Challenging season awaits SEMO baseball

It's going to be a challenging season for the SEMO baseball team, which has a new coach and faces plenty of question marks as it opens the campaign Friday at New Orleans.

SEMO lost most of its top talent from last year's squad that barely squeezed into the OVC tournament, keeping alive its OVC-record streak of 18 straight conference tournament appearances. Additionally, SEMO's anticipated top two pitchers are out of the season after having Tommy John surgery.

The Redhawks were picked eighth in the 11-team OVC's preseason poll -- meaning they are expected to miss the conference tournament -- as they begin their first year under interim coach Steve Bieser. He stepped up from his assistant position to replace Mark Hogan, the program's winningest coach who retired after 18 seasons.