CAPAHAS EDGE PRINTERS IN VALMEYER TOURNEY

VALMEYER, Ill. -- The McDowell Capahas reached the semifinals of the eight-team 4th of July Tournament with a 9-8 victory over the St. Louis Printers Saturday.

McDowell improved to 19-5 on the season and moved into today's 2 p.m. semifinal against Waterloo (Ill.).

The Capahas did all their scoring in three innings, including a decisive two-run eighth inning.

After scoring five unanswered runs in the sixth and seventh innings, the Printers carried an 8-7 lead into the bottom of the eighth.

Nathan Taylor opened up the Capaha eighth with a single and was sacrificed to second by Tommy Bolen. Kevin Meyr, who went 2-for-5, then singled to right to tie the game and took second on the throw home. Zach Borowiak followed with his third hit of the game to score Meyr for a 9-8 Capaha lead.

The two runs made a winner of Matt Palmer, the third Capaha pitcher of the day. After the Printers banged 11 hits off starter Jeffrey Hilz and Brent Self over the first seven innings, Palmer held the St. Louis squad hitless over the final two frames. He struck out five and walked two.

The Capahas scored three runs in the first, but saw the Printers tie the game with a single run in the second and two in the third. Phil Warren then highlighted a four-run McDowell fifth with a two-run double as the Capahas led 7-3. Warren finished with three RBIs.

If the Capahas win today they will play in the championship game on Tuesday.