Capahas deliver memorable win for longtime manager Jess Bolen's final home game

If they had lost, they would have said the night was never about the game. But they made sure no excuses were necessary.

On a Tuesday evening when Jess Bolen was managing his final game at Capaha Field for the Burger King Capahas -- a night highlighted by ceremony and remembrance of Bolen's illustrious 50-year career -- the Caps erased a four-run deficit, rallying for four runs in the ninth and getting a two-run walk-off hit from Kyle James to send Bolen off a winner, 7-6, over the St. Louis Bulls.

Capahas manager Jess Bolen tries to dodge a foul ball that struck him on the right arm during the first inning.Fred Lynch

"I think everybody wanted that," said Tom Bolen, Jess' son and an honorary starter for the Capahas. "We had discussed in the seventh inning. I said, 'These last three innings, let's give me your undivided attention. Let's focus on the game at hand.' They responded well. Usually, when we get athletes at this age, you don't have to motivate them. They're collegiate ball players or ex-minor leaguers, and they know the situation. Especially how much it meant.

"But I'll tell you, as long as I can remember, it's always been the Cardiac Caps. ... We always find a way to squeak it out. It was fitting in the last game that he's going to coach here, that we go out in the bottom of the ninth and get a walk-off hit."

The Capahas (16-3) fell into a 3-2 hole in the third inning and seemed unable to break out of a funk. The hosts went five innings without a hit, and the Bulls extended their advantage to 6-2 in the sixth.

The Caps got one back in the eighth when Drew Morecraft singled and scored on a Tyler Qualls double, setting the table for a dramatic rally in the final half inning.

With the 7, 8 and 9 hitters asked to spark things, Cam Womack led off with a single, pinch hitter Adam Connor drew a walk and pinch hitter Luke Haines singled to right to load the bases with no outs.

Josh Haggerty then turned the batting order over with a double to the left-field corner, scoring Womack and Connor and putting the go-ahead run at second base.

St. Louis reliever Will Rogers -- a Cape Girardeau police officer -- intentionally walked Morecraft to load the bases with no outs, and James ripped the first pitch he saw to deep center field, making sure his manager got to walk off Capaha Field a final time as a winner.

"He just threw a ball, and I hit it. He threw it, I hit it -- that's what you're supposed to do," James said. "Everyone just did what they're taught in that ninth inning. We took the first-pitch strike until we had the tying run on, and then it was just swing if you liked it or not."

Capahas starter Ross James pitches to a St. Louis Raging Bulls batter during the first inning Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at Capaha Field.Fred Lynch

With the motivation of Bolen's finale in the back of everyone's mind, James found a pitch he liked.

"I think that [motivation] kicked in about halfway through the game," James said. "We realized, 'Hey, we want to make it a great day for him,' and then the end of the game helped out a lot."

Haggerty got the win on the mound for the Capahas in one scoreless inning of relief.

Ross James started on the mound for the home side and allowed three runs on five hits in three innings of work, striking out three and walking two.

Cody Heisserer pitched two perfect innings in relief, striking out five Bulls. Calvin Lovig then went two innings, giving up three runs on four hits with three strikeouts and a walk, while Alex Heuring threw one scoreless, hitless inning with three strikeouts and one walk.

Capahas baserunner Garret Reynolds turns toward third base after stealing second base as the throw got past St. Louis Bulls shortstop Tony Magnan during the third inning Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at Capaha Field. Reynolds finished with a two-base steal.Fred Lynch

Rogers took the loss for the Bulls after Ryan Willis went eight innings, giving up seven runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and three walks, but was strong through the middle section of the game.

Walls was 2-for-3 with three RBIs for the home team, while Haggerty went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two driven in.

Tom Bolen, who will take over for Jess running the team, hasn't played in years, but got a chance to bat in the first inning and play first base for one inning. He went 0-for-1 at the plate. He was replaced by Kyle James, who went on to get the winning hit.

Ryan Brown led St. Louis with a 2-for-3 night with one run scored. Logan Springer was 1-for-5 with three RBIs.

The visitors were able to slip into an early lead in the first inning when the Capahas nearly turned an inning-ending double play but couldn't hang on to the ball at first base, allowing Adam Lampel, who opened the game with a base hit, to score.

The Capahas answered in the bottom half of the inning when Haggerty led off with a single and Morecraft followed with a base-on-balls, before Qualls brought both home with a one-out single for a 2-1 advantage.

St. Louis took the lead back in the top of the third, taking advantage of the home team's inability to make outs on fielder's choices -- first at first base and then at the plate. That, combined with a pair of walks and a single, tied the game up. Tony Magnon (2-for-5) then put the Bulls on top with a bases-loaded single to go up 3-2.

The visitors added a cushion in the sixth, loading the bases with a pair of singles sandwiching a walk to open the inning. Reliever Lovig recovered to strike out two and got up on Logan Springer 0-2, but Springer, who entered the game hitting .462 with nine home runs and 27 RBIs, ripped the ball to deep left-center field, clearing the bases and pushing St. Louis' lead to 6-2.

The Capahas cut into the deficit in the bottom of the eighth, getting a leadoff single from Morecraft before Qualls brought him home with a double to left-center.

The Capahas will leave for the National Baseball Congress World Series on Thursday morning, with their first game set for Friday night at 9:30 p.m. against the Colorado Cyclones. Their second game will be Sunday at 9:30 p.m. against an opponent yet to be determined.

The World Series format has changed to pool play this year, so the Capahas will be guaranteed at least three games.

Bulls 102 003 000 -- 6 9 3

Capahas 200 000 014 -- 7 9 1

WP -- Josh Haggerty. LP -- Ryan Willis. 2B -- Logan Springer (STL), Haggerty (C), Tyler Qualls (C). Multiple hits -- St. Louis: Ryan Brown 2-3, Tony Magnon 2-5, Lincoln Nelson 2-4; Capahas -- Haggerty 2-5, Qualls 2-3.