CAPAHAS CAP CAKEWALK

Entering the 2001 National Baseball Congress Mid-South Regional, Cape Girardeau Craftsman Union Capahas manager Jess Bolen said he respected every team in the tournament and did not expect a cakewalk.

But as it turned out, the host Capahas barely worked up a sweat in capturing the championship.

The Capahas wrapped up their third NBC Mid-South Regional title in four years Sunday night by routing the worn-out Sauget (Ill.) Wizards 10-0 at Capaha Field. The game was stopped in the bottom of the eighth inning by the 10-run mercy rule.

In going 3-0 during the six-team, double-elimination event, the Capahas outscored the opposition 33-3. All three of their victories ended early by way of the mercy rule.

The Capahas, who gained an automatic berth in next month's NBC World Series in Wichita, Kan., improved to 25-7.

"It's always fun to win a tournament, especially a regional that puts you in the national tournament," said Capahas manager Jess Bolen. "We're really playing good ball right now. The team has really jelled."

The Wizards, who played three games Sunday as they fought their way out of the loser's bracket, fell to 21-11.

"I think we gained some respect," said Sauget manager Robert White, a native of Jackson, Mo., who is an assistant baseball coach at Harris-Stowe College in St. Louis. "We beat some teams we shouldn't have."

Lanson Debrock hurled a four-hit shutout Sunday and was named the tournament's top pitcher in a close vote over teammate Brad Purcell, who fired a four-hit gem during Saturday's 11-1 rout of the Southern Illinois Merchants. Debrock struck out 10 and walked two.

"Lanson was sharp," Bolen said. "All our pitchers in the tournament were. We got three very good starts from Lanson, Brad and Richie (Phillips, who beat Sauget 12-2 Friday night). Our pitching has really been good all year."

Capahas veteran center fielder Steve Kress was named the tourney's most valuable player. He drove in eight runs in the three games while going 4-for-11.

"Our team is playing well," said Kress. "We have good defense and a very good pitching staff."

Kress had three RBIs Sunday while Josh Eftink added two on a double in the eighth inning that ended the contest. Eftink had four RBIs in limited tourney play.

Chris Sledge had three of the Capahas' 12 hits. He went 4-for-13 in the tournament.

Other top tourney hitters for the Capahas were Dan Berry (5-for-9, four RBIs), Kevin Meyer (5-for-10, four doubles) and Tristen McDonald (4-for-10, five RBIs).

The Capahas scored twice in the third inning, then broke the game open with a six-run fifth. Their two-run eighth ended things.

Sauget had advanced to the championship round with two wins in elimination games earlier Sunday, slipping past the Cape Riverdogs 5-3 in 10 innings and then knocking off the Southern Illinois Merchants 11-6.

Cape Riverdogs

Despite falling in extra innings to Sauget Sunday, the Riverdogs -- a third-year team which had never previously won a tournament game -- had a solid tourney, going 2-2.

"I think we've made a lot of strides this year," said Robin Minner, one of the Riverdogs' coaches. "I was pleased with the tournament we had."

Keith Heuring pitched seven strong innings for the Riverdogs Sunday before tiring in the eighth, when the Wizards scored twice to forge a 3-3 tie. In 7 2/3 innings, Heuring allowed three runs and eight hits. He fanned five and walked four.

Phil Seyer, who hurled the final 2 1/3 innings, suffered the loss, thanks to a two-run Lance Schuerman home run in the top of the 10th. It was the only homer of the tournament.

Schuerman, a former minor-league pitcher, also got the win, retiring the game's final seven batters.

Josh West of the Riverdogs finished a fabulous tournament with two hits as he went 10-for-19 in two games. Jon Carenza also had two hits.