Redhawks facing brutal BB schedule on purpose

Southeast Missouri State baseball coach Andy Sawyers walks off the field in between innings during a recent game against Southern Illinois at Capaha Field.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

The non-conference hits (literally and figuratively) keep coming at the Southeast Missouri State baseball squad, and the Redhawks aren’t shying away from any team this spring.

The Redhawks fell 9-3 to SEC program Missouri in Columbia on Tuesday and as it turns out, that night will more than likely be the LEAST challenging of all of SEMO’s games this week.

SEMO (30-13) will visit No. 3-ranked Oklahoma State (31-13) for a three-game series in Stillwater beginning Friday at 6 p.m.

The Cowboys are coming off a three-game sweep of Texas – in Austin – and are just one of the many daunting tests that veteran Redhawks coach Andy Sawyers set up for his team this year.

“I think (scheduling) is dependent upon the team that you have,” Sawyers said. “This is going to be the oldest team that I am ever going to have. We still have a lot of those COVID-hangover type of guys.”

Sawyers cited the Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Player of the Year, shortstop Tyler Wilber, who is 24 years old, as an example of who he is trying to benefit with the 2022 schedule.

“We have the oldest team that we’re ever going to have,” Sawyers continued, “and we were good last year, and I thought we were going to be good again this year.

“If you want to dream of going on and winning a (NCAA Tournament) Regional, then it sure helps to go play somebody that good.”

This week’s schedule is not really an anomaly for SEMO.

The Redhawks have already traveled to SEC program Ole Miss and beat the Rebels 13-3, and Sawyer’s guys have also taken on Saint Louis (and beaten the Billikens twice) and Arkansas State, as well as Missouri Valley Conference programs Valparaiso, Indiana State, Bradley, and rivals Southern Illinois (twice) and Missouri State (four games).

“I want our players to be in (big) stadiums,” Sawyers said. “I want them to feel what it is like to be in front of 5,000 people or 8,000 people and see what a Big 12 or SEC Friday-night starter actually looks like.”

Versatile SEMO pitcher finding some rhythm (of late)

Tom Davis

As yet another memorable baseball season unfolds this spring for Southeast Missouri State, the Redhawks' power-stroking offense will get a lot of adulation tossed its way, and with very good reason.

Oklahoma State has thrown right-hander Justin Campbell (6-1, 3.20 ERA) each of the last two Friday starts.

Campbell was a Second Team All-American last year and was drafted in 2019 by the Houston Astros.

“I think (scheduling) is dependent year to year,” Sawyers said. “We’re not going to schedule as aggressively next year as we have this year.”

The Redhawks return to Capaha Field on Tuesday at 5 p.m. against Missouri State (22-19).

Keck is rolling

SEMO junior catcher Andrew Keck continued his strong season by notching a pair of hits against Missouri.

The current Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week went 2-for-4 with a home run and one run scored.

The Vianney High School graduate has now hit in 11 consecutive games and is batting a team-best .371 this spring.

Keck had two of the Redhawks’ four hits against the Tigers.

Wilber had one hit to go with one run scored, two RBI, and a walk, while designated hitter Ty Stauss also had a hit in the loss.

Sophomore pitcher Collin Wilma made his first appearance in more than a year after recovering from a stress fracture injury.

He started the game and pitched 1 1/3 innings, allowing two earned runs, one hit, one earned run, one walk and striking out one.

SEMO eventually used seven pitchers on Tuesday.