ANOTHER TOUGH LOSS ELIMINATES CAPAHAS

WICHITA, Kan. -- The McDowell Capahas suffered their second straight tough-to-stomach loss here Sunday as they were eliminated from the 66th annual National Baseball Congress World Series.

Friday night, the Capahas lost a 6-0, seventh-inning lead and suffered a 7-6 defeat to the San Diego Stars.

Then Sunday, the Capahas held a 7-1 lead in the sixth inning but Prairie Gravel (Ill.) rallied to tie the contest and then posted an 8-7 victory in 15 innings.

So the Capahas end the tournament with a 2-2 record and finish the season with a 33-10 mark.

For the second straight game, the Capahas were done in by suspect defense as they made the game's only three errors. Three of Prairie Gravel's runs were unearned.

Chad Bogenpohl started on the mound for the Capahas and worked 6 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and four runs (three earned). He struck out one and walked one.

Brent Self pitched 1/3 of an inning, allowing two hits and two runs, both unearned.

Matt Palmer hurled the final eight innings impressively, allowing six hits and two runs. He fanned five and walked two.

The Capahas had 11 hits, but only one over the final seven innings. Nathan Taylor, Craig Ringe, Shane Allen and Chris Sledge all had two hits. Sledge drove in two runs while Ringe, Allen, Steve Kress and Kevin Meyer all had RBIs.

Prairie Gravel had 14 hits, led by Alec Porzel, Brian Taylor and Dean Devine with three each. Paul Sanchez had the game's only home run.

The Capahas scored twice in the second inning. Then, leading 2-1, McDowell plated five in the sixth to open up a 7-1 lead.

Prairie Gravel began chipping away with two in the sixth, followed by three unearned runs in the seventh and the tying tally in the eighth.

Palmer fired six shutout innings from the ninth through the 14 before Prairie Gravel finally won it in the 15th. With one out, Devine singled, and he stole second base with two outs. Porzel then singled to center and Devine scored.