Believe it or not, it’s baseball season. And Opening Day for the Redhawks is here.
The SEMO Baseball team opens its season today, as Western Michigan comes to town for a three-game series. And before the season even began, the Redhawks have already started racking in national recognition.
Senior left-handed pitcher Aaron Stretch was named to the 2019 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List. A native of Gilbert, Arizona, Stretch is one of 75 relievers on the initial Watch List for prestigious award given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I Baseball.
Stretch went 2-2 with a 4.15 ERA in 25 appearances out of the bullpen last season. He ranked second on the team with four saves and recorded 30 strikeouts in 39 innings.
Meanwhile, outfielder Justin Dirden received a pair of preseason accolades for the upcoming 2019 campaign.
Dirden was named to the 2019 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Division I Preseason All-America Second-Team and landed a spot on the Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference team.
A native of O'Fallon, Missouri, Dirden posted a strong junior season last year, culminating with Second-Team NCAA Divsion I South All-Region accolades and First-Team All-OVC laurels. Dirden also secured Second-Team NCBWA Division I All-America honors.
As a team, the Redhawks finished second place in the OVC last season. They have finished in first or second place in four of the last five seasons.
Follow the Redhawks on Twitter at @GoSoutheast.
