Summer signals the start of another Capahas season

One of Cape Girardeau's most enduring summer sports traditions is just about upon us.

The Plaza Tire Capahas, among the nation's oldest amateur baseball teams, begin their 2013 schedule Friday when Valmeyer, Ill., visits Capaha Field for an 8 p.m. first pitch.

It's part of a five-game season-opening homestand for the Capahas, who face Valmeyer in a 1 p.m. Saturday doubleheader and the Charleston Riverdogs in a 2 p.m. Sunday twin bill.

I'll have more on the squad in a preview article later this week, but it would be stunning if the Capahas don't have another highly successful season under Hall of Fame manager Jess Bolen.

Bolen enters his 47th season at the helm of the Capahas with a 1,407-379 record and 30 consecutive National Baseball Congress World Series appearances.

I've written it many times before, but the Capahas, who generally feature plenty of current and former Division I collegiate players, are one of the best bargains around -- there is no admission charge to watch their games.

See you at the ballpark.

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As an added bonus for area baseball fans this summer, all Capahas home games and all Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons Senior American Legion home games played at Capaha Field will be broadcast by Mississippi River Radio on ESPN 1220 AM.

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The injury-riddled Southeast Missouri State baseball team had a solid showing at the Ohio Valley Conference tournament that concluded Saturday in Jackson, Tenn.

Southeast ended its first season under coach Steve Bieser by going 2-2 to finish fourth despite being the sixth and final seed.

I believe the future is bright for the Redhawks, who had only four seniors -- all pitchers -- and figure to regain the services of several key players who missed either all or parts of the season with various injuries.

As for Austin Peay, the future continues to be now for the Governors, who extended their impressive run by capturing their third straight OVC tournament title. It's the first time that has been done in the OVC since former league member Middle Tennessee State three-peated from 1990 to 1992.

The second-seeded Govs went 3-0 in the tourney, capped by Saturday's 6-3 win over fifth-seeded Eastern Kentucky. Austin Peay outsored its three tournament opponents 25-9.

Austin Peay, which set a program record for victories, will carry a dazzling 45-13 mark and a 15-game winning streak into its third straight NCAA regional appearance.

The Govs, in addition to their three consecutive OVC tournament crowns, also have two OVC regular-season championships and one runner-up finish during that stretch.

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Southeast athletics enjoyed a banner 2012-13 school year in the classroom.

Southeast teams combined for a 3.122 cumulative grade-point average and had 192 athletes -- more than 60 percent -- record a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Sixteen Redhawks posted a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Eleven of Southeast's 13 squads carried a cumulative GPA above 3.0, including all eight women's teams. Gymnastics led the way at 3.853, followed by cross country (3.695), soccer (3.674), basketball (3.533), volleyball (3.507), tennis (3.450), track & field (3.396) and softball (3.161).

The men's teams were led by cross country (3.452), baseball (3.176) and track & field (3.161).

Last but not least, 48 Southeast athletes graduated earlier this month.

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Recent Southeast softball signee Haylee Krack has been named a first-team National Junior College Athletic Association All-American.

Krack, playing third base for Kirkwood (Iowa) Community College this season, hit .398 while ranking fourth nationally in both home runs (19) and RBIs (72). She was also seventh with 142 total bases.

Krack helped the Eagles to a 57-5 record, their best in program history.

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It was a terrific weekend for Jackson and Central at the Class 4 track and field meet as the programs combined for three state championships.

Congratulations to Central senior Chris Martin (boys triple jump), Jackson senior Paden Wachter (girls discus) and Jackson junior Sierra Maddox (girls pole vault) for capturing state titles.

Wachter also finished second in the shot put.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.