KING OF THE K's: OVC BATTERS GET WHIFF OF SE's SPILLE

Southeast Missouri State University baseball coach Mark Hogan was looking for big things this season from Ryan Spille, his top pitching recruit.

But Hogan admits that Spille has so far exceeded even the coach's most optimistic expectations.

A junior left-hander who transferred from Rend Lake (Ill.) College, Spille is having one of the most dominating pitching performances in recent Southeast history.

Entering this weekend's key Ohio Valley Conference home series with Middle Tennessee, Spille is leading the OVC with a 1.86 earned-run average, which also ranks sixth nationally in NCAA Division I.

Spille is 6-0, has allowed just 52 hits and 23 walks in 67 2/3 innings and his 88 strikeouts put him just seven away from breaking the school's single-season record in that category.

"I expected Ryan to come in and do a good job, but I'd say he has exceeded my expectations with regard to the success he's had," said Hogan. "He's just done a phenomenal job and he's been so consistent. Not to jinx him, but he's really not had a bad outing."

And it's not as if Spille has been building his statistics solely against the OVC.

Last weekend against nationally-ranked Georgia Tech -- after much of Southeast's pitching staff had been hammered for two games -- Spille totally dominated the hard-hitting Yellow Jackets, allowing two hits and one unearned run while fanning 10 in six innings. He did not figure into the decision after Southeast lost a late lead.

"That was just an outstanding performance against a tremendous ballclub," Hogan said. "The interesting thing was, when their hitters got to first base, (Southeast first baseman) Jeff Bourbon said they were like `wow, we haven't seen anything like him all year.' "

The soft-spoken Spille, lean and lanky at 6-feet-3 and about 170 pounds, said the kind of season he's having so far has surprised even him.

"I felt like I could pitch well, but I'm pretty surprised with how well I'm doing," he said. "I would never have guessed this. This is the best I've ever pitched, even in junior college."

A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Spille had a solid two-year career at Rend Lake.

Hogan said Spille was the best junior college pitcher Indian recruiters saw last year.

But Spille knew he needed to improve considerably in order to succeed on the Division I level and he credits Greg Goff, Southeast's first-year pitching coach, for much of that improvement.

"He's got my mechanics where they're supposed to be and he calls all the pitches," Spille said.

Hogan also lauded Goff's involvement with Spille. Goff came to Southeast with stellar credentials at Division II Delta State, having helped develop three All-American pitchers and two top-10 professional draft choices.

"Greg has done such a great job with Ryan on the mental aspect," said Hogan. "He's matured a lot since he came here in the fall. The only thing he was lacking then was confidence and he's really got that now."

Spille has been clocked as high as 86 to 87 miles with his fastball, but his best pitch is probably his changeup.

"He's got a nice breaking ball and he can get the fastball up there, but his change is devastating. The bottom just falls out on it," Hogan said. "He's a tough guy to deal with."

As good as Spille has been this year, Hogan believes the best is yet to come.

"I think Ryan is physically still a year away. He's still on the thin side," said Hogan. "We're hoping next year he'll hit the upper 80s or low 90s."

Spille has a good chance of being selected in the professional draft this June, but he said it would take quite an offer for him to bypass his senior season at Southeast.

"Pro ball would be great. That's pretty much been my lifetime dream," he said. "But the chances are pretty good I'd come back (to Southeast next year). I guess it would depend on what round I got drafted in."

For now, Spille simply wants to try and help the Indians finish strong in the OVC. Southeast is in third place in the conference and still within striking distance of the top spot.

"We've got a big weekend coming up," he said. "I still think we can win the league. That's what we're shooting for."

Ryan Spille

Year: junior

Throws: left-handed

1998 statistics

Record: 6-0

Innings: 67 2/3

Hits: 52

Strikeouts: 88

Walks: 23

ERA: 1.86