Kaverman stays, but his future in uncertain

Whether Don Kaverman pulled his name out of the running to become the associate athletics director at Ferris State (Mich.) University or simply was not offered the job is open for debate.

Either way, the end result is that Southeast Missouri State's director of athletics is staying in his current position.

And that brings up an interesting question.

How will Kaverman's interest in the post at Division II Ferris State affect his future at Southeast when his current contract expires in June 2009?

There has been speculation — mainly on the Internet — that Kaverman's run at Southeast will end in June. He is in his 10th year at the university.

But if the Southeast administration did originally intend on extending Kaverman's contract, will the fact he flirted with Ferris State have any bearing on that?

It will definitely be interesting to see how things play out.

By the way, Kaverman told me Friday that he withdrew his name from consideration for the Ferris State position before the school even made its decision. He was one of three finalists.

Kaverman said the job was intriguing for several reasons — mainly because that area is basically home to he and his wife Sue and they plan to retire there some day, along with the fact he worked at Ferris State for six years in the 1980s — but didn't feel it was right for him at this time.

But Toby Carrig reported on his blog that, according to sources, Ferris State athletic director Tom Kirinovic was leaning away from Kaverman when Kirinovic made his recommendation about the job Wednesday following Kaverman's on-campus interview and public forum earlier in the day.

But, like I wrote earlier, the circumstances that led Kaverman to remain at Southeast really don't matter.

The thing that matters now is what's going to happen in June.

Stay tuned for that one.

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I was elated upon hearing Wednesday's news that longtime Plaza Tire Capahas' manager Jess Bolen will be inducted into the National Baseball Congress Hall of Fame during next month's NBC World Series in Wichita, Kan.

I think it's great that Bolen will be recognized nationally for his 42 years of managing the Capahas. It's an honor that has been long overdue.

Bolen's team will make its 27th appearance in the NBC World Series, set for Aug. 1 through 15.

And not only are the Capahas annual fixtures in Wichita, they often fare well, with numerous top-10 finishes, including last year's seventh-place showing.

Ozzie Smith, Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Tom Seaver, Tony Gwynn and Satchel Paige are just some of the famous names that grace the NBC Hall of Fame.

Now Bolen will join that list, which is only fitting.

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A few more Capahas notes:

Bolen said NBC officials have already told him the Capahas will play their first contest in Wichita on Aug. 4, although the time and opponent will be determined later.

As the No. 8 seed for the NBC World Series, the Capahas receive an opening-round bye.

The Capahas will have their final home game of the season Friday, when Fairview Heights, Ill., visits for a 7:30 p.m. first pitch.

Finally, left-handed pitcher James Leigh has joined the Capahas for the remainder of the season. Leigh played the past two years at Southeast, where he has one season of eligibility left.

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With the start of the college football season a little more than a month away, this is the time when preseason polls start popping up with regularity.

The official Ohio Valley Conference poll, voted on by the league's coaches and sports information directors, will come out Tuesday at the OVC's annual media day in Nashville, Tenn.

I expect Southeast to again be picked at or toward the bottom of the nine-team conference.

Every preseason OVC poll I've seen so far has the Redhawks either eighth or ninth. I don't anticipate anything different Tuesday.

Really, that's understandable. Southeast finished next-to-last a year ago, going 3-8 overall and 1-6 in the OVC.

Since Southeast only had a handful of seniors in 2007, the Redhawks will field pretty much the same group this season. On paper, they deserve to be tabbed as one of the OVC's doormats.

It will be up to the Redhawks to prove the prognosticators wrong as they try to start turning the corner in coach Tony Samuel's third season.

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That was an incredible performance by Josh Hamilton in last Monday's All-Star Home Run Derby.

I don't usually get excited about those types of competitions, but this one was captivating as the Texas Rangers slugger bashed a record 28 homers in the first round, although he was beaten out by Minnesota's Justin Morneau in the finals.

Many of Hamilton's homers were majestic shots, with several traveling more than 500 feet.

Hamilton is a pretty neat story to begin with, as the former No. 1 overall pick almost ruined his baseball career before it ever really got started because of a drug addiction.

To see Hamilton turn his life around, along with his baseball career, is pretty impressive stuff.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.