MOREHEAD, Ky. – When Alex Stephens says he’s seeing the ball really well so far this season, he means it both literally and figuratively.

The Linsly School product is off to a torrid start this season for the Morehead State University baseball team, batting .529 through the team’s opening four games.

One of the main reasons – according to Stephens – for his early season success is his vision improvement.

“I had laser eye surgery over Christmas break and it’s made a huge difference for me,” Stephens said during a phone interview earlier this week.

Stephens had worn contacts every day since he was 12 years old. Over the years, however, his prescription had changed and it just continued to worsen.

“Doctors had upped my prescription, but I couldn’t see the spin of the ball during the fall,” Stephens admitted. “I noticed the difference immediately (after the surgery). It’s been really nice.”

His vision wasn’t only hampered on the baseball field.

“Every day things are much more clear now,” Stephens said. “You can’t hit what you can’t see.”

The positive results have been crystal clear for Stephens. Hitting out of the clean-up spot, Stephens has led the Eagles to a 3-1 start. Their only loss was at N.C. State this past Tuesday.

“Our pitching has been great and our offense has been explosive early,” Stephens said. “I think we’re more athletic and defensive oriented than we were last year, but so far, we’re all tagging the ball pretty well.”

During a game last weekend against N.C. Central, Stephens, who has a vast resume of baseball success already, accomplished something that he hadn’t done at the collegiate level. He hit for a cycle, while driving in four runs and scoring three.

“I was a double away in the fourth inning,” Stephens recalled. “The pitcher left one up and in and I hit it off the top of the wall. It was probably the first time I was excited that a ball didn’t leave the park.”

The Eagles had a 15-run cushion at the time, so there was no chance of Stephens trying to stretch the sure double into anything more.

Stephens’ fine play, which included sparkling defensive work at third, earned him Ohio Valley Conference Baseball Player of the Week. All told, Stephens had two doubles, a triple and a home run during the opening-weekend series.

“It’s a huge honor and it means a lot,” Stephens offered. “It’s a nice accolade and it’s nice to garner some attention, but I tried to enjoy it for a day and then move on. I try to be the best player on the field during every game. If you do that, you put yourself in position for accolades and you help your team in a position to win, which is the most important thing.”

Stephens, who began his collegiate career at West Virginia, was named the OVC’s Conference Tournament MVP last spring in helping to lead the Eagles to the NCAA Tournament.

He spent most of his offseason working on refining his approach at the plate because he knew he’d be hitting in the middle of the order a lot this season.

“You see less pitches to hit during an at-bat, so I am swinging at first pitches a lot more,” Stephens said. “It won’t be like that the entire season, but I will continue to build on that approach.”

Shortly after returning from Raleigh, the Eagles loaded up their team bus and headed to suburban Atlanta for a four-game set. They were scheduled to meet Arkansas State on Friday, tangle with Nebraska-Omaha in a twinbill today and they’ll meet Saint Louis on Sunday.

“The travel and stuff can be a grind, but time goes quicker when you’re with your teammates,” Stephens admitted.

One of Stephens’ teammates is one of his first high school teammates. Linsly grad Colton Coss made his collegiate debut last weekend. He appeared in one game and drove in a run.

“Colton is fitting in great,” Stephens said. “It comes as no surprise that his defense is his best attribute. He made two web gems in a game last weekend. He still needs to get bigger and develop more (physically), but he’s played well in fall ball and such. His baseball IQ definitely helps him.”

Here’s a look at other Ohio Valley products and how they fared during the opening weekend of college baseball:

DIVISION I

MICHAEL JACOB, Toledo – St. Clairsville product made his collegiate debut last weekend. He worked three-and-a-third innings out of the bullpen. Though he suffered the loss to Niagara, he struck out six and walked only two. He allowed two earned runs. Toledo is in action this weekend at UNC-Charlotte.

ANDREW KOWALO, Liberty – Wheeling Park grad went 2-for-4 and drove in three runs in the Flames’ victory against William & Mary earlier this week. Now 2-2 on the season, Liberty takes on Marshall at Myrtle Beach on Friday.

MICHAEL GROVE, West Virginia – Wheeling Park product made his debut for the Mountaineers, working out of the bullpen. He worked an inning and had a strikeout in a game at Charleston Southern. WVU heads for a three-game series at UNLV and then will take on the Arizona Diamondbacks in Scottsdale on Monday.

DIVISION II

D.J. BUSBY, West Liberty – St. Clairsville graduate had four hits in the Hilltoppers’ opening two victories.

ARIEN SEYMOUR, Francis-Marion – Linsly product is currently 2-1 on the season and has made one start. He’s worked 12.1 innings and has fanned eight batters, while allowing three runs. He has a 2.19 earned run average.

LEIGHTON GIBSON, Belmont Abbey – Linsly graduate is off to a slow start at the plate. He’s played in three games and is batting .167.

MARK SMYTH, West Liberty – Edison grad won his debut last week, firing a complete game with four strikeouts and a walk.

GREG STAGANI, West Liberty – Edison product struck out 12 and walked just one in a complete-game win last weekend against St. Augustine.

DIVISION III

SPENCER BADIA, Baldwin-Wallace – Bellaire High product started at second base in both of his team’s game last weekend against LaRoche College.

NICK PATRONE, Baldwin-Wallace – Bellaire High product has yet to appear in a game this season. He’s on the Yellow Jackets’ pitching staff.

If you know of other players competing collegiately, please email me at sstaskey@timesleaderonline.com