THE LATEST LINE: CAPAHAS EYE UPCOMING NBC STATE TOURNAMENT

As you read this, I'm lounging on the beaches of Southern California, taking in the sights, working on my tan, drinking lots of liquids (everyone knows that you need quite a bit of fluids in the heat) and getting plenty of R&R.

But I couldn't resist touching on a few topics of interest before I left.

* O.B. Clark deserves to be the solid favorite when the 1996 National Baseball Congress State Tournament gets underway Friday night at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau.

After all, the powerhouse St. Louis squad is the defending NBC state champion and has already defeated the Kohlfeld Capahas three times this season.

The host Capahas won three consecutive state championships before O.B. Clark halted that streak last year. The Capahas appear to be the primary challengers to O.B. Clark this season, but several other squads could loom as darkhorses.

While the entire tournament field is not officially set yet, there does figure to be some other talented teams on hand to square off with the Capahas and O.B. Clark.

The first rounds of the tournament will be played Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with the final rounds set for the following weekend at Capaha Field.

Area baseball fans generally pack the stands for this tournament and they would be wise to do so again this year because there once again figures to be plenty of top-quality action. O.B. Clark features several former minor-league players on its roster and some of the other teams in the tourney should also have their share of ex-professionals.

* Southeast Missouri State University football fans are no doubt cringing these days after hearing the news that highly-touted running back Tony McDonald is academically ineligible for the 1996 season.

McDonald showed plenty of promise as a true freshman last season, then he was dazzling during this year's spring game, rushing for 156 yards.

The Indians' offense -- which lost heavily to graduation from last season -- figured to be the team's major question mark this year to begin with. And those questions grow even larger now that McDonald won't be around.

Fortunately for SEMO fans, the Indians' defense should be stout. The defenders will probably have to carry a major part of the load, particularly early in the season while key offensive players gain experience.

* Former SEMO football standout Kelvin "Earthquake" Anderson got off to a rousing start as the starting tailback for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League.

SEMO's career rushing leader out of New Madrid County Central High School ran for more than 60 yards in each of the Stampeders' first two games this season to rank among the CFL rushing leaders.

Remember, the CFL is not known as a rushing league because league rules allow only three downs to pick up a first down instead of the normal four downs. That puts quite a premium on the passing game.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian