THE LATEST LINE: LOCAL BOY GETS TIME IN BUCK'S BOOK

By all accounts, Cape Girardeau's Dustin McKinnis is a very special 13-year-old.

St. Louis Cardinals' Hall of Fame broadcaster Jack Buck certainly seems to think so.

McKinnis has been made mention of in several paragraphs of Jack Buck's new book "That's a Winner."

Buck became friendly with Dustin after learning of the youngster's serious breathing problems that led to him having had more than 90 operations already.

Dustin, the son of Mike and Linda McKinnis, is an avid baseball fan. He has joined Buck in the broadcast booth several times, including last summer when he was allowed to announce Buck's trademark slogan `that's a winner' at the end of a Cardinals' victory.

Mike said that Buck visited the family's home over the winter and has been a real boost to Dustin's spirits. According to Mike, Dustin is doing well with his health but will likely need some more surgeries in the future.

"That's a winner" no doubt describes Dustin as much as it does Buck's new book.

* Former SEMO baseball standout Kerry Robinson continues to climb the ladder in the St. Louis Cardinals' organization.

The 23-year-old Robinson is the starting left fielder for the Cardinals' Class AA Arkansas team. His promotion to AA came on the heels of last season's brilliant season at Class A Peoria that saw him hit .359 with 50 stolen bases.

According to an article last week in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Robinson is regarded as the second-best left-field prospect in the entire St. Louis minor league system.

* Cape Girardeau Central High graduates Scott Hopper and Andy Dial are key players for the University of Missouri-Rolla baseball team.

Hopper, who was a key player at SEMO before transferring to Rolla last year in order to study engineering, was named to the MIAA pitcher of the week for his performance during a doubleheader sweep of conference power Central Missouri State.

* Many area high school spring sports teams are off to strong starts, but it would be hard to imagine a hotter squad than Chaffee's girls softball team.

The Lady Red Devils have won all six of their games so far -- and have yet to allow a run.

Not far behind that pace is Cape Central's girls soccer team. The Lady Tigers are 7-0 -- and have given up just two goals.

* On the area collegiate level, you'd be pressed to find a hotter player than SEMO baseball standout LaMonte Collier, who entered a weekend series with Austin Peay batting a phenomenal .436.

* SEMO sports information director Ron Hines reports that the school was well represented during Thursday's St. Louis Jewish Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Former SEMO coach and athletic director Marvin Rosengarten was one of 10 new inductees while Hazelwood Central High senior Isaac Powell -- who has signed to play football at SEMO in the fall -- was named high school athlete of the year.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian