CAPS MAKE NO GUARANTEE

The old adage says, "Nothing in life is certain except death and taxes."

Well, there has been at least one exception that has gotten hammered through intact.

Last summer the McDowell Capahas were all but guaranteed their sixth NBC Mid-South Regional title in the '90s with a weak field assembled.

With its opponents in the four-team field combining for a 16-33 record, the Capahas' berth in the NBC World Series was a virtual certainty. McDowell blasted away its three victims as it enacted the mercy rule in each game and won by a combined 51-10 score.

The year is now 1999, and the one-year exemption to the old adage has expired. To the delight of Capahas manager Jess Bolen, an eight-team field is assembled which will provide a better test for his squad.

While Murphysboro (Ill.), Goreville (Ill.) and Pine Bluff (Ark.) return from last year, the field has been beefed up with the return of O.B. Clark, the St. Louis Printers and Saline Co. (Ill.).

Ste. Genevieve, the Capahas' first-round opponent, rounds out the field. The two teams kickoff tournament play Friday at 6 p.m.

The Capahas take in a 19-6 record, with two of the wins lopsided thumpings of Ste. Genevieve. McDowell owns 19-3 and 25-1 wins over the squad.

But Bolen is trying not to look past Ste. Gen to a probable winners' bracket showdown Saturday night with O.B. Clark, which faces Goreville at 8:30 p.m. in Friday's other first-round game.

"We're certainly not going in thinking we're going to blow anybody away," said Bolen. "We beat (Ste. Gen) twice, but they could pick up a pitcher for this tournament. You can't always go by that."

O.B. Clark did not field a team last year, but appears to have returned to its old form. Bolen missed his old rival in last year's tournament despite the fact O.B. Clark won regional titles in 1996 and 1997.

Bolen has not seen O.B. Clark this year, but is anticipating a showdown on Saturday.

"That one will be a dandy," he admits.

O.B. Clark owns a 10-0 win over a strong Evansville (Ind.) team.

Besides Ste. Genevieve, the St. Louis Printers are the only other tournament team the Capahas have played this season. The Printers won two of the three meetings between the two teams.

Bolen includes Saline County among the top four teams in the tournament.

The Capahas have been beset by injuries this season and welcome the healthy bodies of three new pickups for the tournament.

"We've had one injury after another and sooner or later it takes its toll," said Bolen.

Among the three is catcher Shawn Pemberton, who was signed this spring by the Richmond Roosters (an independent Class A team) but has since left the team.

Ben Margloski was recently picked up by the Caps and Belleville Junior College shortstop Brian Beckman has joined the team.

"I think we're getting better," said Bolen. "We've just been blown away by injuries."

Among the casualties are pitcher Richie Phillips (elbow, probably out for the year), pitcher Danny Simpher (shoulder), catcher Ben Arbeiter (wrist in cast), shortstop Cory Crosnoe (partially separated shoulder) and catcher Ryan Murphy.

Pitching has allowed the Capahas to weather the adversity and the low staff E.R.A.'s would make any major league team jealous. The highest E.R.A. on the eight-man staff is 2.65. The only bad news about the pitching is that Phillips and Simpher probably won't be available for the tournament.

"We just don't give up a lot of runs," said Bolen. "As long we do that we've got a chance."

The Capahas lack gaudy numbers on offense, but feature three players with .390 batting averages in 1998 tournament MVP Steve Kress, George White and Tom Bolen. Margloski is hitting at a .380 clip and Darrick Smith, Pemberton and Arbeiter are hitting .350.

Tom Bolen leads the team with 33 RBIs and Darin Kinsolving has a team-high six home runs.

"We should be pretty solid by the time the season ends," said Jess Bolen.