Southeast track & field program continues to excel

If you're a fan of Southeast Missouri State athletics, you've got to be impressed by what Redhawks track & field continues to accomplish.

Track & field for years has been arguably the university's most consistent sport, and this season the program again achieved at a very high level.

The sport was largely responsible for Southeast placing an all-time best third in the Ohio Valley Conference Commissioner's Cup -- which is a symbol of overall athletic excellence in conference-sponsored championships -- as track & field represented four of Southeast's top six OVC finishes, including its lone championship.

Southeast's Commissioner's Cup portfolio was bolstered by a first-place finish in women's indoor track & field, second-place finishes in both men's indoor and outdoor track & field and a third place in women's outdoor track & field.

And you might as well throw in the third place in men's cross country because that sport falls under the umbrella of track & field.

Take away all those impressive finishes and Southeast would have likely wound up toward the bottom of the Commissioner's Cup instead of near the top.

Coach Eric Crumpecker's program finished off its sensational all-around season last week as three athletes -- all sophomores -- competed at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore.

The three national qualifiers were the program's most since 2006, and two of them earned All-American honors. Southeast's most recent outdoor All-American had been world-class 400-meter runner Miles Smith in 2008.

Sophomore Kevin Farley was recognized as a first-team All-American for finishing seventh in the shot put, while sophomore Blake Carter received second-team All-American accolades for his 10th-place finish in the long jump.

Sophomore Reggie Miller Jr. wasn't far behind, tying for 17th in the high jump (the top eight in each event were designated first-team All-American, with the next eight making second-team All-American).

I hope people can appreciate how remarkable it is for Southeast to have three athletes finish among the top 17 nationally on the Division I level, considering they're in the same pool with all the nation's premier programs.

Kudos to Crumpecker and his staff -- along with their fantastic athletes -- for keeping the Southeast track & field tradition going after it was built up so well by his predecessors.

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It was another strong showing for the OVC during the annual Major League Baseball amateur draft that concluded Saturday.

Twelve OVC players were selected in the three-day, 40-round event, led by Austin Peay with a school-record five picks. That gives the league 70 players drafted over the past seven years, including a conference-record 13 in 2010 and 12 in each of the past two years.

Austin Peay record-setting closer Tyler Rogers was the OVC's highest pick last week, going in the 10th round to the Giants at 312th overall.

The other OVC players drafted were Austin Peay infielder Jordan Hankins (11th round, Cubs); Jacksonville State infielder Coty Blanchard (15th round, Rays); Austin Peay pitcher Lee Ridenhour (16th round, Phillies); Belmont pitcher Chase Brookshire (20th round, Cardinals); Tennessee Tech pitcher Tristan Archer (21st round, Brewers);

Belmont infielder Jared Breen (24th round, Orioles); Austin Peay infielder Reed Harper (25th round, Braves); Belmont pitcher Austin Coley (27th round, Mets); Austin Peay first baseman Craig Massoni (33rd round, Giants); Eastern Illinois pitcher Joe Greenfield (36th round, Twins); and Tennessee-Martin pitcher Dan Tobik (39th round, Angels).

Also of note, 2013 Malden High School graduate Tanner Murphy was drafted in the fourth round by the Braves, the No. 133 overall selection. He is projected as a catcher.

And one more local angle to the draft: Southeast faced two pitchers selected in the first three rounds, both beating the Redhawks during games at Capaha Field this year.

Oral Roberts first-round pick Alex Gonzales fired seven one-run, six-hit innings and struck out nine during a 3-1 win March 2. Memphis third-round selection Sam Moll worked six one-run, two-hit innings and struck out seven during an 8-6 victory May 16.

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The Plaza Tire Capahas have an interesting, fun-filled event scheduled for Sunday, a reunion game that will serve as a benefit for St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

Activities at Capaha Field will begin at 5 p.m. A game featuring former Capahas players will start about 6:30 p.m.

Everybody participating in the event will make a donation and fans are also welcome to donate, with proceeds going to St. Jude. Free food and soft drinks will be provided.

Any former Capahas player wishing to participate should call Rick Wieser at 335-1335, Darrick Smith at 334-4453, Jess Bolen at 979-1786 or Mary Bolen at 979-1089.

It sounds like a lot of fun. I hope to have at least a partial list of the ex-Capahas planning to participate later in the week.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.