SE's SEASON WILL DEPEND ON PITCHING, DEFENSE

Southeast Missouri State University baseball coach Mark Hogan figures offense will be no problem for the Indians this year.

"I think we're going to have a really good offensive team, and I think we'll be deeper (offensively) than we've been in the past," said Hogan.

Now, if Southeast's defense and pitching come around -- which Hogan thinks will happen -- then the coach believes the Indians could really be in for a fine season.

"If our defense will play up to its capabilities, that's a big key," Hogan said. "But I think the biggest key of all is our new arms and older arms developing. I think our pitching will come around and we could be really good the second half (of the season)."

All in all, Hogan likes the look of his sixth Southeast squad, which opens the 2000 season this weekend with a three-game series at Arkansas. The squads will play single games Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Southeast's first home action will be Wednesday against Martin Methodist, followed by a two-game home series against Iowa State next weekend.

"I'm really excited about the season," said Hogan, 140-128-1 in five years with the Indians. "I've been very enthused with the workouts we've had. I just like the makup of this club. The guys get along and it's a very mature group."

The Indians, hampered by several key injuries last year, went 27-27 overall and finished a second-place 15-8 in the Ohio Valley Conference. Southeast hosted the OVC Tournament but was eliminated in two games.

"The tournament was disappointing, but the year wasn't," said Hogan. "With all the injuries we had, to finish second (in the OVC), I thought the guys showed a lot of character."

Southeast lost several standout players from last season, including ace pitcher Ryan Spille and solid hurler Chad Bogenpohl, along with their middle infield of Steve Lowe and Kyle Yount. Spille and Lowe have gone on to play professionally.

"We're going to miss those guys, but we've got some tremendous players returning," said Hogan, whose team advanced to the NCAA Division I Tournament for the first time ever two years ago.

Headlining the Indians around the field will be an outfield that basically returns four starters.

In right field will be sensational senior Jeremy Johnson, who moves over from center and is in the process of totally rewriting the school's record book.

Johnson, an Egyptian High School product, already owns career records for hits, doubles and runs scored. He figures to break several other marks this year. Last season, Johnson hit .412, with 11 home runs, five triples, 18 doubles, 45 runs batted in and 13 stolen bases as he earned first-team all-OVC honors.

"Jeremy has had an unbelievable career for us," said Hogan, who considers Johnson a solid pro prospect.

In center field will be senior Kevin Meyer, who moves over from left. Meyer batted .273 last year and led the team in stolen bases with 14.

The left fielder is senior Charlie Marino, who missed virtually all of last season with a knee injury, allowing him to receive a medical redshirt. Two years ago, Marino set the school single-season record with 21 home runs while batting .333 with 51 RBIs and 16 stolen bases.

"Charlie's knee is fine and he looks excellent," Hogan said.

Senior Phil Warren started in right field last year and batted .316 with seven homers, 13 doubles and 36 RBIs.

Warren figures to play a variety of positions this season, including the outfield, first base and designated hitter. Meyer is currently plagued by hamstring problems so Warren will open in the outfield Friday.

"I think we'll have the best outfield since I've been here," said Hogan.

Three more starting position players return in senior Darin Kinsolving, sophomore Clemente Bonilla and junior Jeff Bourbon.

Kinsolving, a four-year regular who has shifted between third base and first base during his career, hit .299 last season with 14 homers and 43 RBIs. Kinsolving, who also ranks high in several career categories at Southeast, will likely open the year at first base but could also play third.

"Darin has had a great career for us," said Hogan.

Bonilla, primarily playing third base last year, had a sensational freshman season, batting .341 with 14 doubles and 53 walks to break the school single-season record for free passes. He'll be at his natural position of second base this year.

Bourbon mainly played first base last season, when he hit .284 with a team-high 19 doubles, 12 homers and 34 RBIs. The Freshman All-America two years ago will catch and DH this season.

Filling the all-important shortstop role will be freshman Zach Borowiak from Nashville, Ill., while redshirt freshman Denver Stuckey out of Kelly High School will open the season at third base.

"Zach is very talented and I think he'll do fine at shortstop. He looks ready," Hogan said. "And I have a tremendous amount of confidence in what Denver has done. He's a tremendous athlete."

Two other players, both junior-college transfers, figure to see plenty of playing time, Shane Allen at first base and DH, and Mike Mitchell at catcher and DH.

Now, for the pitching staff. It will be relatively young, with only two seniors, but Hogan likes the arms he has.

"I think we've got some good arms, and I think we'll eventually be deeper than last year, it's just a matter of how they develop," he said.

Heading up the staff is senior Dan Huesgen, who went 8-5 with an impressive 3.39 earned-run average last year to earn second-team all-OVC honors. Huesgen, 16-9 in his Southeast career, ranks high in several of the school's career categories.

"Dan has done a lot for us since he was a freshman," said Hogan. "He's our No. 1 guy and he'll start Friday."

Starting Saturday's game will be senior Lanson Debrock out of Notre Dame High School. Debrock (4-5, 5.73 ERA) started much of last season and has been a key hurler in various capacities since he was a freshman.

The rest of the mound corps is relatively untested, but Hogan likes what he sees.

Two returning sophomores who saw action as freshman are Brandon Smith (0-2, 4.82 ERA) and Shawnee High School product Todd Pennington (0-0, 5.87 ERA).

Hogan is high on junior Tommy Thomas, who redshirted last season. Two years ago, Thomas was the MVP at the Junior College World Series.

"He's got a big-time arm," Hogan said.

Junior Ronnie Lewallen, who pitched for the Capahas over the summer, had a big season at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff two years ago.

Others figuring into the mound mix are Andy Davidson, a 6-foot-7 redshirt freshman, and juco transfers Jeff Hilz and Augie Casson. Hilz, from Three Rivers, is the staff's lone lefthander.

"I'm not sure how the (pitching) roles will play out, but I think we can have a good staff," said Hogan.

INDIAN NOTES: Hogan has a brand-new coaching staff this year after Greg Goff left for Kentucky and Advance High product Brian Schaefer went to Vanderbilt.

Jeremy Tyson, a former hurler at LSU, is the new pitching coach while Scott Southard will be in charge of infielders and hitting.

"I'm proud of the fact we've had three coaches go to the SEC (Southeastern Conference) in two years," said Hogan. "You hate to lose coaches, but I'm very happy with the addition of Jeremy and Scott."

Student assistants are Mark Lewis, who returns from last season, and Dan Berry, a catcher on last year's team...

KGIR-1220 will air all the Southeast games this season after recently acquiring the broadcast rights. KAPE-1550 had previously broadcast Southeast baseball.