CAPAHAS OPEN '97 SEASON TONIGHT

A mix of seasoned veterans and talented newcomers has veteran Kohlfeld Capahas' manager Jess Bolen feeling good about the 1997 season.

The Capahas -- Cape Girardeau's highest-level summer baseball team -- will kick off another season tonight when Chester (Ill.) comes to town for an 8 o'clock first pitch at Capaha Field.

"We've got quite a few guys back and also a lot of new faces," said Bolen. "I think we'll be pretty strong."

Bolen, entering his 31st season as the Capahas' manager, has compiled a 986-337 career record, including last year's 31-16 mark.

But by normal Capaha standards, last year was not one of the team's better seasons, even though the squad once again received a berth in the National Baseball Congress World series, where it went 2-2.

The Capahas placed just third in the NBC State Tournament -- held in Cape Girardeau -- a year ago. In fact, they have not won the NBC state title since 1994, St. Louis O.B. Clark having won the past two championships.

"One of our goals is to get the (state) title back," said Bolen, whose team won four consecutive state championships between 1991 and 1994. "I'm sure O.B. Clark is powerful again. But I think we'll be pretty good."

As for how the 1997 Capahas compare to some of Bolen's other teams, he said, "With so many new guys, it's hard to tell. I haven't seen a lot of these guys in game-type situations. Until you do, you don't know how you'll stack up. But on paper, I think it looks like a good ballclub."

Returning for the Capahas are catcher Shawn Pemberton; first basemen Tim Ellis and Tom Breuer (who played third last year); second baseman Darrick Smith; shortstop-third baseman Ryan Murphy; outfielders Steve Kress, Brian Schaefer and Tommy Bolen; and pitchers Richie Phillips, Ricky Pecaut and Danny Simpher.

Rejoining the Capahas after not playing for them in the last year or two are shortstop Cory Crosnoe, who spent the past two seasons with O.B. Clark; infielder-outfielder Mark Simmons, who sat out last season; and pitcher David Michel, who played for a team in Wichita, Kan., last year.

Newcomers to the team are catcher George White; first baseman Darin Kinsolving; infielder-outfielder Carl Archer; outfielder Julio Vega; and pitchers Chad Bogenpohl, Brandon West, Kevin Vent and Garrett Dunning.

White, out of Jackson High, formerly played for Mineral Area College while Kinsolving (East Prairie) recently completed his freshman season at Southeast Missouri State University.

Archer and Vega are both former professional players not originally from this area. Bolen said Vega reached as high as the Triple A level with the Giants.

Bogenpohl (Oak Ridge), West (Cape Central), Vent (Sikeston) and Dunning (Delta) all attended area high schools and pitched for junior colleges in the region this past season. Bogenpohl and West both hurled for Jefferson College, Vent pitched for Mineral Area College and Dunning competed for Three Rivers Community College.