CAPS TO OPEN PLAY IN NBC WORLD SERIES; MCDOWELL TO FACE BOOMERANGS

If there is one thing Jess Bolen has learned over the years, it's the ability to adapt and adjust to whatever the fates and quirks of summer baseball throw his way.

That's why the McDowell Capahas will feature something of a different look today when they begin play in the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan. Their first-round opponent at 5 p.m. will be the Norman (Okla.) Boomerangs.

Bolen, the Capahas' veteran manager who has led the team to 15 straight NBC World Series appearances, has picked up a few talented players for the tournament. Bolen had to make some roster adjustments because some of his top players -- including Cory Crosnoe, Darrick Smith and Shawn Pemberton -- won't be able to make the trip because of work commitments.

"I'd love to be taking my team that won the (NBC Mid-South Regional) championship," said Bolen, whose squad has a 29-6 record, including 12 straight victories. "But certain guys can't go and I had no choice. I had to pick up some players so we could be competitive out there."

Under NBC regulations, the Capahas were allowed to add up to four players from other teams that participated in the Mid-South Regional. Bolen has taken advantage of this rule in the past to add key players for the World Series.

"We want to represent our sponsor as well as we can out there," said Bolen. "We have to try and get the best players possible so we can make a good showing. If you never do well out there, they (NBC officials) won't want you any more. They want teams that can compete."

For the World Series, Bolen has added two of the top hitters from rival St. Louis O.B. Clark, which the Capahas defeated in the championship game of the Mid-South Regional. Catcher Rick Mundy and first baseman Dan Chinicci have joined the squad.

Another pickup from the Mid-South Regional is Saline County (Ill.) catcher Jeremy Todd. And one more late pickup for the tournament is Neil Fiala of Waterloo (Ill.), another slugger.

"Those four players are all excellent hitters," said Bolen. "They will definitely strengthen our offense."

Two other key Capahas in Wichita will be players who joined the squad about midway through the season, second baseman Craig Ringe and left fielder Ben Margalski, who are both from the St. Louis area.

The rest of today's starting lineup figures to feature shortstop Darin Kinsolving, third baseman Jeff Bourbon, center fielder Steve Kress and right fielder Tommy Bolen.

"I feel pretty good about the team we're taking out there," Jess Bolen said. "I think we have a pretty good lineup, with solid hitters up and down the lineup."

Ringe is actually the Capahas' top hitter with a .440 batting average, although he only has 27 at-bats. Kress is hitting .410.

The other players going to Wichita all have impressive averages as well. Kinsolving is at .400, followed by Margalski (.380), Bolen (.370) and Bourbon (.350). And the three players added just for the tournament were among their squads' leading hitters.

Missing Crosnoe, Smith and Pemberton will certainly hurt. Crosnoe was batting .400 with team highs of 10 home runs and 10 doubles. Pemberton was at .370 with seven homers while Smith was at .350.

Bolen leads the Capahas in runs batted in with 41 as well as in triples with two. He also has five homers. Kinsolving has nine homers and 36 RBIs.

In the pitching department, the Capahas boast a team earned-run average of well under 3.00.

"That's really impressive, especially with aluminum bats," Jess Bolen said. "Our pitching has been good all year."

Chad Bogenpohl (4-2, 1.28 ERA) will start today's tourney opener.

"I feel good having Bogie out there," Bolen said. "He's really been throwing the ball well."

The Capahas should have a well-armed staff for the World Series, including Lanson Debrock (4-0, 1.17 ERA), Brent Self (4-0, 2.41 ERA), Jerry Wolsey (3-0, 0.93 ERA), Matt Palmer (4-2, 1.58 ERA), Ronnie Lewallen (3-1, 2.74 ERA) and Todd Pennington (2-1, 1.52 ERA).

"Our pitching has been strong all year," said Wolsey, who also has a .372 batting average in limited appearances but figures to primarily see mound duty in Wichita. "I don't see any reason why we can't do well."

Bolen also added another highly-regarded hurler for the tourney in left-hander Justin Hampson, a junior-college All-American last year at Belleville (Ill.) Area College.

"I think we're taking plenty of pitching out there," said Bolen.

Win or lose today, the Capahas will play again Wednesday in the double-elimination event, taking on either Liberal (Kan.) or Seguin (Texas). Liberal is ranked third out of the 34 squads in the World Series.

McDowell has had some strong showings in Wichita in the past, but last season's squad was eliminated in two games. Bolen believes this year's bunch could do some damage.

"Last year was disappointing and we'd love to make up for that," he said. "I think we're taking a strong enough team to make some noise, but out there, you have to play good and get some breaks. So many things enter into it."

NOTE: For the second straight year, the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce and Southeast Missourian have paid for the Capahas' $1,000 entry fee in the NBC World Series.