Southeast Missouri State's Moses breaks Prospect League record

~ The Redhawks baseball standout has reached base in 45 straight games

Trenton Moses had a huge junior season for the Southeast Missouri State baseball team.

The Advance High School graduate has not let up one bit this summer.

Moses recently set a Prospect League record for most consecutive games reached base, breaking the old mark of 38. The streak is still intact, having climbed to 45 straight -- or every game he has played in this season.

"It was pretty neat to break the record," said Moses, a third baseman who plays for the DeKalb County Liners in DeKalb, Ill.

Moses leads the Prospect League -- in batting with a .397 average, more than 20 points higher than any other player. He also ranks first in on-base percentage at .485, third in slugging percentage at .598 and third in doubles with 18. He has five home runs and 31 runs batted in.

"I'm swinging the bat pretty well," said Moses, who has failed to get a hit in just seven of his 45 games. "I've gotten some breaks with balls finding holes, but I'm having a good year."

Moses has thrived in the summer collegiate wood bat league featuring players from various college levels, including many from the Division I ranks.

The Prospect League, in existence since 1963, consists of 14 teams in the Midwest and South. A total of 175 former Prospect League players have made the majors, according to the league's website.

Prospect League squads play a 56-game schedule, beginning in early June and ending in early August. A playoff format consists of a divisional championship game and the league championship game.

"It's a good league. The competition is pretty good and I'm having a lot of fun," said Moses, who lives with a host family as do virtually all of the league's players. "There are a lot of D-I guys and a lot of D-II guys. Some of the D-II guys are actually some of the best players in the league."

Among the highlights of Moses' season was his selection to participate in the Prospect League All-Star game held in mid-July in West Virginia.

"That was a good experience. We got to play in a really nice stadium," he said.

Prospect League teams play something of a professional-type schedule, with few days off. Most of the travel is done by bus, with trips ranging anywhere from three or four hours to nine or 10 hours.

"We play pretty much every day," Moses said. "It's kind of a grind, but it's fun."

About the only downer to Moses' summer is that his squad has not fared well. The Liners are 21-28.

"It's just our second year as a program, and I think it's been kind of hard for the GM to recruit players," Moses said.

Moses was the 2011 Ohio Valley Conference player of the year and the only OVC player to make the 2011 Louisville Slugger All-American squad. He was a third-team selection.

Moses batted .395 with 11 home runs, 14 doubles, 53 RBIs, 44 runs scored, a .672 slugging percentage and .502 on-base percentage for the Redhawks this year.

A starter since his freshman season who redshirted in 2010 with a shoulder injury, Moses ranked second in the OVC in batting average, slugging percentage and on-base percentage. He was fourth in home runs per game and RBIs per game.

"The season went really well," Moses said.

And based on the summer he's having, there is no reason to think Moses' senior campaign won't be highly productive.

"I hope so. It can't hurt anything, that's for sure," he said.

Simmons stands out

Several other Southeast players are also competing in the Prospect League, including Scott City High School graduate Shae Simmons.

Simmons, a relief pitcher who completed his sophomore season this year, is putting together a strong season as the closer for the Nashville (Tenn.) Outlaws.

Simmons is eighth in the league with six saves while compiling a 4-0 record and an 0.53 ERA. He has struck out 32, walked just three and allowed seven hits in 17 innings.

Simmons was the 2010 OVC freshman of the year but his numbers dropped off considerably as a sophomore.

"We played Shae's team and he threw an inning against us. He dominated us," Moses said. "He's really throwing well."