THREE TEAMS WILL TRY TO TAKE CAPAHAS' TITLE

The managers of the three visiting teams that will compete in this weekend's National Baseball Congress Mid-South Regional at Capaha Field all say that it will be a major upset if the host McDowell Capahas don't win the championship.

After all, the perennial powerhouse Capahas have won five Mid-South Regional titles in the 1990s, they are the defending champions and they sport by far the tourney's best record at 17-7. The other three teams are a combined 16-33.

But the managers of Goreville, Ill., Murphysboro, Ill., and Pine Bluff, Ark., also say that they are looking forward to the tournament and hopeful of pulling off some surprises.

Following is a brief look at the three visiting teams in the Mid-South Regional:

Murphysboro

The Red Wings, a first-year team, are 5-10 and they have lost two extremely lopsided games to the Capahas this season. Since Murphysboro opens the tourney by facing the Capahas tonight, that doesn't bode well for the Red Wings.

"You never know. You hope to sneak up on them and beat them possibly," said Murphysboro manager Tom Hall. "But we'd have to play a perfect game. They've spanked us twice pretty good and they're definitely the big favorites."

Hall, who formerly coached American Legion baseball in Murphysboro, said he started the Red Wings in order to give some of the college players in the vicinity a chance to compete in the summer.

"It's a learning experience. You find out what you really need. What I need is pitching and a few power hitters," said Hall. "We're young and we basically don't have the guns."

Hall said that Dave Condon, who pitches for Southern Illinois, has been his most effective hurler this season. But Condon is not certain to start tonight.

"A couple of young kids have started to come around and I'm not sure who I'll start," Hall said.

Top hitters for the Red Wings, according to Hall, are Tommy Hall, Chad McCann and Zach Morris.

Goreville

Goreville, a second-year team, is only 4-11, but the squad lost a highly competitive game to the Capahas only last week and could be one of the host team's primary threats in the tournament.

"Getting players to come to games with their work schedules has been tough," said Goreville manager Shawn Tripp, who pitched for Southeast Missouri State University in the early 1990s. "But we have a pretty decent ballclub. We've been in most of our games, we just haven't been getting the big hit."

Said Tripp of the Capahas, "They've got to be the favorites. They always have good teams and a good crowd. But we're looking forward to the tournament. You never know what might happen."

Top pitchers for Goreville are Ryan Falimer, who was drafted out of high school by the Rangers; Todd Tripp, who hurled for Barry College in Georgia; and Shawn Tripp, who said he will probably start Saturday's opener against Pine Bluff.

Tripp said two of his team's top hitters are Brian Murley and Aaron Stover.

Pine Bluff

Next to the Capahas, who have been around more than 100 years, the Braves are the tourney's longest-running team. They've fielded a squad since 1952 and Winfred Smith is in his 25th season as manager.

The Braves, with a 7-12 record, will be coming to Cape Girardeau for the sixth straight season. They have had precious little success in the Mid-South Regional but Smith hopes that changes this time around.

"We've come up there several times and just really didn't have enough pitching to hang, but we've always had the hitting," Smith said. "Hopefully we'll have enough pitching this time."

Smith said the Braves have struggled so far this season but he's hoping things will be different this weekend.

"We're having a tough year, but it's like a second season for us starting Saturday," he said.

Among the top hurlers for the Braves are Marcus Jackson and Gary Neal.

"Marcus wants to avenge himself," said Smith. "He had a rough game there last year, but he's been throwing pretty good. And Gary is throwing real well."

Top hitters, according to Smith, are veterans Sebastion Stargell and Carlos James.