Capahas open region defense with a tight win

The Plaza Tire Capahas began their quest for a fourth straight Mid-South Regional title — and automatic berth in the National Baseball Congress World Series — with a 5-1 victory against the Pine Bluff (Ark.) Braves on Saturday afternoon.

Anthony Maupin scattered five hits over nine innings to get the win. The only run he allowed was unearned, helped along by a throwing error from catcher Chad Mercado after a strikeout.

For the Caps, Levi Olson doubled in the second inning and scored on Daniel Schuh's sacrifice fly. After Pine Bluff tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fifth, the Capahas answered with two runs in the bottom half, as Omar Padilla walked, Zack Borowiak ripped an RBI double and Jerry Hodges followed with an RBI double.

The Caps had two more runs in the eighth inning with the help of an RBI hit by Borowiak and outfield error on the play.

Pine Bluff has lost to Capahas four times in the three previous regionals, three times by 10 or more runs.

The Capahas will play 2 p.m. Sunday in the final round of the three-team double-elimination tournament against the survivor of Saturday night's Riverdogs-Braves game.