THE LATEST LINE: CAPAHAS TURN BACK THE CLOCK

They aren't wearing the old-time uniforms, but there is something refreshingly retro about Cape Girardeau's highest-level baseball team these days.

The McDowell Capahas have actually dusted off the old wood bats and are hitting with them most of the time this year, only turning to the modern aluminum every now and then.

I'm giving away my age here, but I grew up swinging the old-fashioned wood. When I was a kid, aluminum was still nothing more than a peek into the distant future.

Personally, I'm glad the Capahas are turning back the clock. It's nice to be able to hear the crack of wood against ball at a level outside the professional ranks for a change. It's also nice to be able to use a phrase that isn't often heard in amateur baseball these days: "He got good wood on that one."

The Capahas aren't necessarily doing this for nostalgic reasons, although longtime manager Jess Bolen agrees that it's nice to go back to old-style baseball.

Primarily, Bolen is having his players hit with wood bats the majority of the time this summer in order to be prepared for the season-ending National Baseball Congress World Series, which has banned aluminum during its annual event.

As for his players adjusting to the change, Bolen says it has been something of a slow but sure process. Basically, batters can hit balls a lot harder and a lot further with aluminum. Balls hit off the fists or off the end of the bat that are usually routine infield pop-ups with wood often reach the outfield for singles with aluminum. Hitters have to learn to be a bit more selective with pitches when using wood.

No matter what the reason for the Capahas' retro look these days, it's nice to see. And, even though the Caps are often times at something of a disadvantage when the opposition uses aluminum which is the case most of the time it hasn't hurt their record because they're having yet another excellent season.

Bolen's tradition-reach program has always given area baseball fans plenty of reasons to attend Capaha Park on weekday nights and weekend afternoons during the summer months.

Now, those fans -- especially the ones who grow up with wood -- have another reason to watch the Capahas.

* And still on the subject of the Capahas, fans of local summer baseball will be in for a real treat this coming weekend when the nationally-renowned team from Clarinda, Iowa, pays a visit to Cape Girardeau.

Clarinda, which is annually one of the country's top squads and always a threat to win the NBC championship, will play a three-game series against the Capahas. There will be a twi-night doubleheader Saturday and a single game Sunday afternoon.

It should be quite a weekend of baseball.

* Former Southeast Missouri State University pitcher Shawn Tripp, who manages and plays for the Goreville (Ill.) summer baseball team, is selling tickets to the July 4 Cardinals-Reds game at Busch Stadium as part of a promotion that has his squad playing a game later that day at Busch.

Anybody interested in purchasing tickets should call Tripp at (618) 995-9333.

* Coaches of area summer baseball teams -- including Senior Legion, Junior Legion and Senior Babe Ruth -- are encouraged to phone in their results to the Southeast Missourian immediately after their games are finished each night.

Coaches should call either 335-6611 or toll-free 1-800-879-1210.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian