Capahas prepare to face familiar foe

~ Plaza Tire has enjoyed tremendous success against the Riverdogs.

The Plaza Tire Capahas have dominated the all-time series with the Charleston Riverdogs, winning 26 of 27 meetings, including all seven last year.

But that doesn't mean Capahas manager Jess Bolen expects an easy time tonight when the local amateur baseball teams square off in a 7 p.m. first pitch at Hillhouse Park in Charleston.

"I know we've won most of the games we've played with them, but the last few years we've had a bunch of really good games with them," Bolen said. "We've had some close games with them that we could have lost.

"Baseball is the kind of game, you put a good guy on the mound, anything can happen. Plus it's a wooden bat game, and it's usually an enthusiastic kind of game. I don't look for anything easy at all."

The Capahas have been around since 1894 and generally get their pick of the top talent that comes out of Southeast Missouri State or other regional universities.

On the other hand, the Riverdogs are only in their ninth year of existence and have not yet had a winning season.

Still, Bolen said he has plenty of respect for what Riverdogs co-managers Robin Minner and Ray Craft do for area baseball.

The Riverdogs were based out of Cape Girardeau their first seven years before making the move to Charleston last season.

"I respect Robin and Ray a lot because they're giving some other kids a chance to play ball," Bolen said. "That's what it's all about and they do a good job there."

The Capahas are off to a 5-0 start while the Riverdogs are 1-2 this season.

Plaza Tire has outscored its five opponents 56-14 and the Capahas have banged out 65 hits, including seven home runs.

Bolen thought his squad's offense would come back down to earth a bit Sunday when the Capahas used wood bats for the first time this season.

Instead, Plaza Tire compiled 24 runs and 31 hits during a pair of lopsided wins in Evansville, Ind.

"I'm a little surprised the way we're hitting," Bolen said. "Even with wood the other day we hit really well, and wood-bat games are usually fairly low scoring."

Minner said he expects the Riverdogs, primarily made up of former area high school players -- many competed on the small-college level, with a few Division I players sprinkled in -- to be solid.

"We've got a lot of the players we've had the last few years and we've added about four or five," Minner said. "I think defensively we're all right, and we'll score some runs. It all depends on what kind of pitching we get."

Like Bolen, Minner relishes the competition between the area clubs. The Capahas and Riverdogs will meet three more times after tonight and could also possibly square off in the National Baseball Congress Mid-South Regional.

"We enjoy playing them and we usually play them pretty well," Minner said.

The Riverdogs' lone victory over the Capahas came in 2005.

Last year the Riverdogs dropped a 1-0 decision to the Capahas. Two of the other meetings were decided by four runs, although Plaza Tire did post three wins by at least nine runs.

"I look for a good ballgame," Bolen said. "I don't expect us to roll over them by any means."

Bolen said former Southern Illinois pitcher Jason Chavez will start on the mound for Plaza Tire tonight.

Minner said he was still contemplating the Riverdogs' starter.

After tonight's game, Plaza Tire figures to receive one of its stiffest tests of the entire season Friday when perennial power Waterloo, Ill., visits Capaha Field for a 7:30 p.m. contest.

The Capahas and Buds also play next month in Waterloo, Ill.

"Waterloo always has a very good team and I look for a great game with them," Bolen said. "We've always got to play at the top of our game to have a chance to beat them."