Uhls golf tournament will feature Hrabosky

~ The former Cardinals pitcher will be the special guest for the benefit event.

The "Mad Hungarian" will help spice up the third annual Joe Uhls Memorial Golf Tournament and Dinner.

The event -- named in honor of Southeast Missouri State's late, legendary baseball coach -- is a fund-raiser for the Redhawks' baseball program.

Al "The Mad Hungarian" Hrabosky, a standout relief pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1970s and currently one of the team's broadcasters, will be the special guest for this year's festivities on June 19.

"This event has been great the first two years, and we're looking for it to be tremendous again this year," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said.

The four-person scramble tournament will begin at noon -- registration begins at 10:30 a.m. with lunch to follow -- at Bent Creek Golf Course in Jackson. A buffet dinner and silent auction will follow at 6 p.m. at the Cape Gir-ardeau Elks Lodge.

Hrabosky, the featured speaker, will address the gathering at 7:45 p.m., with the event scheduled to conclude at approximately 10 p.m.

"This has become one of our biggest fund-raisers, and it's really taken off," Hogan said. "It's just a really fun time."

Hogan has been able to line up some impressive special guests for the event.

In 2004, legendary Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog filled the role. Last year, it was former Cardinals standout catcher Tom Pagnozzi.

"Whitey and Pagnozzi were both great speakers, and Hrabosky will be also. He's very entertaining," Hogan said. "Like Whitey and Tom, Al is going to join us for the golf tournament, and we'll have some other Cardinals greats join us for the day. It should be a lot of fun."

Hogan said Pagnozzi, who has helped spearhead the Southeast baseball program's special fundraising group that began this year, will attend, and other ex-Cardinals are also likely to take part, including Herzog.

Hogan said the tournament will accept only 32 teams, and many of the slots are already filled. There are a variety of financial packages for tournament entry.

* Grand Slam package of $1,000 per team includes entry to the tournament, a banner at the tournament and dinner, four Joe Uhls Memorial golf shirts, deluxe umbrella with Uhls logo, eight tickets to the dinner/auction with special seating and team picture with Hrabosky.

* Home Run package of $600 per team includes entry to the tournament, four Joe Uhls Memorial golf shirts and four tickets to the dinner/auction.

There are also individual options: hole sponsorship for $100, with a tournament banner and dinner/auction ticket; and dinner/auction only for $30. Hogan said there are still plenty of dinner/auction tickets available.

For more information or to enter, call (573) 986-6002 or (573) 651-2645.