Seniors will bid farewell to Capaha

~ Eight Southeast baseball players prepare for their final home series.

Mark Hogan has had some strong senior classes during his 15 seasons as Southeast Missouri State's baseball coach.

He'll put this year's group up against any as far as productivity on the field and quality off it.

"This is a marvelous group of guys, in the classroom and on the field," Hogan said. "They come to work every day and they've just been a joy to coach.

"I'll always remember this group of seniors, the way I've remembered some of the past great senior groups we've had. They rank right up there with them."

Southeast's eight seniors will make their final home appearances when the Redhawks wrap up the regular season with a three-game series against Morehead State.

There will be a 1 p.m. doubleheader today, following by a 1 p.m. senior day contest Saturday that will feature the eight being recognized prior to the first pitch.

Many of the seniors have been among Southeast's top players since joining the program and several rank high on the school's single-season and career charts.

"Their numbers are going to stand up with some of the best of all time here," Hogan said. "Most of those boys didn't have four years or they might really be off the charts."

The most productive senior as far as career numbers has been first baseman Matt Wagner, one of only three seniors who has been in the program more than two years.

Wagner, who transferred from the University of Nebraska following an injury-plagued freshman season, is batting .329 with 12 home runs and 50 RBIs. He is second on the team in homers and tied for second in RBIs.

Wagner, first-team all-OVC in 2008 when he hit .337 with 11 homers and 57 RBIs -- second on the squad in all three categories -- ranks ninth on the program's career home run list with 30.

Additionally on the career charts, Wagner ranks sixth in RBIs with 149, ninth in hits with 188, 10th in total bases with 304 and is tied for seventh in fielding percentage at .983.

Wagner's 57 RBIs in 2008 are tied for the seventh-most in a single season. His .993 fielding percentage in 2008 is tied for fourth.

"It's been a real good career and a good experience," said Wagner, a Nebraska native who hit .318 with seven homers and 42 RBIs as a sophomore. "I appreciate all the fans and the coaches for what they've done for me.

"It seems like just yesterday when I was arriving on campus for the first time and now we're getting ready for the last home games. It does go quick."

Right fielder Tyrell Cummings also made first-team all-OVC last year in his rookie season with the Redhawks after transferring from Seminole State Junior College in his native Oklahoma.

Cummings is having a monster season, tied for first on the squad with a .392 batting average -- the same mark as junior catcher Jim Klocke -- while leading with 52 RBIs. He also has eight homers, 13 doubles and two triples, the latter figure tied for first on the team.

Last year Cummings hit .329 while leading the Redhawks with 12 homers, 16 doubles and 58 RBIs, the latter figure tied for fifth in single-season program history. His .357 career batting average ranks 10th.

Cummings is among the OVC leaders in several offensive categories this year, as he was in 2008.

"I feel like it's been a solid two years here and I've really enjoyed it," said Cummings, on pace to join several more of Southeast's single-season best lists. "I'm excited about the [OVC tournament] I want to get a [championship] ring."

Left fielder Justin Wheeler and second baseman Tony Spencer are also having big second seasons at Southeast.

Wheeler, who played at Golden West Community College in his native California, is hitting .351. He leads Southeast in home runs with 13 and is tied with Wagner for second in RBIs with 50.

Wheeler is fourth in the OVC in homers and ranks in the top 10 in RBIs. Last year he batted .305 with seven homers and 33 RBIs.

"It's been a great two years here," Wheeler said. "I couldn't have asked for anything more, and hopefully we'll finish real strong."

Spencer, a Hillsboro native who played at Mineral Area College, is batting .328 with 12 doubles -- tied for third on the squad -- and two triples, which matches Cummings for the team lead. Spencer tops Southeast with 18 stolen bases, fourth-most in the OVC. He hit .265 last year.

"It's been real enjoyable," Spencer said of his time at Southeast. "All the seniors have really bonded well. A lot are junior college transfers like me, so it's guys you can relate to."

The top senior pitcher on the Redhawks is also their ace, James Leigh, in his third year with the program after starting his career at Texarkana Community College.

Leigh, who has been drafted twice -- out of high school and junior college -- is 7-1 with a 4.54 ERA. He is tied for fourth in the OVC in wins and ranks second in strikeouts with 79 in 75 1/3 innings.

Leigh, 5-2 last year after seeing limited action as a sophomore while recovering from arm surgery, ranks seventh on the school's career list with 9.08 strikeouts per nine innings.

"To start off as a surgery guy and to be able to start, it's been very enjoyable," said Leigh, an Arkansas native. "It seems like I walked through the door two weeks ago, and now it's my last home games. That's how it goes."

The other three seniors have not been as prominent but have still filled key roles.

Todd Strahlendorf (2-2, 6.92 ERA) has been one of Southeast's conference starters this year, his second in the program after transferring from Santa Rosa Junior College in his native California.

Ryan Poole (1-1, 4.68) has Southeast's most appearances out of the bullpen this season (22), his second with the Redhawks after transferring from Three Rivers Community College. The Arkansas native needs one more appearance to crack Southeast's single-season top 10 list.

Daniel Schuh is the lone senior who came to Southeast right out of high school. He started in the outfield most of his first two seasons -- batting a solid .274 as a freshman -- then was a part-time regular last year and also saw some mound duty.

Schuh, a Florida native, switched to pitcher full time this year, although he has thrown just 14 innings and does not have a decision.

"All eight have been big for us in their own way," Hogan said. "Some senior groups are easier to miss than others, but I'll really miss this bunch.

"And they're not done yet. Hopefully we've still got a lot of baseball to play."