Bogenpohl pitches gem for Caps

~ Plaza Tire won for a second time in the tournament for the first time since 2002.

WICHITA, Kan. -- A masterful pitching performance by Chad Bogenpohl helped the Plaza Tire Capahas again stave off elimination in the National Baseball Congress World Series.

The Capahas, who dropped their opening game in the 42-team tournament, posted their second consecutive losers bracket victory Friday, beating the Rock City Red Sox of North Carolina, 8-5.

Plaza Tire (23-10) will play a third straight elimination game Sunday. The opponent and time have not yet been determined.

"We're playing pretty good ball out here," Capahas manager Jess Bolen said. "After losing that first one, it's nice to come back like we have."

The Capahas have won two games at the NBC World Series for the first time since 2002. They entered this year's event with a 1-6 tournament record over the past three seasons.

"It's pretty satisfying what we're doing," Bolen said. "All the teams are so good out here, you just don't know from year to year how you'll do. It's a really tough tournament."

Bogenpohl was the star Friday. The Oak Ridge native and former Southeast Missouri State pitcher carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning. It was broken up with two outs on a double as the Red Sox scored their first run, which was unearned thanks to an error earlier in the frame.

Bogenpohl, who left after eight innings with the Capahas ahead 8-1, finished with a two-hitter. He struck out eight and walked none. At one point, Bogenpohl retired 19 straight batters.

"He was unbelievable, simply outstanding. I have never seen him pitch better," Bolen said. "It was hot and he was worn out, so I took him out, but he really gave us everything he had."

The Capahas helped Rock City make things somewhat interesting by committing three errors in the ninth inning, which led to four runs.

"We had a rough ninth, but luckily we had a good enough cushion going into it," Bolen said.

Plaza Tire broke on top with seven runs in the top of the fourth inning. Levi Olson had an RBI double, while Dustin Pritchett, Scott Hubbard, Josh Ford and Jamie McAlister all delivered RBI singles.

Olson, Pritchett, Hubbard and Robby Moore each had two of the Capahas' 11 hits.

The Capahas are averaging eight runs in the tournament, which Bolen said is somewhat surprising.

"With wood bats, that's pretty good," Bolen said. "To be honest, I didn't think our offense would do this well but it's really come around."

Bolen said Anthony Maupin, Southeast's ace as a senior this year who was the losing pitcher in the Capahas' opening tournament game, likely will start Sunday's contest.

Despite struggling in his earlier appearance, Bolen said Maupin made enough of an impression that he was approached by a Kansas City Royals scout and invited to spring training for next year.

"He told Anthony to stay in shape and come ready to pitch next year," Bolen said. "That really makes something like this trip worthwhile, when one of your players gets an opportunity like that."

Griffons advance

The Nevada (Mo.) Griffins, featuring Notre Dame High School graduate Matt Wulfers, won their third straight game to open the NBC World Series, beating the El Dorado (Kan.) Broncos 3-0 late Thursday night.

Wulfers, who is transferring to Southeast from the University of Missouri, went 0-for-2.

Another Southeast transfer from the Big 12 Conference, former Nebraska player Matt Wagner, went 0-for-4 for the Griffons.

Nevada plays a winners bracket quarterfinal game today.