May 10, 2008

Marion, Ill. - Former Southeast Missouri State teammates Omar Padilla and Asif Shah will make their professional debuts Saturday night in opposite dugouts.

Asif Shah is a pitcher, utitlity player with the Southern Illinois Miners of the Frontier League while Omar Padilla is an infielder with the Gary South Shore Railcats of the Northern League. The two teams meet in an exhibition game tonight (May 10), 7:05 p.m., at Rent One Park in Marion, Ill.

Shah was 7-3 on the mound last season for the Redhawks with a 3.22 earned run average. He played in the outfield when not pitching and hit .312.

Padilla led last year's Redhawks team with a .325 average and tied for the team lead in home runs with eight.

"I can't wait to get started," Padilla said. "It will be a little strange not being on the same team with Asif, but we're both pros now and chasing our childhood dreams. Lets play ball."