AREA PLAYERS WITH MAJOR ASPIRATIONS

The following is a listing of players with area ties who are competing in professional baseball.

Included in the list are each players' local connection, his last year as an amateur and his major league affiliation.

Steve Bieser (Ste. Genevieve High School, Southeast Missouri State 1989) St. Louis Cardinals:

Bieser, an 11-year minor league veteran who has played parts of two seasons in the major leagues, has been hot in recent weeks. The outfielder, who can play a variety of positions, has lifted his average to .288 with 11 doubles, four home runs and 18 runs batted in for the Class AAA Memphis Redbirds.

Lamonte Collier (Southeast Missouri State 1997) Philadelphia Phillies):

Collier, in his third year of professional baseball, is in his second season with the Class A Clearwater (Fla.) Phillies. The third baseman is batting .259, with nine doubles, three triples and 25 RBIs.

Talley Haines (Cape Central High School, Southeast Missouri State, Freed Hardeman 1998) Tampa Bay Devil Rays:

Haines, a right-handed pitcher in his second pro season, continues to put up solid numbers in his first year with the Class A Charleston (S.C.) Riverdogs. The reliever is 3-1 with 14 saves and a 3.54 earned-run average. In 53 1/3 innings, he has allowed 45 hits while striking out 63 and walking 12.

Steve Lowe (Southeast Missouri State 1999) Cleveland Indians:

Lowe has made a major move recently after struggling in the low .100s during much of his first pro season, lifting his average to .221 for the Class A Mahoning Valley (Ohio) Scrappers. The shortstop has three doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs.

Cliff Politte (Cape Girardeau Capahas 1997) Philadelphia Phillies:

Politte, a right-handed pitcher who has spent parts of two seasons in the majors, is 8-7 with four saves and a 3.77 ERA for the Class AA Reading (Pa.) Phillies. In 102 2/3 innings, he has allowed 109 hits while striking out 92 and walking 33.

Kerry Robinson (Southeast Missouri State 1995) Cincinnati Reds:

Robinson, who played briefly in the majors late last season, was acquired earlier this summer by Cincinnati from Seattle after hitting .322 for Class AAA Tacoma (Wash.). The outfielder got off to an extremely slow start with the Class AAA Indianapolis Indians but has since improved his average to .269. He has three doubles, one triple, one home run, 12 RBIs and 11 stolen bases.

Ryan Spille (Southeast Missouri State 1999) Toronto Blue Jays:

Spille, a left-handed pitcher in his first pro season, continues to impress with the Class A Hagerstown (Md.) Suns. He is 6-1 with a 2.06 ERA, allowing 41 hits while striking out 43 and walking 11 in 56 2/3 innings.

Kevin Vent (Sikeston High School, Arkansas 1999) San Francisco Giants:

Vent, a right-handed pitcher in his first pro season, is 1-3 with a 5.19 ERA for the Class A Salem-Keizer (Ore.) Valcanoes. In 34 2/3 innings, he has allowed 42 hits while striking out 23 and walking 12.

Matt Whiteside (Charleston High School, Arkansas State 1990) San Diego Padres:

Whiteside, a right-handed pitcher in his 10th pro season, has spent more than five years in the majors. Hurling for the Class AAA Las Vegas Stars, he is 9-5 with seven saves and a 5.12 ERA. In 89 2/3 innings, he has allowed 99 hits while striking out 88 and walking 29.