Capahas host NBC regional over the weekend

~ The three-team tourney begins today at Capaha Field

The Plaza Tire Capahas again will have to beat out just two other squads in order to win their sixth straight National Baseball Congress Mid-South Regional championship.

Capahas manager Jess Bolen had hoped for a four-team tournament to determine the automatic qualifier to next month's NBC World Series in Wichita, Kan.

That fell through when Perryville's first-year program decided not to participate, but Bolen still expects a solid field when play begins today at Capaha Field.

"Perryville was in the tournament up until the past week, then they said they couldn't play," said Bolen, whose squad has made 28 straight trips to the NBC World Series. "I tried to get some other teams. A tournament's always better with four teams instead of three, but if you can't get 'em you can't get 'em.

"Even with only three teams I still think we'll have a good, competitive tournament."

The Capahas will compete against the Pine Bluff (Ark.) Braves and St. Louis Printers in the wood-bat regional that will feature three squads for the third straight year.

In a random draw, the Printers received the first-round bye and won't play until Saturday.

The Capahas and Pine Bluff get the double-elimination event started at 8 p.m. today. That winner takes on the Printers at 1 p.m. Saturday.

There will be an elimination game at about 4:30 p.m. Saturday to whittle down the tournament to two teams.

If the elimination-game winner only has played once Saturday, the championship would follow at about 7:30 p.m. If needed, a second title contest would take place at 1 p.m. Sunday.

If the elimination game winner already has played twice Saturday, the championship would be held at 1 p.m. Sunday. A second title matchup, if necessary, would follow.

"It's not fair to have somebody play three times in one day," Bolen said. "So the Sunday schedule is pretty much up in the air."

The Capahas (16-8) are familiar with both the Braves and Printers.

Pine Bluff has finished second behind the Capahas the past three years and has gotten progressively better each season.

Last summer the Braves dropped a hard-fought 5-3 decision to the Capahas in the championship round after the Capahas beat Pine Bluff 4-0 in the regional opener.

"You never know what kind of team they'll bring here, but they've gotten better every year," Bolen said. "We had two really good, competitive games with them last year and I wouldn't be surprised if it's that way again."

The Capahas have played the Printers five teams this year, going 4-1 and winning all three home meetings.

"If they bring all their people they'll have a good team," Bolen said. "With wood bats, all you need is a good pitcher out there and you can give anybody a lot of trouble."

Bolen said ace Anthony Maupin will be the starting pitcher in today's tournament opener, with Brad LaBruyere getting the nod in the Capahas' first game Saturday.

LaBruyere was named the top pitcher of last year's regional after throwing a three-hit shutout against Pine Bluff in the opener.

"Anthony is just a really good competitor, a good guy to have on the mound," Bolen said. "And I feel good with Brad out there."

While respecting the Braves and Printers, Bolen said: "If we play baseball and we've got most of our team there, which I expect, then we'll be in good shape."