THE LATEST LINE: OVC PARTY WAS MISSING HOST SQUAD

Southeast Missouri State University threw a baseball party over the past three days -- but the Indians didn't have nearly as much fun as they had originally planned.

That's because they were eliminated from the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament after only two games -- much to the chagrin of tourney officials, who had been counting on huge crowds following the home squad's attempt to win the tourney for the second year in a row.

More than 1,200 fans turned out Thursday night during the tournament's opening day at Capaha Field to watch SEMO battle Eastern Kentucky. A loss sent the Indians into the loser's bracket, where they promptly were beaten by Middle Tennessee Friday afternoon.

So long overflow crowds. So long huge ticket sales, so long to a crush at the concession stand and so long to a rush to bye tournament T-shirts.

But not even the missing element of the host squad in the tourney's final rounds could detract from what turned out to be an extremely exciting and well-played event.

Eastern Illinois proved for the second time that it was the best baseball team in the OVC this year. The Panthers won the regular-season championship and followed that up by going through the tournament without a loss.

But Middle Tennessee wasn't very far behind Eastern Illinois in the tourney; the Raiders lost a pair of one-run games to the Panthers as they wound up second.

So, even though only a couple hundred fans turned out for each of the last few games, the tournament was still a big-time winner on the field.

Kudos to everybody involved with making sure the tourney ran smoothly, particularly Ron Hines with the publicity and statistics and John Kelly with the field maintenance.

And, with the way SEMO has turned into one of the OVC's elite teams over the past several seasons, there is a good chance the tournament will be coming to Cape Girardeau again in the very near future.

* It's just about time for the McDowell Capahas to kick off another baseball season.

The Capahas, under the direction of longtime manager Jeff Bolen -- he's entering his 33rd season -- will open the 1999 campaign Wednesday at Fairview Heights, Ill. The first home game is set for June 4.

* Congratulations to the Cape Central High School girls swimming team for finishing fifth in the state over the weekend, marking the program's best state performance ever.

* Three area teams will be looking to continue their drive for possible state championships this week as the prep playoffs continue.

Notre Dame and Oran will have sectional baseball games Thursday, the Class 2A Bulldogs visiting South Pemiscot and the 1A Eagles traveling to Bernie.

Cape Central's record-setting girls soccer squad will take on Ritenour Tuesday in sectional play in St. Louis.

* Former SEMO basketball standout Bud Eley is playing in the United States Basketball League as he continues to charge toward possibly being selected in next month's NBA draft.

The USBL is a league designed for players who are considered potential NBA players.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian