2013 Capahas will be young, inexperienced

Jess Bolen insists he has slowed down plenty over the years, which is understandable for somebody age 71.

But his team's performance on the field has certainly stood the test of time.

The Plaza Tire Capahas, coming off another impressive season, open their 2013 campaign with today's 8 p.m. contest against Valmeyer, Ill.

It's part of a five-game season-opening homestand for the Capahas, who face Valmeyer again Saturday in a 1 p.m. doubleheader and take on the Charleston Riverdogs Sunday in a 2 p.m. twin bill.

Bolen, entering his his 47th year managing one of the nation's oldest amateur baseball teams, has led the Capahas to a 1,433-388 record and 31 consecutive appearances at the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan.

"Every year I say the same old thing. It depends on how I feel," said Bolen regarding how long he plans on directing the Capahas. "Tom [Bolen's son who serves as assistant manager after a long playing career with the squad] has helped me out a lot."

Added a laughing Bolen: "I feel pretty good. But it's not 100 degrees yet."

The Capahas, who were formed in 1894, went 26-9 last year despite fielding one of their youngest and least experienced rosters in a long time.

This year's 20-player roster to begin the season -- more players likely will be added as the summer progresses -- features another youthful look with several veterans mixed in.

And the Capahas have their fewest current or former Division I college players -- eight -- in recent memory.

"It's going to be an interesting year," said Bolen, a member of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame along with three other halls of fame. "We really lost a lot of pitching from last year. Pitching will be a big question mark for us."

Among the Capahas' eight primary pitchers from last summer, the only healthy returnee is Kyle Marshall, who also plays the infield.

Dustin Hunter is currently injured but could return at some point this year. He is also an outfielder.

The pitching staff will be bolstered by three veterans who hurled for the Capahas in the past: Kirk Boeller, Jamie McAlister and Billy Roll.

McAlister and Roll, who both live in or around St. Louis, will primarily pitch when the Capahas have games in that area but they also could see occasional action in home contests.

Rookie hurlers are Skylar Cobb -- the team's lone left-hander -- Jason Flores and Andrew Williams, who also plays the infield.

Returning position players are infielder/catcher Kody Campbell; infielders Jordan Kimball, Kenton Parmley and Logan Bartels; catchers Brandon Bennett and Mark Hagedorn; and outfielder Adam Blum. Kimball, Parmley and Bartels can also pitch.

Position newcomers are outfielder Christian Cavaness; infielders Grant Gray, John Logan Zink and Jesse Schott; and infielder/outfielder Noreyoshi Takeshita.

Cobb and Zink currently play for Southeast Missouri State while Boeller, Campbell, McAlister and Parmley are all former Southeast players.

Other former Division I products for the Capahas are Kimball (Arkansas State) and Hunter (Western Illinois).

Most of the other Capahas currently compete or competed at various non-Division I programs.

"I like the guys we've got. We've got some veterans and a bunch of young kids. We'll have some fun," Bolen said. "We've got some guys who can hit the ball and defensively we should be pretty decent. It all depends on the pitching.

"I think we'll have a pretty decent team but nothing like some of the [powerhouse] teams we've had."

The Capahas will have a nice local flavor as 10 players graduated from high schools in the Southeast Missourian coverage area, with several others also from the region.

Local high school graduates are Bartels (Jackson, 2011), Boeller (Notre Dame, '06), Campbell (Oran, '08), Cavaness (Central, '12), Cobb (Scott City, '10), Gray (Advance, '11), Hagedorn (Notre Dame, '10), Roll (Notre Dame, '96), Schott (Notre Dame, '12) and Williams (Central, '12).

Bolen said Cobb, a junior reliever at Southeast this year, will start today's season opener on the mound. It will be Cobb's first start since he was a freshman at Three Rivers College in 2011.

"I'm looking forward to it. I'm excited," Cobb said.

Noteworthy

* All Capahas home games this year will be broadcast live by Mississippi River Radio on ESPN 1220 AM.