Capahas open today with eyes on postseason

After a string of successful seasons, the Craftsman Union Capahas are looking forward to another.

Cape Girardeau's highest-level summer baseball team has made 16 consecutive appearances in the National Baseball Congress World Series and all signs point to another this year.

The Capahas, coming off a 31-9 season, have gone 1,138-283 in 35 years under manager Jess Bolen.

"I'm real proud of the success we've had and the kind of product we've put on the field over the years," Bolen said. "Mainly, we've given a lot of kids an opportunity to play baseball and that's the best thing."

The Capahas will open the season today when Herrin (Ill.) visits Capaha Field for a 7:30 p.m. game. There will also be home doubleheaders against the St. Louis Printers at 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

"I think we can be pretty good again," Bolen said. "Pitching will be the key. It always is."

While the Capahas return several positions players from last year, the bulk of their pitching staff is new. That's the main reason Bolen is reserving judgment on just how good his team can be.

"We have a lot of young arms and a lot of it depends on how they do," he said. "But these young kids have had success as they have moved up the ladder and you might see them play pretty darn good."

The Capahas do return one of their top pitchers from last year in veteran Richie Phillips, who went 5-2 with a 2.04 earned-run average. Another returning hurler is Aaron Gurley, who was 3-0, while Craig Ringwald is back after pitching for the squad briefly early last summer.

Another familiar face will be back on the mound in the form of Ricky Pecaut, one of Bolen's top pitchers for most of the 1990s who last played for the Capahas in 1998.

New pitchers, all from the junior-college ranks who are either one or two years removed from high school, are Jason Chavez, Derrick Cunningham, Justin Holmes, Jeremy King, Jamie McAlister and Justin Simpher.

A blow to the staff was the injury suffered by Lanson Debrock, who has been one of the Capahas' aces the past several years. According to Bolen, Debrock separated a finger on his throwing hand during a work-related accident and might miss the entire season, although he could return late.

Returning position players are catcher Tristen McDonald; third baseman Denver Stuckey; infielder Chris Sledge; and outfielders Steve Kress, Tom Bolen and Josh Eftink.

Eftink led the Capahas in batting (.374) and home runs (7) last year.

Shortstop Zach Borowiak, who played for the Capahas two years ago, returns after competing for a different team last year, while outfielder Brian Hopkins and infielder Brad Simmons are first-year players.

Jess Bolen said earning a berth in the NBC World Series is the Capahas' No. 1 goal.

"It's a great way to climax your season," Bolen said. "It's a good way to accomplish something at the end of the year and end up feeling good about your whole year."

mmishow@semissourian.com

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