To some, the arrival of spring is determined by the warm weather, the leaves beginning to grow on the trees or the ability to cruise down the road with the windows rolled down and the music turned up. To others, there is only one thing that determines that spring has officially arrived and that is the beginning of baseball season.

Many people at Southeast Missouri State University identify themselves as St. Louis Cardinal fans or Redhawk baseball fans. However, there is another team in Cape Girardeau that baseball fans can cheer on, and that is the Southeast Redhawk club baseball team.

Founded in 2010, Southeast's club baseball team gives college students the opportunity to play competitive baseball, even if they haven't made an NCAA roster. Redhawks club baseball is a part of the National Club Baseball Association, a governing body for college club baseball organizations. Within the NCBA are different conferences and divisions. The Redhawks are in a division with Missouri State, Pulaski Technical College, University of Central Missouri, University of Arkansas and Missouri S&T.

The team has been able to build success in its five seasons and this current season is no different. The club holds an 8-1 record, which is tied for second in the division. The Redhawks won their first four games in February before falling to Missouri State for their only loss of the season.

Aside from an impressive start this year, 2013 was the best season in the team's history. The Redhawks posted an all-time best record of 13-4, which included a nine-game winning streak, which is also a team record, according to its website.

The team's president and treasurer, Tim Althage, also takes on the role as coach for the team. His duties include setting up practices, finalizing the official roster, handling paperwork and budgeting, making travel arrangements and setting up lineups and game day operations. He said he is excited for this season to build off of a memorable 2013 season.

"We made our first playoff appearance last year and we are on pace to repeat as our conference champion," Althage said.

Althage credits the team's success to his pitching and veteran talent.

"Our success has been from our leadership and returning veterans," Althage said. "They make up almost our entire starting roster and know what it takes to win ballgames. Our pitching has been our strongest component of our team. We hold teams to under four runs per game, which is good enough for the way we hit."

Adam Henke is one of those veteran players who offers the skills necessary to lead a playoff-caliber team. Playing shortstop, he has been with the team ever since its first inning in 2010. After trying out for Southeast's NCAA baseball team, he quickly found a home with the club.

"I actually went to tryout out for the actual SEMO team and the coach at the time came to the tryouts and said you know, anyone that doesn't make it can still come to our tryouts and play for them. I went to the tryouts and started playing," Henke said.

Since then, Henke has seen the team grow starting from just trying to find a way into the playoffs, to becoming disappointed with anything less. Throughout his time, he has made many memories and witnessed special moments in the team's history.

"I would say the biggest [moment] was actually finally getting to the playoffs last year. We were always close, but we were always like one game away, one game behind the lead or whatnot. But last year we kind of pulled away with the division early, so that was really cool," Henke said.

In their first trip to the playoffs, the Redhawks won their first ever playoff game. However, weather conditions made it difficult for the Redhawks to advance any further, according to Henke.

"We won our first game. It was really close, a really good game," Henke said. "That was actually in Indiana, but then rain came and it was supposed to rain for the rest of the weekend so they had to move us to Ohio State. We got out of a groove, I guess, after that long drive, and we lost our last two games because it's double elimination. After we lost those two games we were done."

Nonetheless, Henke is excited for how his final season will play out and has high expectations.

"I think we're looking pretty good," Henke said. "We're pretty well off. I think we can take three from Arkansas, and if we can do that we're pretty much guaranteed to at least make it to the conference championship game."

The Redhawks have three road games at Central Missouri before ending the season with three games at home against Arkansas. The next home game is at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Shawnee Sports Complex against Arkansas.