Capahas drop series

~ The Capahas lost 2 of 3 in the weekend series against a team from the Chicago area.

Plaza Tire Capahas manager Jess Bolen expected one team to take two out of three during a weekend series against the Crestwood (Ill.) Panthers.

Missed opportunities prevented Plaza Tire from being on the winning end of the set at Capaha Field.

Crestwood, a Chicago suburb, won the series with Sunday's 4-2 victory in a nine-inning contest after the teams split Saturday's doubleheader that featured games slated for seven innings.

The Capahas breezed past Crestwood in Saturday's opener 10-5, before the Panthers won the nightcap 1-0 in eight innings.

Capahas starting pitcher Jason Chavez makes a delivery to a Panthers batter.

"I knew somebody would win two out of three," Bolen said. "I didn't think anybody would sweep."

Not that the Capahas didn't have their opportunities to repeat their three-game sweep of the Panthers last year in Cape Girardeau.

Plaza Tire left 10 runners stranded in Saturday's extra-inning defeat. The Capahas stranded 14 runners Sunday.

"We got men on base. It didn't matter who we got up there these last two games, nobody got the job done," Bolen said.

Missed chances aside, both Bolen and Crestwood manager Bill Storrs came away pleased with the series that matched teams that have had success at the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan.

The Panthers (13-5) have finished in the top 12 at the NBC World Series the past seven years, including third-place performances in 2006 and 2007. The Capahas (9-7) have made 27 consecutive trips to the NBC World Series and have numerous top-12 finishes.

"We enjoy playing them. They're one of the biggest class acts in the country," said Storrs, who added that Capaha Field is among the nicer parks his squad plays in. "We feel like the Capahas are as good as any team we see."

After meeting in the regular season for the first time last year, the Capahas were supposed to return the trip to the Chicago area.

"We were going there this year, but they called and said they'd rather come here," Bolen said. "They're a good team to play. They're not a bunch of mouths. They're just a really good organization with a lot of class people."

Storrs said he hopes the teams can continue an annual series for at least the next few years.

"We'd love to keep playing them," he said.

As for Sunday's contest, the Capahas had eight hits compared to five for Crestwood.

"We missed too many chances," said Tom Bolen, the son of Plaza Tire's manager. "You have to capitalize."

Plaza Tire's pitching was strong all weekend, led by Ryan Poole's seven shutout innings in Saturday's nightcap that saw him allow just two hits.

Jason Chavez, Dustin Hunter, Kirk Boeller and Josh Parham combined on Sunday's five-hitter.

Chavez, the starter who took the loss, allowed all three runs and all five hits in six innings. He struck out six, walked four and hit three batters.

Chavez's wildness was crucial in the decisive fifth inning that saw Crestwood score two runs to break a 1-1 tie.

Chavez hit two batters and walked two in the frame that also included an error. The Panthers had a single in the inning, but that came after they had scored their two runs.

Crestwood's pitching did the rest. Starter Brian Lorenz allowed seven hits and one earned run in 6 2/3 innings.

Mike Peterson, the Panthers' fourth hurler, notched a save by allowing one hit over 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

"We've been a pitching and defense dominated team the last few years," Storrs said. "That's what we rely on."

Central High School product Garrett Stevens, in his first season with the Capahas, went 3-for-4. He had six hits in the series.

Sean Bard, also a Central graduate, added two hits Sunday.

"Even though we lost two out of three, it was a good measuring stick for us, to play an NBC caliber team at this point in the season," Tom Bolen said. "They're a good team and they've got some good arms."

The Capahas return to action Tuesday night at the Charleston Riverdogs.

Crestwood 001 020 001 -- 4 5 2

Capahas 100 000 100 -- 2 8 3

WP -- Brian Lorenz. LP -- Jason Chavez. S -- Mike Peterson. 2B -- Garrett Stevens (C), Sean Bard (C), Matt Wagner (C). Multiple hits -- Capahas, Stevens 3-4, Bard 2-5. Records -- Crestwood 13-5, Capahas 9-7.