SIU will start season shorthanded

Alley, Quigley Rueger and Vogel suspended by team

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The SIU baseball team will start its 2003 season without four of its pitchers, including senior and No. 1 starter Jake Alley.

Alley was suspended for the first three games of the season by head coach Dan Callahan for what he said was a " violation of team rules." Sophomores Bryan Rueger and Jim Vogel, along with redshirt freshman Steve Quigley, were handed 10-game suspensions for the same reason.

Callahan declined to comment on what the violations were, citing a team policy on not releasing the details of suspensions. The players declined comment as well.

The suspended players are practicing with the team and are welcome back as soon as the suspensions expire.

"Sometimes, even good kids make mistakes," Callahan said. "In my eyes, none of these guys are bad people. They just got wrapped up in one thing or another and maybe made a mistake in judgment."

Alley was the team's strikeout leader last season. He started 14 games for SIU, recording a 3.86 ERA and a 6-3 record. Alley sat out the entire 2001 was season because he was academically ineligible.

Rueger is one of the Salukis' top relievers. He posted a 5.49 ERA in 12 games last season and will be used in middle relief after the suspension.

Vogel saw very limited time last season and Quigley has never played in a game for SIU.

Callahan said it does hurt his team to suspend four of his pitchers and start the season shorthanded, but he had no choice.

"From a coaching standpoint you hate to do it," Callahan said, "But at the same time you've got to establish discipline within your program and you have to have team rules in place and you have to have sanctions in place."

Reporter Michael Brenner can be reached at mbrenner@dailyegyptian.com