Capahas baseball wraps up pool play with loss to Bluejays, head to bracket play

A four-run second inning was enough to sink the Burger King Capahas, as they fell to the Salina, Kansas, Bluejays 4-3 in the final game of pool play at the National Baseball Congress World Series on Tuesday in Wichita, Kansas.

Control issues hit Capahas starting pitcher Ebon Brooks in the top of the second, with a hit batter and a wild pitch starting the troubles before a Brandon Amendolare double extended them. By the time Clay Medina singled in another run with two outs, the Bluejays were up 4-0.

Kyle James plated two for the Capahas on a fourth-inning base hit to cut the deficit in half struck again in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI double, making the score 4-3.

A double-play ended the seventh and stranded the Caps' tying run at third base.

James finished the night 3-for-4 with three RBIs.

Brooks took the loss on the mound for the Capahas (18-4), giving up three runs on two hits in 1 2/3 innings with two walks and a strikeout. Ross James worked 3 1/3 innings in relief, allowing one run on three hits with three strikeouts and a pair of walks.

Kelby Brown, Drew Harper, Alex Heuring and Josh Haggerty each worked one scoreless inning in relief.

The Caps fell to 2-1 in the tournament but had already clinched the top spot in their pool. They'll face Liberal (Kan.) at 7 p.m. Thursday, with the winner advancing to next week's championship round.

Salina 040 000 000 -- 4 7 0

Capahas 000 201 000 -- 3 7 1

WP -- Nate Lorenzen. LP -- Ebon Brooks. SV -- Sloan Baker. 2B -- Brandon Amendolare (S), Alex Heuring (C), Kyle James (C). 3B -- Jordan Boyer (S). Multiple hits -- Salina: Boyer 2-5; Capahas: Heuring 2-4, James 3-4.

[Editor's note: Story updated with Thursday's opponent and game time.]