It's a virtual given that the McDowell Capahas -- Cape Girardeau's highest-level summer baseball team -- will have a successful season each year.

The only question is just how good the Capahas will be and that's usually determined by what the squad does each year in the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan.

Last season the Capahas -- despite another solid record of 26-12 -- lost both their games in the NBC World Series.

"We went to Wichita last year and didn't do well," said manager Jess Bolen. "It's the first time in a long time we were two and out."

That didn't sit well with Bolen, who has an unbelievable career record of 1,045-356 as he enters his 33rd season in charge of the Capahas.

Bolen is hoping for another impressive season -- and this time more success in Wichita -- in 1999. The Capahas open the new campaign Wednesday night at Fairview Heights, Ill. The first home game will be June 4 against Waterloo, Ill.

"I think we'll have a pretty decent team to start with but I think it will get better as the year goes by," he said. "I might have to add a player or two to this ballcub to get it where I want it. Our goal is always to do well in Wichita and hopefully we can do that this year."

The Capahas have a solid blend of returning veterans and newcomers, of current college players and ex-collegiate standouts.

Seven position players return, including five who batted better than .350 a year ago.

Outfielder Steve Kress paced last season's team in several major offensive categories, including batting average (.465), home runs (13), doubles (15) and runs batted in (42).

Infielder Darrick Smith batted .447; outfielder Tommy Bolen hit .385 with seven homers and 42 RBIs to tie Kress in that department; outfielder Lance Craft hit .365 with a team-high 50 runs scored; and catcher Shawn Pemberton batted .357 with 11 homers and 40 RBIs. Pemberton completed his eligibility at Belmont (Tenn.) University this year.

Others back from last season are infielder Ryan Murphy (.294) and catcher George White (.271).

Four new position players are on the squad, with two of them really not new.

Infielder Cory Crosnoe did not play for the Capahas last year but he was previously a longtime Capaha, joining Smith and Kress as the top veterans on the team. Infielder Darin Kinsolving, a Southeast Missouri State University star, played elsewhere last year but previously competed for the Capahas.

True Capaha `rookies' are catcher Ben Arbeiter (Southern Illinois) and catcher/infielder Jeff Bourbon (Southeast).

"I think we'll have a good lineup," Jess Bolen said. "Any time you have Crosnoe, Smith, Kress, Kinsolving, Pemberton, Bolen, Bourbon, people like that, you should score some runs."

Only three pitchers return, but Bolen welcomes six new arms and will likely add some others as the season goes along.

Returning hurlers are Danny Simpher (6-1, 3.88 earned-run average); Lanson Debrock (4-4, team-best 2.40 ERA) and Jerry Wolsey (1-1, two saves, 3.74). Debrock plays for Southeast while Wolsey completed his eligibility with the Indians this year.

Chad Bogenpohl, who completed his eligibility at Southeast this season, played for the Capahas two years ago but was bothered by arm trouble last season. He is back in 1999.

Capaha rookie hurlers will be Todd Pennington (Southeast), Brent Self (Three Rivers Community College), Matt Palmer (Three Rivers), Ronnie Lewallen (Northeast Louisiana, Three Rivers) and Kurt Umbarger, a former Murray State star.

"On paper, our pitching staff should be pretty decent," said Bolen. "We have a bunch of good arms."

The Capahas will face a rugged early schedule as they travel to Clarinda, Iowa, this weekend to play three national powers: Clarinda, Wichita, Kan., and Omaha, Neb.

"That's going to give us some tough competition right off the bat," Bolen said. "Those are all excellent ballclubs."

McDowell Capahas

1999 Schedule

(Home games in capital letters)

MAY

26 -- at Fairview Heights, Ill., 8 p.m.; 29 -- (at Clarinda, Iowa) vs. Omaha, Neb., 4:30 p.m., vs. Clarinda, Iowa, 7:30 p.m.; 30 -- (at Clarinda, Iowa) vs. Wichita, Kan., 7:30 p.m.

JUNE

2 -- at Ste. Genevieve, 7:30 p.m.; 4 -- WATERLOO, ILL., 8 p.m.; 5 -- at St. Louis Printers, TBA; 6 -- at St. Louis Printers, TBA; 8 -- at Sauget, Ill., 8 p.m.; 10 -- at Waterloo, Ill., 7:30 p.m.; 12 -- at Goreville, Ill. (2), 1 p.m.; 13 -- at Memphis, Tenn. (2), 1:30 p.m.; 15 -- at Fairview Heights, Ill., 8 p.m.; 18 -- FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, ILL., 8 p.m.; 19 -- SPRINGFIELD, ILL. (2), 5:30 p.m.; 20 -- SPRINGFIELD, ILL. (2), noon; 22 -- at Sauget, Ill., 8 p.m.; 25 -- ST. LOUIS PRINTERS (2), 6 p.m.; 26 -- GOREVILLE, ILL., 8 p.m.; 27 -- SAUGET, ILL. (2), 1 p.m.

JULY

2-3-4 -- at Valmeyer, Ill., Tournament, TBA; 7 -- at Fairview Heights, Ill., 8 p.m.; 9-10-11, 16-17 -- NBC MID-SOUTH REGIONAL, TBA; 18 -- GOREVILLE, ILL., MEMPHIS, TENN., 1 p.m.; 23 -- FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, ILL., 8 p.m.; 24 -- at Valmeyer, Ill. (2), 1 p.m.; 25 -- FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, ILL. (2), 2 p.m.; 28 -- at Sauget, Ill., 8 p.m.; 30 -- STE. GENEVIEVE, 7:30 p.m.; 31 -- SAUGET, ILL. (2), 5 p.m.

AUGUST

3-14 -- at NBC World Series, Wichita, Kan.