Capahas enter Mid-South Regional as favorite

On paper, the Plaza Tire Capahas should have a fairly easy time winning their fourth consecutive National Baseball Congress Mid-South Regional championship.

But Plaza Tire manager Jess Bolen has been around too long to take anything for granted.

That's why Bolen is confident but wary about the three-team tournament that will be held Friday through Sunday at Capaha Field.

The winner receives an automatic bid to the NBC World Series in Wichita, Kan., an event the Capahas have qualified for the past 26 years.

"I think we've got a good ballclub and we've played pretty well so far," said Bolen, in his 42nd season as the Capahas' manager. "But you don't win games on paper, you win them on the field. In sports, anything can happen."

Plaza Tire will compete against the Charleston Riverdogs and the Pine Bluff (Ark.) Braves in the wood-bat regional.

The Capahas have won 33 of 34 all-time meetings with the Riverdogs — the defeat came in 2005 — while Plaza Tire has never lost to the Braves in their numerous regional matchups.

KIT DOYLE ~ kdoyle@semissourian.com Capahas pitcher Jason Chavez delivered a pitch at Capaha Field earlier this season.

Pine Bluff was second in the past two regionals, dropping lopsided decisions to the Capahas in the title round both years.

"Pine Bluff has improved the last few years and I think the Riverdogs have a pretty good team," said Bolen, whose squad is 16-4 and has won 11 of its past 12 games. "I never look past anybody. I never take any team for granted.

"You've always got to come prepared to play. You've got to do it on the field. I always want our players to think the same thing. You can always get beat, but we won't get beat because we took somebody lightly."

In a random draw held earlier this week, the Capahas received the first-round bye and won't play until Saturday.

Charleston and Pine Bluff get the double-elimination event started at 7 p.m. Friday. That winner takes on the Capahas at 4 p.m. Saturday.

There will be an elimination game at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, after which the tournament will be down to two teams.

The championship is set for 2 p.m. Sunday. Another title contest would follow if necessary.

"Just because we look like the favorite, it doesn't mean we'll automatically win it," Bolen said. "With wood bats, all it takes is a good pitcher to shut you down. That can happen to anybody."

Bolen said he tried to find a fourth team for the regional in order to set up an even bracket, but that fell through.

"This is only the second time we've had three teams," Bolen said. "An even number makes it a lot better bracket, but we'll make do with three."

During several of their 26 straight NBC World Series appearances, the Capahas received at-large berths instead of automatic bids.

But Bolen said that is no longer a given, making it imperative for the Capahas to capture their fourth consecutive regional title.

"I don't count on going unless we win this," said Bolen, whose squad placed seventh in last year's NBC World Series.

Bolen said Anthony Maupin will start for the Capahas in their regional opener, with Phillip Riley likely getting the ball in Plaza Tire's second game.

"Anthony has really been good this year," Bolen said. "The thing I like about us is we've got that good pitching. That always gives us a chance.

"Hitting can be up and down, but pitching will be there."