Capahas pitching could lead to improved showing

~ The Plaza Tire team has won just one of seven games over the last three years at the tourney in Wichita, Kan.

The Plaza Tire Capahas have had plenty of success over the years at the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan.

Not lately, however.

The Capahas will try to end three straight seasons of tournament disappointment when they begin play in the 42-team, double-elimination event on Saturday morning.

Plaza Tire, making its 25th consecutive tournament appearance, will carry a 21-9 record into an 8 a.m. contest against the Houston Apollos.

The Capahas have gone 1-6 at the NBC World Series over the past three years, including an 0-2 showing last season. But they have had several top-10 finishes in the nation's most prestigious amateur baseball tournament, with a best showing of fourth place in 1988.

"We haven't done much out there the last few years," Plaza Tire manager Jess Bolen said. "It would be nice to win some games out there for a change."

While Bolen knows this isn't one of the stronger teams he has taken to Wichita, he also doesn't rule out a solid showing -- primarily because of one of the better pitching staffs he has had in quite a while.

"We're just not very strong, but we do have good pitching and you know how that goes," said Bolen, in his 40th season as the Capahas' manager. "The team might have you overmatched, but the guy on the mound is not overmatched and that gives you a chance to win."

Anthony Maupin, the ace of Southeast Missouri State's staff as a senior this year who has been the Capahas' most consistent starter, will get the nod Saturday.

"He's looked good pretty much all summer," Bolen said. "With him on the mound, I think we've got a chance."

Bolen is also encouraged by the Capahas' strong finish to the regular season. They won seven of their final eight games.

"We've played better the last couple of weeks, no doubt about it," Bolen said. "Whether we're playing good enough to compete out there, you never know, because every team is very good."

Plaza Tire has picked up what Bolen considers to be an important hitter for the tournament. Jerry Hodges, a third baseman/outfielder for Fairview Heights, Ill., will join the Capahas.

"We played that team five times and he's hitting almost .500 against us. We can't get him out," said Bolen, whose squad faced Fairview Heights most recently Tuesday night. "We were talking and they had no games this weekend so he said he'd love to go with us. I told him he talked to us at the right time because we could use him."

Jordan Payne, who completed his eligibility at Southeast this year, also will likely join the Capahas for at least some of the tournament, although he won't be available Saturday.

"Both those guys should really help us," Bolen said.

Not much is known about today's opponent, the Houston Apollos, who went 2-2 during their only previous NBC World Series appearance in 2004.

"I just know that everybody out there is a quality team," Bolen said. "You've generally got to play really well to win."

If the Capahas win Saturday, they'll play Monday against perennial tournament power Hays, Kan. A loss would send Plaza Tire into a Wednesday elimination game against an undetermined opponent.