Capahas offense silent in opening round

WICHITA, Kan. -- The Cape Girardeau Craftsman Union Capahas dropped its opener in the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan., Saturday to the Pueblo, Colo., Chieftans 5-0.

Capahas (32-7) starter Kyle Perry, a standout at Murray State University, lasted only 4 2/3 innings in the loss. Perry allowed four runs on five hits. Perry struck out seven and walked one.

Pueblo (38-6) got the scoring started in the second inning, taking a 1-0 lead on a wild pitch. Perry cruised through the third and fourth innings before running into a road block in the fifth.

Pueblo first baseman Robbie Richards led off the fifth with a single to center, then advanced to second on a sacrifice. Perry struck out the next batter, but the ball got by the catcher, allowing the hitter to reach first and Richards to advance to third. After a stolen base, Mike Massaro doubled to push the Pueblo lead to 3-0. The Chieftans added one more in the fifth and another run in the seventh for the 5-0 win.

The Capahas managed only three hits off of Pueblo starter Josh Faiola, who went eight innings. Faiola, a sophomore pitcher for Dartmouth College, struck out eight and walked two.

"I thought after the first inning we were going to have our hands full," Capahas manager Jess Bolen said of Faiola's performance.

Lance Seasor, Justin Welker and Brian Hopkins had the Capahas' hits. Massaro led the Chieftans with three hits and added two RBIs. Tony Wittmus and Richards had two hits apiece for Pueblo.

The Capahas' best scoring chances came in seventh and eighth innings after doubles by Hopkins and Welker. Hopkins was left at third and Welker was stranded at second.

The Capahas will not play in an elimination game on Friday.