hogan of Cape Girardeau's summer team that has made a habit of qualifying for the National Baseball Congress World Series.

Southeast Missouri State freshman Jim Klocke is playing this summer in Minnesota along with Josh Syberg.

One Southeast player is currently competing in what is widely regarded as among the nation's top two or three summer leagues.

Sophomore first baseman Matt Wagner, a native of Nebraska, is with Anchorage of the Alaska League.

Wagner batted .318 for the Redhawks this year, which ranked third on the squad. He was also third with seven home runs and second with 42 RBIs.

"Alaska is a pretty high profile league," Hogan said. "I'd say besides the Cape Cod League, the Alaska League is right up there with the best."

Two freshmen, catcher Jim Klocke and pitcher Josh Syberg -- both from St. Louis -- are playing for Duluth, Minn., in the Northwoods League.

Klocke, the Ohio Valley Conference's freshman of the year, was second on the Redhawks with a .324 average. He led with a .443 on-base percentage, while adding four homers, 10 doubles and 38 RBIs.

Syberg, like Klocke a member of the OVC's all-freshmen team, was one of the Redhawks' three conference starters. He went 4-4 with a 4.32 ERA.

Southeast's third member of this year's OVC all-freshmen squad -- third baseman Nick Harris -- is playing for a select traveling team in Birmingham, Ala., which is near his hometown.

Harris tied for the Redhawks' lead in homers with eight and doubles with 12, while ranking first in triples with four. He was also second in runs scored with 53, while adding 37 RBIs and batting .281.

"It's hard to get freshmen in the real big leagues, because when a lot of those get filled in the fall, these kids don't have much experience yet and teams just don't know enough about them," Hogan said. "The Northwoods League is a good league, and I'm sure Nick is facing some pretty good competition.

"But I would think next year they'll play at a much higher level."

Junior pitcher Dustin Renfrow, Southeast's No. 1 starter this year, also is in the Northwoods League, with Brainard, Minn.

Renfrow, from West Plains, Mo., was 5-1 with a 2.46 ERA that ranked second in the OVC.

Another full-time position starter from this year, sophomore left fielder Matt Wulfers, is with Vermont (Montpelier) of the New England Collegiate Baseball League. Wulfers is a Cape Girardeau native.

Sophomore outfielder Daniel Schuh, a part-time starter, and pitcher Ivan Nails are playing for Altamonte Springs of the Florida Summer Collegiate League.

Nails, from Mississippi, was 3-2 with three saves as the Redhawks' top right-handed short reliever. Schuh is from Florida.

The other Southeast underclassmen competing for summer teams either saw limited action for the Redhawks this year or redshirted.

Junior pitcher Lance Rhodes is with Geneva in the New York Collegiate Baseball League and junior pitcher Sam Rosener is with Winter Park of the Florida Summer Collegiate League.

Rhodes is from Sikeston, while Rosener is from Festus.

Junior outfielder Sean Zollner and freshman catcher Andrew Wiese are with Marissa, Ill. -- near their hometowns -- of the Mon-Clair League.

Another junior, infielder Zach Blemker from Indiana, is the lone underclassman playing for the Capahas. And he's off to a hot start with the Cape Girardeau team.

"I've noticed that," Hogan said. "Hopefully it will really pay off for him with us next year."

Also playing locally is sophomore pitcher Mike Taylor with the Charleston Riverdogs. He is not far from his home town of McClure, Ill.

Sophomore pitchers James Leigh and Isaac Stoll are both playing for teams in or near their home towns, Leigh for Bryant, Ark., and Stoll for Jasper of the Indiana Collegiate Baseball League.

Two freshmen from St. Louis, outfielder Greg Dambach and infielder Louie Haseltine, stayed home to play in the St. Louis-based Metro Collegiate Summer League.

Dambach is with Clayton and Haseltine -- who redshirted this year -- is with Fairview Heights, Ill.

A final freshman who redshirted, pitcher Corey Harness, is in his home state of Texas playing in the Karl Young League.

In addition, one of the Redhawks' incoming recruits -- junior college All-American catcher Kieran Bradford from Three Rivers Community College by way of Australia -- is playing for Eldorado, Kan., of the Jayhawk League, one of the nation's top summer leagues.

"As you can see, they're pretty much all over the place," said Hogan, who added that he and his assistants talk to the players fairly frequently. "We like to check in, see what's happening, see how they're doing."

Most of the players who are away from home live with host families, or living arrangements are otherwise made by their teams.

"It's just a good experience all around for them," Hogan said. "Most of these guys won't go pro, so this is as close as they get as far as the long bus trips and playing games five or six days a week.

"In a lot of these leagues, it's just eat and sleep baseball. I know they love it, and it really helps them."