Capahas close regular season with doubleheader split

Plaza Tire Capahas manager Jess Bolen was not only looking for a final tuneup before the National Baseball Congress World Series, he was also looking for a team that would test his squad.

Bolen certainly found both Sunday afternoon as the Capahas had to settle for a hard-earned doubleheader split with the St. Louis Kings.

The Kings won the first game at Capaha Field 3-0 behind the brilliant pitching of Matt Boyer, but Plaza Tire bounced back to grab the nightcap 3-1. Both teams used wood bats in each contest.

Plaza Tire (28-6) next will see action Thursday night, when the Capahas make their 26th consecutive appearance in the NBC World Series in Wichita, Kan.

"There's no telling how much good this will do us," Bolen said. "I really thank them for coming down here and playing this on short notice.

The St. Louis Kings' Andy Seeger slid safely into third base with a triple as the throw eluded Capahas third baseman Daryl Graham during the sixth inning of the first game of Sunday's doubleheader at Capaha Field. (Fred Lynch)

"I think it would really have been a disaster if we would have gone out there [Wichita] and not played since last Sunday. That would have been 10 days between games and I think it could have really hurt us."

The Capahas thought they ended their regular season the previous Sunday when they swept a doubleheader from the Indiana Outlaws.

But Bolen wanted to line up at least one more game before leaving for Kansas, and preferrably against a strong squad.

The Kings (17-10), who lead the Gateway Baseball League in St. Louis, are certainly that.

While the Capahas consist primarily of players with NCAA Division I college experience, the Kings also feature their share of players with solid collegiate resumes.

One of those, Boyer, was too much for the Capahas in Sunday's opener.

Boyer, a right-hander, set the single-season strikeout record at William Woods University in Fulton, Mo., before finishing his career at Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis.

Against the Capahas, Boyer scattered five singles in going the seven-inning distance. He struck out four and walked two.

"He was tough. He had a good slider and good movement," Plaza Tire center fielder Dustin Pritchett said. "But seeing good pitching like that should help us get ready for Wichita."

The Capahas also didn't exactly hammer the two pitchers they saw in the nightcap, as Plaza Tire managed just three hits.

But, like Pritchett, Plaza Tire second baseman Omar Padilla figures seeing several solid hurlers will benefit the Capahas, who entered the doubleheader averaging more than eight runs per game and hitting better than .350 as a team.

"It was good to see pitching like that," Padilla said. "We haven't seen anybody like the first guy in the past few weeks.

"He kind of dominated us and showed we were rusty. But it's going to help us get ready."

Plaza Tire's pitching was strong in its own right. Bolen used virtually his entire staff, with nobody throwing more than two innings.

"I just wanted to let everybody throw a little bit before we go to Wichita," Bolen said.

Phillip Riley, who is slated to start Plaza Tire's NBC World Series opener, started Sunday's first game and suffered his initial loss of the season.

Riley (5-1), who had not worked since being hit by a batted ball on his pitching elbow during the NBC Mid-South Regional opener July 13, allowed one run and one hit in two innings.

Jason Chavez, who will likely pitch Plaza Tire's second game in Wichita, worked two scoreless innings, allowing one hit.

Jamie McAlister gave up five hits and two runs in two innings, while Josh Parham hurled a perfect seventh.

Anthony Maupin (4-0) received credit for the win in the nightcap, working the first two innings in perfect fashion.

Chad Bogenpohl gave up three hits and one run in two innings, while Stan Skakalski, Shayne Mabury and Parham followed with one perfect frame apiece.

Padilla had two hits in the opener and finished the day with three of the Capahas' eight hits, including a second-game double for Plaza Tire's lone extra-base hit of the day.

Mike Tallis had four of the Kings' 10 hits in the doubleheader, including two doubles.

Now the Capahas will focus on the 42-team NBC World Series.

At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Plaza Tire will play the winner of today's game between the Nevada (Mo.) Griffins and the Juncion City (Kan.) Generals.

Win or lose, the Capahas will play again Saturday in the double-elimination event.

The Capahas will practice at 7 p.m. Tuesday, then depart for Wichita early Wednesday morning.

"I think we're ready to go out there and play good baseball," Padilla said.

Kings 3, Capahas 0

Kings 100 011 0 -- 3 7 2

Capahas 000 000 0 -- 0 5 2

WP -- Matt Boyer. LP -- Phillip Riley. 3B -- Andy Seger (K). 2B -- Mike Tallis (K), Ryan Dailey (K). Multiple hits -- Kings, Tallis 3-4, Ryan Emmenegger 2-3; Capahas, Omar Padilla 2-3. Records -- Kings 17-9, Capahas 27-6.

Capahas 3, Kings 1

Kings 001 000 0 -- 1 3 2

Capahas 210 000 X -- 3 3 1

WP -- Anthony Maupin. LP -- Lance Cary. 2B -- Mike Tallis (K), Bobby Bryan (K), Omar Padilla (C). Records -- Kings 17-10, Capahas 28-6.