MSSU's Stevenson, VanWey sign deals with major league teams

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Missouri Southern sophomore Tommy Stevenson was drafted by the Oakland A's, while senior pitcher Logan VanWey signed a free-agent deal with the Houston Astros as the MLB concluded its draft yesterday.

"I'm very proud of both Tommy and Logan," said head coach Bryce Darnell. "They have meant a lot to our program over the last several years. I'm excited to see this next chapter of their lives in pro ball."








Stevenson, a 6-4 catcher was drafted in the 19th round of this year's MLB Draft by the Oakland A's. He is the first person since Max Hogan (2017) to be drafted from Missouri Southern and the 16th player in history to earn the honor. Stevenson is the fifth player in head coach Bryce Darnell's tenure to be drafted.

"It was an amazing feeling getting that call and hearing my name announced," Stevenson said. "It's a dream come true to me and it's everything I've worked for paying off but there's more work to be done."

This year, Stevenson was a second-team All-MIAA pick at catcher after hitting .385 with 16 home runs, 42 RBIs, 11 doubles, 60 hits and 44 runs scored. He slugged .801, while posting a 1.285 OPS and a .484 on-base percentage. Stevenson led the MIAA in on-base percentage, while ranking second in slugging. He was second in home runs per game, and sixth in both batting average and hits per game.

"Tommy has been one of our best players since he arrived here," Darnell said. He has been a joy to coach and has been a leader on our team. Not surprised that tommy is getting this chance. He'll do great things."

Stevenson's 16 home runs this past season is tied for second-most in a single-season at Southern. His 32 career homers rank fourth in a career at MSSU. Stevenson played this summer in the prestigious Northwoods League for the Fond Du Lac Dock Spiders. In 17 games, Stevenson has six hits, 11 runs scored, a home run and ten RBIs.

VanWey signed a professional contract with the Houston Astros after the draft was concluded. This year, VanWey was a unanimous first-team All-MIAA selection after going 7-3 with a 3.47 ERA. He struck out 123 batters, while walking just 25 and limited hitters to a .199 batting average. VanWey had one complete game and two shutouts on the season.

"Logan made the transition this year to be a starter and became one of the most dominant starters in our league," Darnell said. "Prior to that he was one of the most dominant closers in the league. It's not a surprise that he's adjusted well to being a starter. He was definitely impressive in both of those rolls. It would have been easy for Logan to get frustrated because he had a few rocky starts this year, but he settled in and became one of the best starters in our league. Logan's a kid that I got to see grow up and play a lot in high school and it makes it special."

VanWey led the MIAA in fewest hits allowed per nine innings, strikeouts and strikeouts per nine innings, while ranking second in the MIAA in ERA, wins and WHIP, and third in starts. VanWey was fifth in Division II in strikeouts and eighth in strikeouts per nine innings. VanWey finished the season with 123 strikeouts, which trails only Zach Parish who had 136 twice. His 222 career strikeouts rank fifth all-time, while his 13.49 strikeouts per nine innings career mark is tops, as is his 76 career appearances.

VanWey played this summer with the Glacier Range Riders of the Independent Frontier League in prep of this year's Major League Baseball Draft. The Range Riders are based out of Kalispell, Montana. VanWey had nine starts and was 2-2 with 46 strikeouts in 39.1 innings pitched. He currently ranks fourth in the league in strikeouts.

"It has been a long three years of hard work preparing for this moment and a roller coaster of emotions, but getting a call and being offered a professional contract made it all worth it," VanWey said. "I knew I was always good enough and had the work ethic, and it was just a matter of time before someone else saw it."

The Astros Single-A affiliate is the Fayetteville (NC) Woodpeckers, while the A's Single-A team is the Stockton (Calif.) Ports. Stevenson will report to the A's spring training facility in Arizona.

Sam McMahon named MSSU men's basketball coach

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Missouri Southern Director of Athletics Rob Mallory has announced that Sam McMahon will be the next head coach of the Missouri Southern Men's Basketball Program.

McMahon will have an introductory press conference on Wednesday, April 6 at 3 pm in the North Endzone Facility on campus at MSSU.

"We set out in this search to find a high-character individual, a relationship-driven coach, and a person committed to building a winning culture that will get our men's basketball program back to the level of success we are accustomed to," Mallory said. 

"In a deep and highly competitive pool of candidates Sam McMahon rose to the top, and I could not be more excited to welcome him and his family back to Missouri Southern. Sam knows Missouri Southern, he has recruited at a high level in this region his entire career, and he understands what it takes to compete in the MIAA."

McMahon will be the seventh head coach in Missouri Southern history. He will be in his second stint roaming the sidelines at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center as he served as an assistant and later associate head coach for the Lions for six seasons. McMahon has been an assistant coach at Division I Southeast Missouri for the past two seasons.

"I want to thank Dr. Van Galen and Rob Mallory for giving me the opportunity to lead one of the best Division II Men's Basketball programs in the country," said McMahon. "MSSU is a special place, and my family and I are proud to be a part of the community again. I'm ready to get to work with these players and together we will relentlessly pursue excellence."

While at Southern, the Lions averaged 20 wins per season and accumulated a 124-60 record with McMahon on its coaching staff all while making three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, the only three-year stretch in school history. MSSU earned at least a top-four finish in the MIAA regular season every year McMahon was there and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen in 2019.

