SEMO BASEBALL READY TO START SEASON

Sure, there's still a sprinkle of snow on the ground in Cape Girardeau. But that won't prevent Southeast Missouri State University's baseball Indians from (hopefully) opening their season on the road today.

The Indians are scheduled to begin their third season under coach Mark Hogan with a two-game weekend series at the University of Memphis. Today's 1997 opener is slated for a 1 p.m. start, as is Sunday's contest.

"We've been told that the weather should be good enough to play in Memphis," said Hogan. "We haven't had a chance to get outside much for practice, so we're looking forward to getting the season started."

Southeast went 32-21 and finished second in the Ohio Valley Conference two years ago in its first season under Hogan.

Last year, the Indians struggled with inconsistency and finished 25-23-1, including fourth place in the OVC.

"Last season was a learning year for a lot of our players. We basically had to reload from '95," Hogan said. "This year we have some experience, particularly on the mound.

"I'll tell you this. This ballclub has worked harder than any club we've had. The attitude is great. Our goal is winning our first OVC championship."

In order to get ready for the OVC season, Hogan has loaded up his non-conference schedule. The Indians will face some of the nation's perennially premier programs, including Oklahoma State, Wichita State and Mississippi State.

"It's a murderous schedule by design," said Hogan. "It's to help us get ready for the OVC."

Southeast's hurlers as a whole struggled last season, but Hogan believes pitching will definitely be his team's strength this year.

Slated to start today's season opener is senior Dave Siboda (3-4, 5.35 earned-run average last year). Former Cape Girardeau Central High standout David Michel (4-5, 4.89 ERA) will start Sunday.

Hogan believes both hurlers will bounce back with big seasons this year. Michel, a junior, was the OVC Pitcher of the Year as a freshman in 1995.

Junior Jason Swearingen (7-3, 4.23 ERA) has been the Indians' top winner over the past two seasons while sophomore Talley Haines (6-1, 5.40 ERA) from Cape Central High had a big freshman season.

Hogan thinks senior relief specialist Troy Pehle (1-4, 8.55) will return to his sophomore form when he was the OVC's top reliever. Pehle is coming off elbow surgery after being plagued by bone chips last year.

Other returning pitchers from last year are sophomores Justin Buck and Kyle Yount. There are several new hurlers adding even more depth, including two local products: freshman Lanson DeBrock out of Notre Dame High and junior-college transfer Jerry Wolsey, formerly of Chaffee High.

"I think our pitching will be very solid," said Hogan. "I think our pitchers will stack up well against anybody on our schedule."

Offensively, the Indians' return three players who hit better than .300 last year: seniors Steve Goodman (.313), Lamonte Collier (.313) and Jim Gerwitz (.304).

Goodman, formerly of Cape Central High, is moving from second base to shortstop, a position he played at Shawnee (Ill.) Community College.

Collier, slated for right field, is the Indians' leading returning player in home runs (seven) and runs batted in (34).

Gerwitz will play either first base or third base.

Slated for first base to start the season is junior-college transfer Brian Pepper, who was drafted out of high school.

Sophomore Lance Craft, a Cape Central High product, moves from the outfield to second base. Craft hit .263 and stole a team-high 16 bases in 19 attempts during a strong freshman campaign last year.

Two returning players, senior Mike Miller and sophomore Shawn Pemberton out of Cape Central High, will share time at catcher and designated hitter. Miller hit .273 last year. Sophomore Brad Hoehner from Anna-Jonesboro (Ill.) High also saw some action behind the plate last year.

Joining Collier in the outfield will be one of the pleasant surprises of practice so far, freshman Jeremy Johnson from Egyptian (Ill.) High. Johnson, who starred for Cape Girardeau's American Legion team last summer, has nailed down the center-field job.

"Jeremy has really made an impression," said Hogan. "He has maturity beyond his years."

In left field, senior returnees Jeff Bebej and Todd Pehle will share time.

"Everybody has worked hard and is ready to go," Hogan said. "We're anxious to see how we stack up."

Michel believes the Indians are ready for a big season, mainly because of an improved attitude.

"We're very optimistic," he said. "We've really pulled together. The attitude is the best since I've been here. We've come in every day and worked hard. We really want to win the (OVC) championship."

Said Swearingen, "The team has really come together. We're a lot more focused this year. Our goal from day one has been to win the OVC."

INDIAN NOTES: Southeast will open its home schedule Feb. 22-23 with a weekend series against Bradley...

All Southeast games this season will be broadcast by KAPE-1550 AM. Barry Gresham will be in his first year as the voice of the baseball Indians.