CAPS SET TO RESUME TOURNEY TODAY

Sometimes a week off is not such a good thing.

After playing two solid games last weekend in the National Baseball Congress Mid-South Regional Tournament, McDowell Capahas manager Jess Bolen would have preferred not to have six days off between games.

Nonetheless, Bolen hopes the team's momentum will carry over 144 hours.

"Most of the time when you play well, you don't like to wait a week, to tell you the truth," Bolen said.

The Capahas (21-6) will play Saline County, the only other team with a 2-0 record in the tournament, at 8 tonight.

The Capahas, who are two tournament wins away from an automatic berth in the NBC World Series, posted a 13-3 win over Ste. Genevieve in the opening round last Friday, then knocked off O.B. Clark 8-3 in the winners' bracket semifinal on Saturday.

Saline County, meanwhile, took a 7-3 win over Pine Bluff, Ark. in the first round, then defeated Murphysboro, Ill. 11-3.

"I expect a tight ballgame against Saline County," Bolen said. "They have a good team. All I've seen of Saline county is those two games. But I could tell they've got some really good players."

Bolen said he didn't know yet who would pitch tonight's game. Chad Bogenpohl and Ronnie Lewallen pitched well last weekend.

"I've got a lot of guys throwing well this year and I don't want to bypass anybody," Bolen said. "It'll probably be Lanson Debrock, Bogey (Bogenpohl) or (Matt) Palmer."

Bolen said the tournament is still obviously up for grabs. But he likes the Caps' chances.

"We've looked good, but all four teams left have a good chance," he said. "We only have to win two, while O.B. Clark or Goreville has to win four."

The rest of the tournament resumes on Saturday, when O.B. Clark plays Goreville, Ill. in a losers' bracket game at 1:30 p.m.

The winner of that game will then immediately play the loser of the Capahas/Saline County game.

If the loser of the Capahas/Saline County game defeats the winner of the Gordonville-O.B. Clark game, the championship game will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday.

In other words, no team will have to play three games Saturday.

Bolen said he would have liked to have had two games tonight and avoid playing on Sunday, but -- due to various conflicts of a few teams -- it could not be arranged.