CAPAHAS IN DANGER OF EARLY NBC EXIT

WICHITA, Kan. -- Jess Bolen has probably had tougher losses in his 31 seasons as the Kohlfeld Capahas' manager.

But Friday night's 11-10 setback to the Clarinda (Iowa) A's in the opening round of the National Baseball Congress World Series has to rank some place near the top of the list.

The Capahas had just rallied to take a 10-9 lead in the top of the ninth inning, but the A's scored twice in the bottom of the ninth to send Kohlfeld tumbling into the loser's bracket of the double-elimination event.

Bolen's squad, now 30-6, will play at 10 a.m. today against an opponent that was being determined late Saturday night.

"It was a very, very tough loss," said Bolen of the setback that did not end until well past midnight. "You score 10 runs, you should win, with any kind of pitching at all."

Bolen knew entering the tournament that pitching was his team's major question mark.

"At times we made some good pitches, just not enough of them," he said. "And we didn't have enough control."

Kohlfeld pitchers David Michel and Chad Bogenpohl combined to allow 14 hits and issue nine walks. Those walks, said Bolen, were the real killer.

"You can't walk that many against a good team and win," he said.

Michel, the starter, gave up 10 hits and nine runs in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out three and walked five. Bogenpohl suffered the loss, allowing four hits and two runs in three official innings. He fanned two and walked four.

As has been the case all summer, the Capahas sizzled offensively with 16 hits, including home runs from Darin Kinsolving and Steve Kress. Kinsolving also doubled and tripled as he drove in three runs and also scored three times.

Lance Craft, Cory Crosnoe, Tom Breuer, Ryan Murphy and Jeremy Johnson, who joined the team for the tournament, all added two hits. Craft stole three bases.

There were seven lead changes in the back-and-forth game. The Capahas led 2-0 early, fell behind 6-4, came back to lead 7-6, then fell behind 9-7 before the thrilling ninth inning.

In the top of the ninth, Murphy led off with a single. With one out, Kinsolving belted a monster home run that tied the contest at 9-9.

"It was a massive shot," said Bolen. "I bet it went 450 feet."

With two outs, Craft singled and stole second. After Kress was intentionally walked, Crosnoe singled home Craft to give the Capahas a 10-9 lead.

But back came the A's. Bogenpohl, who had pitched effectively in relief up to that point, walked two straight batters with one out. Then B.J. Windhorst drilled his third double of the game, scoring both runners to end the contest.

"We hit the ball like people have seen us hit all summer," said Bolen. "It was just a tough loss. The first game of the tournament, you really want to win to establish yourself and stay in the winner's bracket."

Now the Capahas will face a must-win situation today. If they lose, they're eliminated from the tournament. If they win, they'll come back to Cape Girardeau, but then return to Wichita later in the week for further action.

"It's a critical game for us," Bolen said. "You've just got to come out and throw everybody you have. If we get good pitching, I think we'll win."

Danny Simpher will start today for the Capahas.