Reyes, Thompson highlight Caravan

~ The Cardinals Caravan will be in Cape Girardeau on Monday.

It might be difficult to top last year in terms of excitement for the annual spring Cardinals Caravan stops.

Last year, the team was coming off a World Series championship and the Cardinals who came through Cape Girardeau's Osage Community Centre on a Sunday evening included key participants Chris Duncan and Adam Wainwright, the youngster who recorded the last outs of the National League championship series and the World Series via strikeouts.

The foursome coming to St. Louis on Monday at 5:30 p.m. includes two pitchers who have been around the team and two prospects who may be a big part of the Redbirds' rebuilding plan.

Pitchers Anthony Reyes and Brad Thompson will be in town to sign autographs for youths and speak to the fans, while catcher Bryan Anderson and reliever Chris Perez will join them.

Former players Al Hrabosky and Alan Benes also will attend, with Hrabosky serving as the master of ceremonies.

Reyes, 26, was 2-14 last year with a 6.04 ERA, bringing his career MLB record to 8-23 with a 5.42 ERA. He started Game 1 of the 2006 World Series, setting the tone for St. Louis' victory over the Detroit Tigers.

Thompson, who turns 26 later this month, was 8-6 with a 4.73 ERA last year while being used as a starter and reliever.

Anderson, who turned 21 last month, is the top catching prospect in the organization. He hit .298 in Springfield, Mo., last year with 53 RBI in 103 games.

Perez, 22, had 35 saves between Springfield and Memphis last year, including a 2.43 ERA, 2-0 record and 27 saves in 39 games in Class AA.

Tickets to the event are $4, which benefits the Park Development Fund, while ages 2 and under are free. Advance tickets are available at Osage Community Centre and the Arena, though seating on Monday still is first-come, first-serve.

Doors will open at 5 p.m., and the program begins at 5:30 p.m.

The Cardinals' policy on the trips is to sign autographs for youths only.