Capahas fall to Liberal in NBC World Series, wrap up Bolen's career

Three first-inning errors put the Burger King Capahas in a 4-0 hole they could never dig out of, as they fell to the Liberal (Kan.) Bee Jays 7-3 in a National Baseball Congress World Series championship week qualifier Thursday night in Wichita, Kansas.

The game not only eliminated the Caps from the tournament and ended their 2016 season, but also brought a close to the managerial career of Jess Bolen, who is retiring after 50 years leading the team from the dugout.

He doesn't expect, though, that this will be his last NBC World Series.

"A lot of people are saying goodbye, but the thing about it is I'm not quitting the Capahas, I'm just trying to get a new field manager," Bolen said. "Me and [my wife] Mary will still be running this ball club. ... If the team comes out here next year, I'll be here. Who knows, you might see me coaching down at third base.

"If we were walking away completely it would be a different feeling. It doesn't feel like that."

The Capahas went 2-2 in the tournament, winning their pool with a 2-1 record before falling in the first game of single-elimination bracket play.

The Bee Jays remain unbeaten in the tournament.

Liberal jumped on top when a walk and an error set up Cale O'Donnell to triple in two runs. Blake Brewster then plated O'Donnell with a double and scored on the Caps' third error of the inning to go up 4-0.

"It's hard to say what's happening when that goes bad. ... Is the stage too big? No, I don't think that's it. Maybe trying too hard. That could be a factor," Bolen said. "We made three errors that inning and you'd think you hadn't played a game all year.

"It's too hard. They've got a good pitching staff and it's hard to make that up."

Bolen's club owns the World Series record of 63 innings without committing an error, set in 2013.

"We're thought of as a good defensive team, but we weren't tonight," Bolen said.

The Capahas cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the second when Cam Womack drove in a pair with a single to right field after an Alex Heuring leadoff base hit and a double by Drew Harper.

The Bee Jays tacked on a run in the top of the fourth and then two more in the fifth after the umpires changed a call in the field and erased what would have been a double play. Instead, the Capahas settled for one out. A wild pitch and a Jaron Robinson base hit then pushed the Liberal lead to 7-2.

The Capahas chased Liberal starting pitcher Blake Goldsberry from the game in the seventh inning, but after loading the bases with no outs were forced to settle for just one run on a groundout.

Goldsberry got the pitching victory, going six innings and scattering 10 hits while giving up three runs and striking out four. Three relievers threw without being charged with a run.

O'Donnell was 2-for-5 with a double, a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored for the Bee Jays, while Robinson went 3-for-5.

Harper led the Caps with a 3-for-4 performance, including a double. Womack was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and Drew Morecraft and Heuring each had two hits.

Brady Wright took the loss on the mound, going 5 1/3 innings and allowing seven runs (five earned) on 10 hits with two strikeouts and two walks. Ebon Brooks pitched 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

The Capahas finish the season at 18-5.

"Everybody ends their season with a loss except one team," Bolen said. "The loss is no big deal. Maybe the way we played is disappointing in your last game."

Bolen's son, Tom, will take over managerial duties next summer.

Liberal 400 120 000 -- 7 12 0

Capahas 020 000 100 -- 3 11 4

WP -- Blake Goldsberry. LP -- Brady Wright. 2B -- Cale O'Donnell (L), Blake Brewster (L), Drew Harper (C). 3B -- O'Donnell (L), Jaron Robinson (L). Multiple hits -- Liberal: O'Donnell 2-5, Brewster 2-4, Robinson 3-5; Capahas: Drew Morecraft 2-5, Alex Heuring 2-5, Harper 3-4, Womack 2-4.