Warren earns nod for all-star game

~ A former Redhawk will manage at the Frontier League All-Star Game.

Former Southeast Missouri State baseball player Phil Warren has been selected as a manager for the Frontier League All-Star Game that will be played Wednesday in Florence, Ky.

Warren, in his first season as the manager of the Gateway (Ill.) Grizzlies, will direct the South Region All-Star team at next week's contest.

Warren earned the right to manage the squad by virtue of his team having one of the Frontier League's top two records.

The Grizzlies, located in Sauget, Ill., near St. Louis, were 28-10 when the selections were made. They lead the West Division.

"This is an honor," Warren said on the Grizzlies' Web site. "Honestly it is because of my team and the way the guys have played in the first half.

"My staff and I will get a chance to see the cream of the crop in the league and to have some fun."

Prior to becoming the Grizzlies' manager, Warren -- a St. Louis native who played at Southeast from 1997 through 2000 -- played for six seasons in the independent Frontier League, including three with Gateway.

Warren, a former Frontier League All-Star, is the Grizzlies' all-time hits leader with 297. He retired following the 2005 season holding many of the Grizzlies' career offensive records, including most games (270), most at-bats (1,016), most home runs (45) and most RBIs (181).

Warren also appears in the top five in five career Frontier League categories, including second in hits with 420. He is third in games played (387), third in at-bats (1,426), fourth in RBIs (251) and tied for fifth in homers (54).

After retiring as a player, Warren spent the 2006 season as the Grizzlies' director of player personnel before becoming their manager.

Another former Southeast baseball player, Darin Kinsolving, is in his first season as one of Warren's coaches with the Grizzlies.

Kinsolving, who like Warren played at Southeast from 1997 through 2000, spent five seasons as a Frontier League player, and he also played professionally in the independent Northern League.

A two-time Frontier League All-Star, Kinsolving finished his Frontier League career fourth all-time with 56 homers and fifth all-time with 248 RBIs.

Kinsolving, an East Prairie native, ranks high on many of Southeast's records lists, including tied for second in career homers (49), fourth in career RBIs (157), tied for fourth in career runs scored (151), seventh in career hits (200), tied for sixth in single-season homers (17) and tied for sixth in single-season RBIs (57).

Baseball signs player

Southeast baseball coach Mark Hogan recently announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Jake Kemper from Jefferson Junior College in Hillsboro, Mo.

Kemper was injured for much of his sophomore season this year, pitching just 14 1/3 innings and striking out 13.

As a freshman, Kemper was 3-1 with a 1.14 ERA in 11 outings.

"We are very excited about signing Jake and we feel that his best baseball is ahead of him. He is a big addition to our pitching staff," Hogan said in a release. "Jake battled injuries in his sophomore year, but he's throwing well in the summer."

Softball adds player

Southeast softball coach Lana Richmond recently signed infielder/outfielder Carmen Fowler from Buford, Ga.

Fowler helped Collins Hill High School win a state title in 2006 and finish second this year. She earned all-county and all-region honors.

"Carmen has good range at the middle infield positions and possesses one of the best arms in the game. She is very athletic and can play the outfield as well," Richmond said in a release. "She has the ability to contribute right away in her freshman year."