Indians to play Missouri today after canceling game with Middle Tennessee on Monday.

By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian

The forecast for cold weather combined with the continued aftershock from a near-tragic weekend caused the postponement of Southeast Missouri State University's home baseball opener Monday against Middle Tennessee.

The Indians hope to finally play their first home game today when the University of Missouri comes to town for a 6 p.m. first pitch at Capaha Field.

Coach Mark Hogan said the Indians are understandably still reeling from a weekend in Hattiesburg, Miss., that saw one player suffer serious injuries off the field and another receive injuries on the field.

Saturday night, following the second contest of a three-game series at Southern Mississippi, Southeast pitcher Adam Sherry was struck by a car while c0rossing the street in front of the team hotel.

Sherry suffered a broken leg and head injuries. He underwent two surgeries Sunday morning at Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans, one on his leg and one to repair a fractured skull. Listed in stable condition, he is expected to be hospitalized in New Orleans for at least four or five more days.

"It was a really scary situation," Hogan said. "The doctors told his parents that it's a miracle he's still alive, with that kind of impact."

Hogan said the accident appears to be just that, with no blame being placed on either party.

"It was just a freak accident, that's the only thing you can chalk it up to," Hogan said. "Myself, my coaches and players over the years have crossed streets like that probably thousands of times on road trips.

"Professionally, I've never had anything like this happen. It's a tragedy, but the good thing is, it looks like he'll recover. The thoughts and prayers of our entire organization are with Adam."

Ironically, Sherry was on his first road trip with the team this season after only learning Tuesday that he had been granted a final year of eligibility by the NCAA. The graduate of Ste. Genevieve High School had not yet gotten into a game for the Indians. Sherry appeared in just one game last season after transferring from Truman State.

Meanwhile, during Sunday's final game of the series, pitcher Donnie Fuller dislocated his right shoulder and cut his ear when he hit a concrete dugout wall while diving for a ball.

Fuller had surgeries Sunday to repair the shoulder and ear and returned with the squad on the team bus, which did not arrive back in Cape Girardeau until early Monday morning.

"It was just a great hustle play by Donnie and it was another freak thing that happened," Hogan said. "He had a severe separation of the shoulder and a severe laceration of the ear."

Fuller, a senior, was one of the Indians' top two returning hurlers from last year. He will almost certainly miss the remainder of the season while Sherry is definitely out for the campaign.

"Being a righthanded pitcher, it would look like Donnie is done," Hogan said. "He's a fifth-year senior and we're looking into petitioning the NCAA for another year of eligibility, but we don't know what the chances are.

"The main thing is, our thoughts and prayers are also with Donnie. We just want him to get well."

Of postponing Monday's game, Hogan said, "It was a little because of the weather forecast for under 40 degrees and it was also because we were up all day Saturday night and didn't get Donnie out of the hospital until about 8 p.m. Sunday, so we didn't get back until early (Monday morning).

"Not playing (Monday) was the right thing. The coach from Middle Tennessee was very gracious when I explained the situation. He totally agreed with it."

Added Hogan, "All of this makes ballgames kind of pale in comparison. It really puts things in perspective."

Hogan said he agrees that playing today will be the right thing to do.

"Our whole organization has been traumatized, but I think getting back to playing will be important to us to try and get some sense of normalcy," he said.

The 3-7 Indians have played their first 10 games on the road, including a series at Memphis that was scheduled for Cape Girardeau but was moved because of bad weather.

"It's been a brutal start, with all those road games, but teams in this part of the country go through that," Hogan said.

Missouri was 10-5 prior to Monday's scheduled game with Lindenwood. The Tigers feature two local high school products in Advance's Garrett Broshuis and Sikeston's Adam Garrett.

Broshuis, a redshirt sophomore righthander, led the Tigers last year in innings pitched with 80 and wins with five as he became a starter after opening the season in the bullpen. Prior to Monday, he was 1-2 and ranked second on the squad in starts with four.

Garrett, a freshman infielder, has seen limited action so far. He had one hit in six at-bats prior to Monday, with two runs scored and one RBI.

Following today's game, Southeast will host St. Louis at 4 p.m. Wednesday, part of an eight-game homestand for the Indians that continues next Tuesday with a doubleheader against Lipscomb.