CAPS READY TO UNLEASH ANOTHER WINNER

As much success as the McDowell Capahas have had over the years, the way the past two seasons ended left something of a bad taste in veteran manager Jess Bolen's mouth.

In each of the past two years, the Capahas failed to win a game at the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan. The 1999 squad that compiled a stellar 29-8 record went 0-2 in Wichita, as had the 1998 team.

"That's one thing I'd definitely like to change (this year)," said Bolen. "We had been doing pretty decent (at the NBC World Series), finishing fourth once, fifth twice and in the top 10 several other times. We want to do better than what we've been doing out there."

Bolen figures his 2000 Capahas just might be the squad that once again makes its mark at the NBC World Series. The manager who has compiled a 1,074-364 record in 33 seasons at the helm of Cape Girardeau's highest-level baseball team definitely likes the way things are looking heading into Thursday's 7 p.m. season opener at home against Saline County, Ill.

"I think we'll have a good ballclub, as good or better as we've had lately," Bolen said. "I think we have a lot of good talent, but a big key in summer ball is always how well you can keep everybody together because people have other commitments, like jobs.

"I can't emphasize this too much, but if we can keep them together and basically have 90 percent of our team at all the games, then we can make a move. With this club, I think we'll have the talent to always have a chance to win in any game we play."

The 19-man roster that Bolen expects to start the season with is a blend of the old and the new. The Capahas return 12 players from last season and they welcome seven newcomers.

"We've got some good guys coming back and I think we've added some really good players," Bolen said.

Returning position players are outfielders Steve Kress and Tom Bolen; infielders Cory Crosnoe, Ryan Murphy and Darin Kinsolving; and catcher George White.

Kress, Crosnoe and Kinsolving all batted in the .400 range last year while Bolen was in the high .300s and Murphy and White were both also above .300. Crosnoe led the way in home runs with 10 and Kinsolving followed close behind with nine. Bolen paced the squad in runs batted in with more than 40.

Newcomers around the field are outfielders Kevin Meyer and Phil Warren, who like Kinsolving enjoyed stellar senior seasons at Southeast Missouri State University; infielders Shane Allen (Southeast) and Chris Sledge (Belmont); and catcher Mark Wroten (Lindenwood).

"I think we've got a good blend of power and speed," said Bolen of his squad's offense.

Bolen is especially high on the Capahas' pitching staff which will feature returning hurlers Lanson Debrock, Matt Palmer, Chad Bogenpohl, Jerry Wolsey, Brent Self and Ronnie Lewallen, along with newcomers Jeffrey Hilz (Southeast) and Cody Fisher (Belmont).

Debrock was runner-up for OVC Pitcher of the Year honors at Southeast this season; Palmer had a standout season at Three Rivers Community College; Bogenpohl and Self all won four games for the Capahas last year to tie for the team lead. Wolsey and Lewallen each added three victories, so 22 of the squad's 29 wins return.

The two new additions to the staff, both left-handers, are coming off impressive college seasons as Hilz earned OVC Rookie of the Year honors and had one of the nation's top earned-run averages while Fisher was Belmont's ace.

"I think this staff will have a chance to be as good as any we've ever had," said Bolen. "We have some outstanding pitchers all the way down the line."

Following Thursday's opener, the Capahas will have four more home games this weekend, all against long-time rival St. Louis O.B. Clark. There will be doubleheaders both Saturday (5:30 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.).

2000 Capahas Schedule

(Home games in capital letters)

MAY

25 SALINE COUNTY, Ill., 7 p.m.; 27 ST. LOUIS O.B. CLARK (2), 5:30 p.m.; 28 ST. LOUIS O.B. CLARK (2), 1 p.m.; 30 GOREVILLE, Ill., 7:30 p.m.; 31 SAUGET, Ill., 7:45 p.m.

JUNE

2 FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill., 8 p.m.; 3 ST. LOUIS PRINTERS (2), 1 p.m.; 4 MEMPHIS, Tenn. (2), 1 p.m.; 8 at Sauget, Ill., 7:45 p.m.; 10 at St. Louis O.B. Clark (2), 1 p.m.; 11 at Goreville, Ill. (2), 1 p.m.; 14 at Fairview Heights, Ill., 8 p.m.; 16 FARMINGTON, 8 p.m.; 17 ST. LOUIS O.B. CLARK (2), 5:30 p.m.; 18 at St. Louis Printers (2), 1:30 p.m.; 21 at Goreville, Ill., 7:30 p.m.; 22 SALINE COUNTY, Ill., 7 p.m.; 24 CLARINDA, Iowa (2), 5 p.m.; 25 CLARINDA, Iowa (2), 1 p.m.; 28 at Farmington, 8 p.m.

JULY

1-4 at 4th of July Tournament, TBA; 7-9 NBC MID-SOUTH REGIONAL, TBA; 14 NBC MID-SOUTH REGIONAL, TBA; 15 VALMEYER, Ill. (2), TBA; 16 GOREVILLE, Ill. (2), 1 p.m.; 19 at Fairview Heights, Ill., 8 p.m.; 21 ST. LOUIS O.B. CLARK, 8 p.m.; 22 EVANSVILLE, Ind. (2), 2 p.m.; 23 FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. (2), 2 p.m.