Redhawk star gets mad (again), then glad, in thrilling W

Southeast Missouri State hitter Jevon Mason connects on a pitch earlier in his career at Capaha Field.

Southeast Missourian file

Southeast Missouri State baseball coach Andy Sawyers has been in the coaching business longer than Redhawk left fielder Jevon Mason has been alive. So, Sawyers knows that changing a player’s hitting mechanics is doable but altering someone’s personality isn’t.

As that relates to Mason, well, Sawyers appreciates the fire that the fourth-year junior brings to his team.

Mason became upset with his teammates – again – on Tuesday, and as usual, the result was something very positive for the SEMO faithful.

Mason connected on a 3-1 breaking ball from a Missouri State pitcher in the ninth inning and sent the ball soaring far enough to clear the right-field wall for a walk-off 8-7 win over the Redhawks’ in-state rival at Capaha Field.

“Off the bat,” Sawyers said following the win, “I thought it was a home run. He connected with that. It was a beautiful swing and he connected. Off the bat, I thought it was a home run. No doubt about that.”

The Redhawks (31-16) rallied from a 7-3 deficit in the fourth inning by scoring five unanswered runs. The win improved SEMO’s home record to 21-1 this spring.

Mason was engulfed by the Redhawk bench as he reached home plate and got a Gatorade bath from the same guys who he had been stern with earlier in the week.

The Redhawks dropped a three-game series to No. 3-ranked Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla. over the weekend, which didn’t make anyone happy, but it was certainly understandable given the opponent. However, the losses weren’t necessarily so upsetting to Mason, but it was how his teammates were performing that bothered him, and as everyone in the program has learned, Mason will let you know what and how he is feeling.

“Jevon might be our best competitor,” Sawyers said. “He is pretty fierce. He was really mad (after the series) and he was mad at his teammates. You don’t expect to go to Oklahoma State and win the series or sweep them, but he was frustrated with how we played.

“He thought we were playing as individuals, and he was mad.”

On Tuesday, sure, Mason was the hero after his big hit, which capped a 4-for-4 night, in which he scored three runs, had two RBI, and a walk. However, he wasn’t being selfish trying to swing for the fence all night.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, with his team down 7-3, Mason acted on his own and safely reached on a bunt that not only put him on base but also advanced Ben Palmer into scoring position. That act was executed by a player with 114 total bases this spring, which ranks second on SEMO.

“That bunt,” Sawyers said, “that was on his own. I didn’t ask him to bunt. He bunted on his own tonight, and tried to do it again (later) because he is determined to play team baseball.”

This whole scenario isn’t the first time Sawyers or the Redhawk players have dealt with a teed-off Mason.

In the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament last spring, Mason again didn’t like how his team was playing.

“Jevon was mad,” Sawyers recalled. “He wasn’t encouraging his teammates; he was mad at them. He thought we were a little bit passive.”

So, wouldn’t you know it, in the eighth inning of the second game of the tourney against Murray State, Mason homered to tie the game at five before SEMO won 6-5.

“He hits a three-run home run to basically give us the win,” Sawyers said.

The euphoria didn’t last long, as the Racers clobbered the Redhawks 10-1 the next day, and once again, Mason had to go ballistic on his mates.

“He was mad again,” Sawyers said. “He’s lighting guys up. He is an emotional, fiery, and competitive guy.”

Mason paced SEMO on Tuesday against Missouri State (22-23), which had beaten SEMO twice in a three-game series in Springfield in March, but he wasn’t alone in his production.

Brett Graber had a pair of hits, including a key double in a three-run fifth inning. He drove in three runs and scored once, while Ty Stauss (one run, two walks), Tyler Wilber (one hit, one run, two RBI), Andrew Keck (one hit, one RBI), Spencer Parker (one walk), Danny Sperling (one run, one walk), and Ben Palmer (one hit, one run) also contributed.

SEMO reliever Hunter Ralls was outstanding through 3 2/3 innings of scoreless work, which allowed the Redhawk offense to climb back into the game.

The Anna, Ill. native allowed five hits, one walk, and three strikeouts, while closer Blake Cisneros (4-0) got the victory by not allowing a hit, a walk, or a run in two innings while striking out four.

“We changed the momentum of the game on defense,” Sawyers said.

The Redhawks will host UT Martin (10-32, 3-18 OVC) for a three-game series at Capaha Field from Friday (6 p.m.) through Sunday.

It is the final home games of the spring for SEMO (13-5 OVC), which is tied for first in the league with Belmont (13-5).