Annual event helps support Capahas baseball

For the past 40 years, the Plaza Tire Capahas have held an auction to benefit and raise money for one of the nation's oldest and storied amatuer baseball teams.

The Capahas auction, a major fundraiser for the tradition-rich summer team, will be Friday at the Isle Casino Event Center in Cape Girardeau. The event is open to the public and to all ages.

Event coordinator Mary Bolen said she wants the event to be a family night.

"We're going to have Capaha players there to sign balls and take pictures with kids," Bolen said. "It's not just for adults; there are some really cool items that kids will enjoy, so we encourage them to come out and enjoy an entertaining night."

The doors will open at 5 p.m. and the silent auction will begin at the same time.

Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. and will be $15 a person. Bolen said the Isle Casino donated the food and event center to the Capahas and have been helpful in coordinating the auction.

"They're great to work with," Bolen said. "They've been very gracious and made sure that we have everything we need."

After dinner, a live ballroom auction will take place.

Bolen said most of the money raised from the auction will fund the Capaha's trip to the National Baseball Congress World Series in Witchita, Kansas, later this month. The Capahas finished fourth in last year's tournament, earning an automatic bid to play in the 2014 tournament.

"It would be a shame to miss it," Jess Bolen said. "With the automatic bid, we never want to pass up an opportunity like that."

Bolen also said if the auction raises enough money to fund the trip and there is money left over, it would go to funding next year's team.

In April, Plaza Tire ended its 10-year sponsorship of the Capahas, but decided to renew for one final year. At the end of this season, the Capahas will need to find a new sponsor.

The Bolen's said no new sponsor has been lined up for the Capahas, but there are a few leads.

"We've not even tackled that, and as far as knowing for sure, we don't," Bolen said. "We're focused on getting through this season and worrying about that next."

For now, the Bolens are more focused on running a successful auction.

Bolen said she and the rest of her staff have received more than 100 donated items, a majority of which were donated by local businesses.

Some of the top items to be auctioned include an Agri wood pellet grill, a framed autographed picture of former St. Louis Cardinals All-Star outfielder Jim Edmonds, a baseball signed by Chicago Cubs Hall-of-Famer Ernie Banks and a number of gift cards to restaurants and and stores in Cape.

Capahas coach Jess Bolen said he is most excited about a signed baseball from Seattle Mariners pitcher and former Capahas pitcher Matt Palmer.

"He got innings with us; he got to pitch," Jess Bolen said. "You could feel you had something to do with it. Not much, but something."

Palmer spent two summers with the Capahas in 1998 and 1999 when the Caruthersville, Missouri, native pitched for Three Rivers Community College before attending Missouri State.

"Even after he made it to the majors, you could tell he was still really level-headed about the whole situation. Just a class act," Jess Bolen said.

Palmer was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 2002 and made his major-league debut with them in 2008.

The right-handed pitcher starts for the Mariners' Class AAA affiliate, the Tacoma Rainiers.

There are already a lot of items to be auctioned, but Mary Bolen said there is room for more. To donate an item, call Mary at 979-1089.

"Anyone and everyone should come out," Mary Bolen said. "Come late if you have to, but just be there. We won't turn anyone down, and we would love to have you walk out with some really cool items."