BOOMERANGS COME BACK, DEFEAT CAPS; MCDOWELL FALLS 10-7 IN NBC OPENER

WICHITA, Kan. -- They don't call them the Boomerangs for nothing.

Spotting the McDowell Capahas a four-run lead, the Norman (Okla.) Boomerangs came back for a 10-7 victory over the Cape Girardeau squad in the opening game of the National Baseball Congress World Series Tuesday night.

The loss drops the Capahas (29-7) into a 5 p.m. elimination game today against the third-seeded Liberal BeeJays. It also ended a 12-game winning streak for the Capahas. Liberal defeated the Seguin (Texas) Steelers in another opening-round game Tuesday.

The Capahas struggled to hit with runners in scoring position, but lady luck seemed to team up with the Boomerangs.

"We didn't play that bad," said Capahas manager Jess Bolen. "I don't mean to cry sour grapes, but they had a bunch of pop flies that dropped. I've never seen so many. I bet they had five or six."

The Capahas (29-7) saw numerous golden opportunities slip through their fingers. They were outhit 16-10, but were issued 10 walks from two Boomerang pitchers and saw their opponent commit three errors in the field. However, the Capahas stranded 14 runners, twice grounding into double plays with the bases loaded.

While it ended a frustrating night, it appeared McDowell might have its way in the first inning as the Capahas pushed across four runs in the top of the frame.

Rick Mundy drove in the first run on a bases-loaded walk, then Dan Chinnici provided a base-clearing double. Both Mundy and Chinnici are players that Bolen picked up from O.B. Clark.

After the first inning, the Caps squandered three bases-loaded opportunities, the latter in the ninth inning. Darin Kinsolving grounded to the shortstop on a full count to end the game.

Following the Capahas' first-inning outburst, Oklahoma scored nine unanswered runs, pushing across three in the second, two in the fourth, three in the fifth and single runs in the sixth and eighth.

Down 9-4, the Caps scored twice in the seventh and once in the ninth.

Chad Bogenpohl (4-3) suffered the loss for the Caps, going four innings. He struck out five and walked one. He allowed eight runs (six earned) on nine hits.

Lanson Debrock pitched 3 1-3 innings, giving up two earned runs on six hits and a walk. He fanned three. Matt Palmer pitched 2-3 of an inning, allowing one hit.

Steve Kress went 3-for-4 to lead McDowell. Neil Fiala, Mundy and Chinnici each had two hits. Craig Ringe finished 1-for-4 with two RBIs.

Jeff Blevins did plenty of damage for the Boomerangs, going 2-for-5 with four RBIs. Bryan Gann went 4-for-5 and Trevor Lee was 3-for-5.

Jeff Wigington recorded the win for the Boomerangs despite giving up seven hits and seven walks in six innings. Jason Watkins pitched the final three innings, allowing three hits and three walks.