Capahas rally for 7-6 win

The Plaza Tire Capahas started their big weekend with an impressive comeback win.

Plaza Tire rallied from a late four-run deficit Friday night to beat the previously undefeated Waterloo (Ill.) Millers 7-6.

The Capahas improved to 10-3 with their fifth straight victory. The Millers fell to 15-1.

"It was a good win for us against a good team," Capahas shortstop Zach Borowiak said.

Plaza Tire hopes the home triumph sets the tone for the rest of the weekend, which features four more games at Capaha Field.

The Capahas face the St. Louis Printers at about 3:30 p.m. today, then take on the perennial national powerhouse Crestwood (Ill.) Panthers at about 7:30 p.m.

Plaza Tire and Crestwood also play a 1 p.m. doubleheader Sunday. The Panthers finished third in the past two National Baseball Congress World Series.

Capahas first baseman Matt Wagner swung at a pitch during the first inning Friday.

"It's a good way to go into the next four games," Plaza Tire second baseman Omar Padilla said. "To come back like we did shows what kind of character this ballclub has."

What made Friday's victory even more impressive in the eyes of Capahas manager Jess Bolen is that his team was able to rally from a 6-2 deficit even though it swung wood bats while Waterloo used aluminum.

"Being down four runs going into the seventh inning, that's a pretty big deficit with wood," Bolen said. "I was really impressed with the way we battled back."

The Capahas pulled even with a four-run seventh, the key blow being Asif Shah's two-run, two-out triple that tied things. Borowiak had an RBI double in the frame, while third baseman Josh Eftink delivered an RBI single.

AARON EISENHAUER ~ aeisenhauer@semissourian.com Capahas designated hitter Tom Bolen kept an eye on the pitcher as he took his lead off first base during the second inning Friday.

Plaza Tire plated the go-ahead run in the eighth inning.

Designated hitter Tom Bolen was hit by a pitch leading off the frame. Center fielder Zach Johnson sacrificed Bolen to second base.

Bolen was still on second with two outs when Padilla singled to left. It appeared as if Bolen would score easily, but he stumbled rounding third base and had to hold up.

Borowiak followed with a single to right field as Bolen came home.

"Not too often do you get two straight hits in a situation like that after Tom slipped coming around third," Jess Bolen said. "But Zach is a pretty good hitter to have up there."

The pitching star for the Capahas was Daniel Schuh, who saw his first mound action of the summer.

Schuh, who has been playing center field for the Capahas, notched the victory by working the final 3 2/3 innings in scoreless fashion. He allowed just two hits, struck out four and walked two.

"They came out swinging, but Schuh did a great job," Borowiak said.

With the Capahas having five games over a three-day period, Jess Bolen knew he couldn't go very deep into his pitching staff Friday night.

That's why Schuh's performance — in relief of starter Ivan Nails, who allowed six runs, nine hits and six walks in 5 1/3 innings — was so vital.

"He was the difference in the game," Bolen said.

Padilla and Borowiak each went 3-for-4 to lead Plaza Tire's 11-hit attack. Borowiak drove in three runs. Tom Bolen added two hits.

Waterloo also had 11 hits, including the game's only home run, by Jake Friederich.

Each team also came up with several dazzling defensive plays in the well-played contest.

"That was a great game," Jess Bolen said.

Waterloo 012 102 000 — 6 11 1

Capahas 101 000 41X — 7 11 1

WP — Daniel Schuh, 1-0. LP — Cory Blackwell. HR — Jake Friederich (W). 3B — Asif Shah (C). 2B — Travis Dawson (W), Brian Fuess (W), Chas Wiggers (W), Omar Padilla (C), Zach Borowiak (C). Multiple hits — Waterloo, Dawson 2-5, Fuess 2-5, Wiggers 2-4; Capahas, Padilla 3-4, Borowiak 3-4, Tom Bolen 2-3. Records — Capahas 10-3, Waterloo 15-1.