MACOMB, Ill.- It?s hard to slow down the progress of the Western Illinois baseball program. With the construction of a new stadium and the honor of being selected nationally among the top recruiting classes in the country, only a brief visit to the McDonough County Hospital by head coach Stan Hyman could temporarily retard the fast pace of success.Hyman, who recently was diagnosed with four stomach ulcers, however immediately headed south to Florida on a recruiting trip following his release from a four-dayhospital stay. While in Winter Haven and Tampa, Hyman attended the Doyle Showcase featuring some of the top high school players in the country.Hyman also scouted the Florida Junior College All-Star game and workout.Both events were held at the Cleveland Indians Land-O-Lakes spring training facility.?I feel great,? said Hyman, who developed the ulcers after being treated with anti-inflamatory drugs for his arthritis over the past 15 years. ?Once the doctors took me off the arthritis medication and put me on stuff to heal the ulcers I began to feel better. I?m sure stress played a little factor over the past decade,? he said, laughing.?The staff at McDonough Hospital were fantastic,? Hyman added. ?I?ve never spent any extended time in a hospital, so the staff?s efforts to assist me throw the process were extremely comforting and helpful.?While in Florida, Hyman saw several top recruits from Florida and Texas, who he believes will commit to Western Illinois during the Division-I early signing period.?The talent was exceptional,? Hyman noted. ?We?ve (Western baseball) come a long way in a short period of time and that?s impressed a lot of top notch players. I?m confident we?ll open a pipeline to Florida and Texas so that our next recruiting class reflects not just anIllinois and regional roster, but a national one as well.?While in Tampa, Hyman also caught up with Western Illinois baseball alumni Josh Roach, who pitched for Hyman in in first year at Western in 2001.Roach, who graduated from Western in 2002, now works on the grounds crew for the New York Yankees spring training facility, Legends Field in Tampa. Roach was the winning pitcher in Coach Hyman?s first victory at Western, a 4-3 thriller against Kansas State. Roach also was the pitcher of record in Western?s stunning 7-5 upset of Missouri. Roach and his wife Gina, who moved to Tampa two years ago, had dinner and caught upon some stories with Hyman and his wife, Robin.?Josh and I are tied together as he recorded two of my three biggest wins at Western,? Hyman said, adding that defeating Lewis & Clark, 9-6, in the Hawai?i Tournament was the third major win. ?Josh?s nickname was ?Vulcher? because he came out of the bull pen and always picked up the win by pitching one or two solid innings when we would take the lead,? Hyman noted. ? It was great to spend time with Josh and Gina and to see him become so successful so fast after graduation and within an incredible professional sports team like the Yankees. I?m very proud to have coached Josh.?