New format has Capahas finishing fourth in Wichita

The Plaza Tire Capahas' strong showing at the recent National Baseball Congress World Series turned out to rank even better than they might have anticipated.

Plaza Tire's 4-2 record in Wichita, Kan., gave it the fourth-best winning percentage among the 32 participants. So, under the new tournament format, the Capahas officially finished fourth.

That's quite an accomplishment.

In addition, two Plaza Tire players wound up among the tournament's statistical leaders.

Brady Wright led the tournament with three wins, all compiled in relief as he went 3-0.

Tyler Thompson tied for the best earned-run average -- 0.00 -- and was second with 16 strikeouts. Those stats were all compiled when he pitched 12 shutout innings during the Capahas' 1-0 second-round win over the Kansas Cannons.

What the Capahas accomplished in Wichita, and their tremendous year in general -- they went 32-5 -- no doubt has seemingly ageless hall-of-fame manager Jess Bolen already looking forward to his 48th season next summer.

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Southeast Missouri State men's basketball coach Dickey Nutt has been able to add some talented transfers from other Division I programs to his roster since he took over the Redhawks.

That continued with last week's announcement that Jevante "J.J." Thompson, a point guard who started much of the past two years at the University of Houston, is transferring to Southeast.

Thompson looks like a nice addition to Southeast's roster for the 2014-15 season. He will have to sit out the 2013-14 campaign under NCAA transfer rules, but he will be able to practice with the Redhawks. He then will have two years of eligibility at Southeast.

Thompson wasn't a star at Houston, averaging about six points per game during his two seasons there, but his assist-to-turnover ratio was solid. He should have the talent to thrive in the Ohio Valley Conference and figures to have a strong shot at taking over the point guard duties after senior Lucas Nutt completes his eligibility this season.

Thompson was rated a 3-star recruit as a senior at Irving High School in the Dallas area. Rivals.com ranked him No. 18 in the Texas player rankings.

According to Internet reports, Thompson chose Houston over UTEP, Colorado, Nebraska, UNLV, Wichita State, Texas Tech and Iowa.

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I've been told the Southeast men's basketball schedule for 2013-14 is close to being finalized and should be released soon.

I previously wrote that two of the Redhawks' "money" games to generate revenue for the athletic department will be at Saint Louis University in the Nov. 9 season opener and at Memphis on Dec. 21, which just happens to be when touted Auburn transfer Josh Langford becomes eligible.

Southeast's third "money" game won't actually be one contest but a tournament in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, during Thanksgiving week that will net the Redhawks a financial guarantee.

The Redhawks will play Tulane, Texas State and Northern Kentucky -- all very beatable opponents -- during the trip to Mexico.

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It's hard to believe, but the Southeast football team is less than two weeks away from its first game of the season.

The Redhawks held their only official public scrimmage Saturday, when they concluded their second week of fall camp.

Southeast has had 17 fall practices and has six remaining this week. Camp concludes Thursday, after which the Redhawks will regroup before classes begin Aug. 26.

Then it's game week as the Redhawks prepare for their Aug. 29 opener at Southeastern Louisiana.

I don't know how well the youthful Redhawks will do this year -- they figure to start only a few seniors -- but after watching Saturday's scrimmage and several practices, it looks like they have quite a bit of nice young talent, which should bode well for the future.

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Southeast's fall sports season officially kicks off Friday when the soccer team opens at Nebraska -- and optimism is high for the university's three fall squads besides football.

That optimism is led by the volleyball team, a once-proud program that had fallen on hard times but has been totally revived under third-year coach Julie Yankus.

Yankus' second season last year resulted in the Redhawks first 20-win campaign since 2007. Southeast went 21-13, won the Ohio Valley Conference West Division and finished second in the overall conference standings with a 12-4 league mark.

With most of their key players returning, the Redhawks have been picked to again capture the OVC West Division. They open the season Aug. 30 at the Mississippi State tournament.

Soccer, a perennial OVC power, is expected to be a title contender. The Redhawks were tabbed third in the league's preseason poll.

And cross country, also traditionally among the OVC's better programs, should again fare well. The Redhawks begins Aug. 31 at the Big River Running Early Bird in St. Louis.

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The high school football season officially kicks off next week, and area teams will have their annual dress rehearsals this week when they hold their annual multi-team scrimmage jamborees.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.