Capahas open play today at NBC World Series

The Plaza Tire Capahas continue their tour of America with their 30th consecutive National Baseball Congress World Series appearance.

Manager Jess Bolen's squad opens the 77th annual double-elimination event in Wichita, Kan., at 10 p.m. today against the St. Joseph (Mo.) Mustangs. The 32-team tournament began Saturday and concludes Aug. 13.

Bolen hopes the Capahas, coming off a second-place finish at the Union Printers tournament in Daytona Beach, Fla., are fresh enough to make a strong showing during the season-ending marquee event.

The Capahas returned to Cape Girardeau late Friday following Thursday night's title game in Daytona Beach, then left early Saturday for the trip to Wichita. It ultimately will be a trek of more than 3,000 miles -- all driven.

"We've seen a lot of the country, that's for sure," said a laughing Bolen, who has a 1,407-377 record in his 45th season at the helm of the Capahas. "I just hope we're not too worn out.

"It's going to be a really tough first game with all that travel, but hopefully we can overcome it. Playing that late game [today] should help. That's the game I wanted."

The Capahas (23-5) will begin NBC World Series play against a tough opponent, which is nothing new.

Last year the Capahas lost to the perennial NBC power Seattle (Wash.) Studs in the first round.

This time it's the traditionally strong St. Joseph Mustangs from the MINK League, a collegiate baseball league that features eight teams from Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas.

The Mustangs (34-10) won their league title in dramatic fashion as Adam Maddox from Division II power Central Missouri State pitched a no-hitter to beat the Nevada (Mo.) Griffons 5-0, giving St. Joseph a 2-0 win in the best-of-three series.

St. Joseph finished fourth in the 2010 NBC World Series.

"They're a top team, just like Seattle last year. It seems like we always start out with one of the better teams when we go out there," Bolen said. "But really any game you play out there is going to be tough. Most of the teams out there have won some kind of championship."

Bolen said former Central High School and Southeast Missouri State pitcher Brad LaBruyere, who has been among the Capahas' top hurlers for several years, will get the start today.

LaBruyere notched the Capahas' only NBC World Series win last year with a complete-game performance.

"Brad knows how to pitch. He's done a good job out there before," Bolen said. "You feel good with Brad on the mound."

The Capahas' second World Series game depends on today's outcome. Plaza Tire would play either Wednesday at a time to be determined or 10:30 a.m. Monday if they lose. The Capahas are paired with the winner/loser of the Austin (Texas) Gold Sox and the Valley Center (Kan.) Diamond Dawgs.

The Capahas, who have numerous high World Series finishes over the years, are just 1-4 in the past two tournaments. They went 1-2 last season and 0-2 in 2009.

The tournament features many of the nation's top amateur players, some of whom eventually will end up as major leaguers, along with some former professionals.

"You never know how you're going to do out there. Every team you play is going to be very good and anything can happen," Bolen said. "The talent in that tournament is really good. You've got to play really well to have a chance."