Capahas made unexpected noise in Wichita

I've got to give it up for the Plaza Tire Capahas after their showing at the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan.

Let me be the first to admit that when the Capahas departed for their 25th consecutive appearance at the prestigious event, I figured they'd be lucky to win a game.

After all, some pretty talented teams manager Jess Bolen took to Wichita over the last three years went a combined 1-6. That's not necessarily a reflection of the Capahas playing poorly, it's simply a matter of the competition being so rugged.

By Bolen's own admission, the 2006 version of the Capahas was not among his stronger squads, primarily due to several key injuries that left Plaza Tire shorthanded for much of the season.

So all the Capahas did was bounce back from a first-round loss to win three straight losers bracket games before being eliminated Monday by Newton, Kan., in a 5-3 decision.

Plaza Tire's 3-2 record in Wichita resulted in a tie for 13th place out of 42 squads.

Not bad, especially considering Bolen entered the tournament without expecting a whole lot.

What Bolen got was plenty of gritty play and clutch performances by a group of young men who showed they certainly belonged on the field with some of the nation's elite amateur baseball teams.

Bolen also received an extremely satisfying ending to his 40th season as the Capahas' manager, a campaign that saw him endure not only all those injuries but also the serious illness of his wife, Mary, who has been as big a part of the organization as anybody through the years.

Bolen told me after returning from Wichita that the way his squad finished up and the way Mary has been recovering nicely, he's even more excited than normal for the prospects of next season, when he plans to add more firepower to the Capahas' lineup.

Fans of area summer baseball are no doubt already licking their chops.

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Two more notes on the end of the Capahas' season:

First, a 24-11 record for Plaza Tire puts Bolen's career mark with the franchise at 1,277-333. That's mind-boggling for any team on any level.

Second, Bolen said it was a true thrill for him to have the legendary Bob Gibson in the dugout during the Capahas' last couple of games at the NBC World Series.

Gibson spent the entire tournament in Wichita watching his son, Chris, one of Plaza Tire's top players this year. When Bob Gibson asked Bolen if he could sit in the dugout, Bolen said he was honored that the former Cardinals' great and Hall of Famer made such a request.

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For people who can't get enough of barbecue -- myself included -- mark Thursday through Saturday on your calendars.

That's when, by popular demand, the annual barbecue sale that benefits several Southeast Missouri State athletic programs will take place outside Country Mart in Jackson. Sales will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. all three days.

The Southeast men's basketball team, women's tennis team and men's and women's track teams will receive a donation for the majority of the sales from the barbecue.

Coaches and athletes from the squads will join with the staff at Country Mart to prepare and sell the barbecue. Greg Brune, Southeast's director of athletic development, again will serve as chief cook.

The available items, which can be carried out or eaten on site, include full sides of smoked pork ribs for $11.99, thick cut pork steaks for $2.50, whole chickens for $4.99 and turkey drumsticks for $2.50.

There will also be barbecue sandwiches and Johnsonville Brats for $1.25 each. Cold soda and chips will also be available.

And this year, pre-orders for ribs, whole chickens and pork steaks can be made for pick-up Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. To pre-order, call Country Mart at 243-8171 or the Southeast basketball office at 651-5030 before 5 p.m. Tuesday.

The barbecue is a great way for hungry Southeast fans to help out the programs involved while mingling and talking sports with the coaches and athletes.

I've had plenty of the food in the past. Believe me, it's delicious.

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I'll have more on the event in the next several days, but people who enjoy streetball -- players and spectators -- are likely looking forward to next weekend.

That's when the popular Slamfest makes its yearly appearance at Indian Park in Cape Girardeau. The 15th edition of the outdoor basketball tournament is set for Saturday and Sunday.

It's always a special occasion, with some tremendous hoops and all kinds of other neat entertainment.

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Former Southeast baseball All-American Todd Pennington recently broke the Gateway (Ill.) Grizzlies' single-season record for saves. He entered the weekend tied for second in the independent Frontier League with 17 saves.

Pennington, a Shawnee (Ill.) High School product, spent the past five years in the Cleveland Indians' organization before being released.

This is Pennington's first season with the Grizzlies and he hopes to hook up next year with another major league organization.

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I'm sure area Rams fans will be pleased by the recent news that radio station ESPN 1220 will again broadcast all of the games this season, following a one-year absence.

Although there was a glitch with the broadcast of Thursday's exhibition opener against the Colts -- apparently due to satellite problems, it never aired -- all other contests the rest of the way should be on local radio.

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Former Southeast softball player Rachel Van Fleet has been hired as the new softball coach at Division III Fontbonne University in St. Louis.

Van Fleet, 23, was an assistant at St. Louis University last season.

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You can always count on some neat stories emerging during every major league season --but the hands-down winner this year is Detroit.

It was only two years ago that the Tigers were baseball's worst team. They also floundered toward the bottom of the ranks in 2005.

But just look at the Tigers now. Under veteran manager Jim Leyland, they have baseball's best record and lead the American League Central Division.

Meanwhile, there are several interesting division races going on, with the National League Central and West, along with the AL East and West, all up for grabs -- even if many of those divisions feature mediocre records at best.

And the wild cards in both leagues are totally wide open, particularly the watered-down NL, where is seems like almost everybody is still alive.

We should be in for quite a finish.

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Two Ohio Valley Conference teams are ranked in The Sports Network preseason Division I-AA football poll.

Defending OVC champion Eastern Illinois checks in at No. 14, while Eastern Kentucky is 20th, although the Colonels are the conference preseason favorites according to voting by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.

Defending national champion Appalachian State is ranked first, with New Hampshire, Montana, Northern Iowa and Furman rounding out the top five.

Southern Illinois is No. 17 and the lowest-rated among four Gateway Conference squads.

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Although he has only himself to blame, it's kind of sad reading about all the problems former Ohio State star running back Maurice Clarett is having these days.

It wasn't all that long ago -- 2002 -- when Clarett took the college football world by storm as he was a star freshman for the Buckeyes' national championship team.

Now Clarett will be fortunate if he doesn't spend the next several years in prison.

Talk about a hard fall.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.