Sept. 28, 2007

Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Top Recruiting Classes

By Tyler Koonce, Assistant Baseball Contact

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri State baseball has been ranked on the list of the top recruiting classes for the 2008 season by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. The Redhawks incoming class ranks 91st nationally on the chart that was released Tuesday.

"It's great, this is the highest ranking we've had, and to my knowledge, it's the first time we've been in the top 100," head coach Mark Hogan said. "It's well deserved with the talent of the kids we brought in here, and I tip my hat to the job that Jeff Dodson and Chris Cafalone did. "We put in a lot of hard work and this ranking means we're signing the right type of kids."

Southeast signed 11 players to National Letters of Intent for 2008 from the states of Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and California, as well as one player from Australia. The Redhawks roster also includes players from Alabama, Indiana, Illinois, Florida, Mississippi, Nebraska and Texas.

"It's a big step for Southeast to be mentioned with some of the biggest names in college baseball and we'd like to keep moving up on the charts in the future," said Dodson, who serves as the recruiting coordinator.

Louisiana State received the highest ranking, followed by Florida State and two-time defending national champion Oregon State. Southeast is one of only two Ohio Valley Conference schools to be listed in the nation's top 100.

The Redhawks will hold their first live scrimmage of the fall Friday at 2:30 p.m. at Capaha Field. They will also scrimmage Saturday at 11 a.m. Fans are encouraged to come out and see the 2008 Redhawks in action.