THE LATEST LINE: JOHNSON A HUMBLE STANDOUT

You'll never catch Jeremy Johnson boasting about all he has accomplished as one of the best baseball players Southeast Missouri State University has ever produced.

He's just not that type of person. But the records and statistics speak for themselves.

Saturday, the senior from Egyptian (Ill.) High School reached yet another career milestone when he became the school's all-time leader in runs batted in with 168.

That career school record is now added to the ones Johnson already held for hits, doubles, runs scored, at-bats and games played. And he's within reach of the triples and stolen base marks.

But Johnson has not made his mark at SEMO simply because he's been in the lineup a lot. He has a career batting average of well over .350, won the Ohio Valley Conference batting title last year with a .412 mark and is again near the top of the league this season at .408.

And the humble, well-respected Johnson -- who figures to have a professional baseball career in his future -- also shines off the field as a SEMO Scholar-Athlete.

When the subject of SEMO's best-ever baseball players comes up, Johnson will definitely rank toward the top.

And it couldn't have happened to a better young man.

* Former SEMO baseball star Kerry Robinson is with yet another professional organization.

Robinson was recently released by Cincinnati and picked up by the New York Yankees.

An outfielder who has spent brief time in the majors at the end of the last two seasons, Robinson is now with his fifth organization after starting his career with St. Louis. He's currently playing for the Yankees' Triple A team in Columbus, Ohio.

Robinson is one of eight players with area ties currently playing in the minor leagues. Three others Matt Whiteside, Steve Bieser and Cliff Politte -- are also in Triple A while the rest -- Talley Haines, Ryan Spille, Steve Lowe and Kevin Vent -- are in Single A.

Another area product, Lamonte Collier, is no longer in pro baseball after spending the last three years in Single A with Philadelphia.

* The McDowell Capahas, the region's highest-level summer baseball team, have a couple of brand-new features: a booster club and a web site.

In addition, the Capahas will be holding tryouts soon for their 2000 season that begins in late May.

For more information on any of the above, call 335-6644.

* Good luck to SEMO's women's track team as it shoots for a clean sweep of this year's OVC competition when the league's outdoor meet is held this weekend in Murfreebsoro, Tenn.

The Otahkians have already won the OVC indoor title.

* It's now official: Murray State basketball star Isaac Spencer will be eligible to return for a final season next year.

* And, in more college hoop news: Shawnee (Ill.) High senior Derek Winans recently announced his intention to play for SEMO.

It is not certain right now whether there will be a scholarship available for Winans -- who was offered a scholarship by Eastern Illinois -- but SEMO coaches will no doubt welcome the talented guard to their squad.

Winans averaged 27 points and 10 rebounds per game and won the slam-dunk contest at the Illinois Class A state tourney.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian