THE LATEST LINE: OVC BASEBALL RACE HEADED FOR BIG FINISH

Southeast Missouri State University baseball has apparently never been more popular, as evidenced by the huge crowds at Capaha Field this season.

Last weekend, a total of more than 2,600 fans turned out Saturday and Sunday to watch the Indians and Ohio Valley Conference foe Murray State play a three-game series.

But, if the weather is good -- it was absolutely perfect for the Murray series -- then the above attendance figure could pale in comparison to next weekend, when the Indians close out their regular-season home schedule with a huge OVC matchup.

Eastern Kentucky will pay a visit to Capaha Field for a Saturday doubleheader and a Sunday single contest. The OVC title -- or at least home-field advantage for the conference tournament -- could very well be decided over those two days.

EKU entered play this weekend leading the OVC at 15-3. SEMO and Middle Tennessee were tied for second at 13-4, but the Indians and Raiders were deadlocked in the battle to host the league tourney because the Colonels don't have lights on their field, making them ineligible to serve as host.

While the Indians are in Cookeville, Tenn., for a three-game series with Tennessee Tech that concludes today, the Colonels and Raiders are fighting it out in Murfreesboro, Tenn., in a series that SEMO will be watching closely.

Regardless of what happens this weekend, there figures to be plenty at stake next weekend when Eastern Kentucky comes to Cape Girardeau.

It should be quite a two days of baseball one fans certainly won't want to miss.

* Even though SEMO's softball team has compiled one of its poorest regular-season records ever under coach Lana Richmond, the Otahkians certainly can't be counted out when the OVC Tournament is held this week at the site of the regular-season champion.

The Otahkians, after an extremely slow start, have had a very strong second half of the season and figure to be a major factor in the OVC tourney, which decides the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

SEMO has its final home action of 2000 today when Tennessee State visits for a 2 p.m. first pitch.

* The three seniors on this past season's outstanding SEMO men's basketball team -- Roderick Johnson, Mike Branson and Brian Bunche -- all have hopes of playing professionally overseas.

SEMO coach Gary Garner said the three will be hooking up with agents soon in order to explore their pro possibilities.

* And still on the subject of SEMO hoops, the complete 2000-2001 schedule has not yet been finalized, but the Indians are planning to compete in a big eight-team early-season tournament that will feature several squads from some of the nation's highest-profile conferences.

* The area high school spring sports season is fast winding to a close, with district meets and tournaments scheduled for the next couple of weeks.

A lot of eyes will be on the district baseball tournaments, which are scheduled to begin the week of May 15. Districts will also be held for track, girls soccer, boys tennis and boys golf (the 4A and 1A boys golf districts have already been contested).

Notre Dame will serve as host of the 2A, District 1 golf meet Monday as the Bulldogs welcome 10 other schools to Bent Creek Golf Course in Jackson.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian