CAPAHAS FALL 3-2 IN VALMEYER TOURNEY

VALMEYER, Ill. -- The McDowell Capahas were eliminated from title contention Saturday with a 3-2 loss to Fairview Heights in a first- round game of the eight-team Valmeyer Tournament.

In a pitchers' duel that saw each team muster just five hits, Fairview Heights broke a 2-2 deadlock with a single run in the eighth inning.

The loss dropped the Capahas to 16-6 on the season and into a 9 a.m. consolation game today against the loser of the Valmeyer-Granite City game.

"We had our chances. We just didn't get the hit when we needed it," said Capahas manager Jess Bolen.

On a scorching day, McDowell received a stellar, nine-inning effort from starter Chad Bogenpohl. He struck out 13 batters, allowed just five singles and walked two.

"I felt bad for Bogenpohl," said Bolen. "When you strike out 13 and only allow five hits, you deserve to win."

Fairview Heights scored its only earned run in the first inning, but McDowell bounced back with both its runs in the second for a two-run lead. Jeff Bourbon hit a solo homer and Ben Margalski and Tom Bolen produced a run with a pair of doubles.

Margalski had two of McDowell's five hits.

Fairview Heights knotted the game in the third with the help of two Capaha errors. The game remained tied until the eighth. With runners at the corners and one out, a Fairview Heights batter struck out on a ball in the dirt and the winning run scored on the ensuing throw to first.

The Capahas put runners at first and third with only one out in the bottom of the ninth, but stranded both runners with a pop up and flyout to end the game.