Redhawks on pace to repeat as OVC champions

The first half of the Southeast Missouri State baseball season has featured an explosive offense, a six-game winning streak and a return to the top of the Ohio Valley Conference standings.

Southeast is currently 19-12 overall and 11-4 in the OVC, which places them first in the conference.

The Redhawks took over first place in the conference on Sunday when they defeated Austin Peay 12-11 in the final game of a three-game series.

"Without a doubt I can see improvement each day," coach Steve Bieser said prior to the weekend series. "As far as from everyday play, we have done a good job of improving each day. I really feel that our best baseball is still ahead of us."

This year's pitching staff has a combined 4.41 ERA and has allowed 168 runs thus far.

Junior Alex Winkelman is one of the starting pitchers for the Redhawks this season. Winkelman is pitching with a 4.22 ERA and is second on the team in strikeouts with 45 behind senior Travis Hayes, who has 46.

"I really like how competitive we are this year," Winkelman said. "The depth on our team is unbelievable. We can bring guys in for those that are down with injuries and we come in with other guys and they're just ready to compete when they get out there."

Part of the depth that the Redhawks brought in this year is junior pitcher Joey Lucchesi.

Lucchesi is a transfer from Chabot College in Hayward, California. So far this season, Lucchesi has taken the mound eight times and of those appearances Lucchesi has five starts. Lucchesi is 4-1 as a starting pitcher and has an ERA of 4.17.

"One of my idols, Roger Clemens, says practice hardest on the field and then in the games it will come easy," Lucchesi said. "So I am just trying to practice my hardest so in the games it comes easy."

There is a lot of trust between Lucchesi and his teammates.

"I feel comfortable behind my group of guys out there," Lucchesi said. "I feel like they are going to get every ground ball and fly ball because we are all hard workers and we always compete our hardest -- a team full of competitors."

Lucchesi said that the pitching could be better for Southeast if the walks were reduced. The Redhawks have allowed 127 walks.

The Redhawks' offense has produced 245 runs, which ranks them sixth overall in the nation.

Senior second baseman Jason Blum is batting .323 average, leads the team in on-base percentage at .489 and has battled a minor injury.

"Every year we have a great group of individuals, but this year is a little different," Blum said. "The team itself is a little bit more speed oriented whereas opposed to years past we have had some big bats in the lineup and now it's kind of everybody pulling their own weight. The big difference is the speed factor."

Blum has attempted to steal eight bases and has successfully stolen five.

"I just like to take it one pitch at a time," Blum said. "It's the best way to do it, if you can stay focused every pitch."

Another senior, third baseman Andy Lennington, has a batting average of .405, which leads the team.

"Baseball has been my whole life," Lennington said. "There are things you like and then there are things you have a passion for. When you have a passion for it. It's just something you love to do."

The Redhawks currently have a team batting average of .293.

"One through nine I feel like we swing the bat really well," Lennington said. "We can line up against anyone in the country both for average and power. Surprisingly, power which I didn't see that in the fall. We don't really overswing, which is unusual for a college team. I really like the way we swing the bats."

Compared to teams in the past that Bieser has coached, something that stands out with this team is the depth.

"I love competing," Bieser said. "Just watching players improve, being able to coach a solid group of guys. One of our recruiting strategies is to make sure we get the right type of player in here, guys that want to be here."

Bieser makes sure that he prepares his team for each game.

"As the game flows, you always want to be a couple pitches ahead of the opponent," Bieser said.