McMahon started his coaching career at Central Methodist University as a member of Jeff Sherman's staff. During his two years at CMU, the men's basketball team went a combined 52-16 and earned a pair of NAIA National Tournament appearances (only time in school history to make the NAIA National Tournament in two straight years). The 2009-10 team recorded a 24-9 season, claimed a Heart of America Conference regular-season title, led the nation in three-point accuracy (.423), earned the school's first-ever win over an NCAA Division I opponent and finished with a No. 13 national ranking while giving up just 60.7 points per game.

After that, McMahon continued his coaching career at Missouri State. He spent four seasons with the Bears working alongside current Southeast Missouri head coach Brad Korn, as well as current Purdue assistant coach Paul Lusk. McMahon helped the Bears post a 75-60 overall record in that span, with teams winning 20 or more games in two seasons. The 2010-11 MSU squad posted a 28-9 record and won the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title for the first time in school history.

A standout prep player at Jefferson City (Mo.) High School, McMahon spent a year at Bridgton (Maine) Academy and then played four years of Division I basketball at the University of Delaware (2004-08).

During his time at Delaware, McMahon earned four letters, was team captain his senior season (2007-08) and earned Colonial Athletic Association All-Academic second team honors twice. He earned a spot on the CAA Commissioner's Honor Roll and averaged 10.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists his junior season. He ranked second in the CAA in free-throw percentage (.840) his senior campaign and was third in three-point shooting (.444). He scored 20 or more points five times during his collegiate career, reeled off a streak of 16 straight double-figure scoring games, and earned his team's Most-Improved Award his junior season.

On his way to earning a degree in sports management from Delaware in 2008, McMahon was also on the Dean's List. After his tenure with the Blue Hens, he spent three months interning at Wilmington University in New Castle, Delaware, where he was the team's video coordinator. McMahon boasted a perfect 4.0 GPA while earning his Master's in Education at Central Methodist (2010).

McMahon and the former Holly Wade were married on September 8, 2012. The couple have three children, Maverick, Eva and Nova.

What They're Saying About Sam McMahon -

"When we came to SEMO we not only needed great coaches but great men and great families. Sam checks all the boxes as it relates to coaching, connecting and leading young men. Sam was instrumental in helping us lay the foundation of what SEMO basketball is now and into the future. We are so excited for Holly, Maverick, Eva and Nova to return "home" and live out a dream that they are ready for. We look forward to seeing the success they will have and we will be cheering for the Lions!"

Brad Korn, Head Coach, Southeast Missouri State University

"Sam McMahon is a terrific hire for Missouri Southern. He understands the institution as well as the league. He's a perfect fit. He has great experience on various levels of college basketball and will do a tremendous job leading the program."

Paul Lusk, Assistant Coach, Purdue University

Crowder College baseball coach named Coach of the Year

(From Crowder College)

Crowder College head baseball coach Travis Lallemand has been named Coach of the Year by the Midwest Scouts Association. The honor was presented to him at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City this past weekend.

“Coach Lallemand was chosen not only for the results he gets on the field, but the quality of the program he runs. He consistently develops players and builds good relationships with professional scouts,” touted Dusting Smith, Midwest Area Scout for the Texas Rangers and Association President.

Lallemand has head coach for the Roughriders since 2005. His career record of 653 wins and 280 losses has produced 6 Region Championships and named Region 16 Coach of the Year, 3 South Central District Championships, and 3 trips to the NJCAA College World Series with the most recent earning 3rd place in NJCAA Division I Baseball (2010, 2017, and 2021). 

Since 2010, the Roughriders have appeared in the NJCAA Nation poll each year and have won 40 plus games 10 of those seasons, including tow 50 plus win seasons.

Roughrider baseball players under his leadership have performed as follows:

Coach over 100 players who have signed with Division I programs
35 MLB drafted players
26 pitchers selected in MLB Amateur Draft with 50 signing with NCAA Division 1 schools
Over 200 players moving on to 4-year schools or professional baseball
48 Region 16 1st team players
11 NJCAA All-Americans
5 Region Players of the Year
4 Region 16 Defensive Players of the Year

Prior to his head coaching position Lallemand served as an assistant coach on the pitching staff for three seasons at Crowder. Lallemand is originally from Girard, Kansas. He prepped at Girard high School and went on to play collegiate baseball at Labette Community College before transferring to Berry College in Rome, Georgia.

“I am honored and humbled to receive this recognition from the MW Scouting association. I have worked with most of these individuals for the better part of my career here with a few new scouts coming on board each year, and we have developed a trusting relationship over that time. I have sat in ballparks all over the Midwest with most of these guys evaluating players and discussing our current players to come see and it means a lot that they selected me for this award,” stated Lallemand.

Lallemand and his wife Jennifer reside in Neosho with their son, Luc.

The Midwest Scouts Association is a non-profit organization consisting of scouts from all 30 MLB teams. The main purpose of the organization is to assist those in the baseball community. Additionally, the organization holds a players showcase every summer for free consisting of the best talent from the Midwest. Induction into the Hall of Fame is voted every one to two years with one coach being honored.

Photo (L-R): Dustin Smith, MWSA President presents the award to Travis Lallemand, Crowder College Roughrider Head Baseball Coach)