BJ Underkofler, a former Helena Senators player, recently completed a summer of baseball catching for the Ozark Generals. The Generals are part of the MINK (Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas) Baseball League, which is a semi-pro collegiate league. The team plays at two different locations, in Ozark and Springfield, Missouri.

Other clubs in the league are the Mid-Missouri Crawdads, Parkville Sluggers, Nevada Griffons, Clarinda A's, Chillacothe Mudcats, Beatrice Bruins, Topeka Golden Giants, Bluesprings Grays, Oklahoma Cubs, Price Cutter Red Bulls, Joplin Slashers, and Brunswick Longhorns.

Underkofler finished the season with a .239 batting average and a .341 on base percentage.

A business major, last spring he graduated from Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Mo. The 5-foot-11, 175-pounder batted .363 for the Raiders, with eight doubles, two homers and 29 RBI in 44 games. He was chosen to the Division I Region 16 All-Star team.

Underkofler played for the Senators from 2001-03, earning two Earl Tucker Trophies as team batting champion. In 2003, he led the squad with a .419 average during the regular season, rapping 88 hits in 210 at bats. That fall in the playoffs, he helped the locals to their third succussive state championship.

His 88 hits rank fifth on the Senators' all-time season hit list, behind record-holder Austin LeSage's 115 in 2001; Quinn LeSage, 98 in 2003; Pat Lindeman, 92 in 2002; and Kyle Scarr, 90 in 2000.

Underkofler repeated as batting champ in 2004, with a .357 mark. Over his 3-year Legion career, BJ amassed 196 hits in 523 at bats, for a .378 batting average. His lifetime totals include 143 runs, 51 doubles, eight triples and 146 RBIs.

Underkofler, whose parents are Joe and Jana Underkofler, will be continuing his baseball career at William Woods University in Fulton, Mo.