Feb. 20, 2009

Game Notes

SEASON OPENER: Southeast opens the 2009 campaign against the nationally-ranked Crimson Tide from the Southeastern Conference. The three-game series at Sewell-Thomas Stadium begins Friday, Feb. 20 at 6:35 p.m. with games to follow on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 4:05 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 22 at 2:05 p.m.

CRIMSON TIDE NATIONALLY-RANKED: Alabama is ranked No. 16 in the Rivals.com Top 25. They are also ranked No. 21 by Baseball America and No. 40 by Collegiate Baseball. The last time Southeast defeated a ranked opponent was April 1, 2008 when the Redhawks beat No. 6 Vanderbilt, 12-8, in Nashville.

SEMO-ALABAMA HISTORY: Alabama leads the all-time series 6-2 that ranges back to 2002. Southeast upset the Crimson Tide in two of the first three matchups in the series. The initial meeting came in the 2002 NCAA Regional when SEMO became the first opposing team to defeat Alabama at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The then-Indians won 7-4 on May 31, 2002. On Feb. 22, 2003 the Redhawks won an 8-7 decision, led by a ninth inning inside-the-park home run by current Baltimore Orioles outfielder Justin Christian.

HOGAN RETURNS FOR 15TH SEASON: Head Coach Mark Hogan enters his 15th season as the Southeast head baseball coach. He is the all-time wins leader and the only head coach in Southeast history with over 400 wins. He is currently 413-348-1 in leading the Southeast program.

2008 RECAP: Southeast finished second in the 2008 OVC Tournament, falling to Eastern Illinois in the championship round. They finished the season 26-26 overall, 12-13 in the OVC, 14-13 at home and 9-11 on the road.

KLOCKE NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN: Junior catcher Jim Klocke was named a Ping!Baseball honorable mention preseason All-American. Klocke was previously named a Ping!Baseball and Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American in 2007. Klocke made the All-OVC first-team last season after leading all OVC catchers in hitting with a .357 batting average overall and a .376 average in league play. He ranked seventh in the conference in both on-base percentage and runs scored, leading all Southeast hitters in batting average, runs, walks and on-base percentage. For his career, Klocke has played in 107 games and has a .341 batting average. He has scored 91 runs to go along with 124 hits, including 17 doubles, 10 home runs and 78 RBIs. He has posted a .475 slugging percentage, .456 on-base percentage and has registered 173 total bases. Klocke has led the team in walks in both of his seasons in a Redhawks uniform (34, 35) and enters the 2009 season tied for ninth in Southeast history with 69 free passes.

HOME OPENER: Southeast hosts Lyon College at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24 at Capaha Field to begin the home season. They will host Big 10 opponent Purdue for a 4-game series beginning Friday, Feb. 27 at 2 p.m.

NUMBER CHANGE: Junior left-handed pitcher Josh Syberg will wear No. 13 this season after wearing No. 16 during the previous two seasons. Right-handed pitcher Kyle Gumieny will wear No. 16 in 2009.

COACHING STAFF ADDITIONS: Rick McCarty and Lance Rhodes join the Redhawks coaching staff for the 2009 season. McCarty, who handles the pitching staff, came to Southeast after coaching the last five seasons at perennial Division II powerhouse Delta State. He is a former closer at Murray State and is still tied for the school's single-season record in saves. Rhodes joined the staff as a volunteer assistant after concluding his collegiate career for the Redhawks in 2008. The right-handed reliever led all Southeast relievers with 22 appearances, four victories and 43.1 innings pitched last season. He will work with the outfielders and will also coach first base. McCarty and Rhodes replace Jeff Dodson and J.C. Field, who became the head coach and lead assistant at the University of North Dakota.

Chris Cafalone also returns for his third season as an assistant coach handling infielders and batters. In each of his first two seasons on the Southeast coaching staff, the Redhawks have set school records for fielding percentage under Cafalone's direction. In 2008, they set a new high with a .968 mark, topping the .965 from the previous season.

THREE AUTOMATIC PRESEASON ALL-OVC SELECTIONS: Catcher Jim Klocke, first basemen Matt Wagner and right fielder Tyrell Cummings were all automatic selections for the Ohio Valley Conference Preseason All-Conference Team after being selected first-team All-OVC in 2008. Klocke batted .357 with seven doubles, six home runs, 40 RBIs and 35 walks last season. Wagner, a former transfer from the University of Nebraska, hit .337 with 11 home runs, nine doubles and 57 RBIs a year ago. Cummings led the team with 16 doubles, 12 home runs and 58 RBIs in his first season after transferring from Seminole State Junior College.

REDHAWKS RETURN 7 POSITION STARTERS: Southeast returns seven position players who were regular starters in 2008. Former Louisville Slugger Freshman All-Americans Jim Klocke and Nick Harris lead the way along with 2008 first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference selections Matt Wagner and Tyrell Cummings. Trenton Moses earned a spot on the 2008 OVC All-Newcomer Team while Justin Wheeler and Tony Spencer are versatile players that have produced at the plate and in the field. Freshman Kenton Parmley will be the lone newcomer and will start at shortstop. He was a first-team all state shortstop at Goreville High School in Goreville, Ill., during his prep career.

HERZOG SPEAKS TO TEAM: Redhawks players got an unexpected visit from former Major League Baseball manager Whitey Herzog on Tuesday, Feb. 17. Herzog's visit was arranged by head coach Mark Hogan, who is a longtime friend of the legendary skipper. Herzog has appeared at golf tournaments and other functions to support the Southeast baseball program in past years.

HARRIS/KLOCKE JOIN RELIVERS: Junior center fielder Nick Harris and catcher Jim Klocke will also see time on the mound for the first time during their careers. Harris begins the season as the closer while Klocke figures to make relief appearances as well. Both players enjoyed pitching success during their prep careers. Harris was the closer at Thompson High School in Alabaster, Ala., while Klocke saw extensive time on the mound en route to being named the 2006 Missouri High School Player of the Year.