Capahas rally late to beat Bee Jays

The Plaza Tire Capahas faced a long day of action Wednesday at the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan.

But they didn't mind a bit after they rallied to beat the Liberal (Kan.) Bee Jays, the 2010 NBC World Series champions, 6-2 Wednesday afternoon.

That victory kept the Capahas alive, at least for the time being, in the 79th annual 32-team, double-elimination event.

"These guys just keep battling. They never quit," Capahas manager Jess Bolen said. "We've beaten three pretty good teams out here."

Plaza Tire, which improved to 3-1 in the tournament and 31-4 on the season, faced another elimination game late Wednesday against the Ozark (Mo.) Generals.

That contest, which began shortly after 10 p.m., was still under way as the Missourian went to press. A win there would put the Capahas in today's 7 p.m. first-week losers bracket final that decides one of two berths in championship week beginning Friday.

For much of Wednesday's matchup with the Bee Jays, it looked like the Capahas wouldn't have to worry about playing another tournament game.

The Capahas trailed 2-0 entering the bottom of the seventh inning as their offense continued to flounder. They had scored just two runs in their previous two games spanning 23 innings.

But the Capahas' bats finally woke up as they staged an impressive comeback, scoring twice in the seventh inning to forge a tie and going ahead for good with a four-run eighth inning.

Chase Fieldhouse, a tournament pickup from the Crestwood (Ill.) Panthers, led off the Capahas' seventh inning with an infield single and stole second. He was at third with two outs when Christian Cavaness delivered an RBI single.

"Christian's two-out, two-strike hit to get us on the board was big," Bolen said. "We had to have somebody get us going."

Cavaness was running as Liberal pitcher Austin King threw to first. A throw to second by the first baseman sailed into left-center field. Cavaness, credited with a stolen base, came all the way around to score on the throwing error.

"He's one of the fastest guys in the tournament. I'm going to wave him on a play like that," Bolen said.

The Capahas then took control with four runs in the eighth, three of them unearned, as Plaza Tire put pressure on the Liberal defense.

Adam Connor led off with a single. Adam Blum sacrificed and reached first when his bunt was mishandled for an error. Fieldhouse, bunting for a sacrifice, beat it out for a single to load the bases.

"The little bunts is what destroyed them," Bolen said. "I've seen them destroy a lot of teams, including mine."

Brandon Bennett followed with a two-run single as the Capahas surged ahead.

"That was a beautiful hit, just a shot into center field," Bolen said.

Runners were on second and third with two outs when Fieldhouse scored on a passed ball. A throw back to the plate was wild for an error as Bennett scored on the same play.

Billy Roll gave the Capahas their fourth strong starting pitching performance in the tournament after making a long trek to help out Plaza Tire's depleted pitching staff.

The 35-year-old Roll, a 1996 Notre Dame Regional High School graduate who lives in the St. Louis area, drove approximately seven hours to Wichita early Wednesday morning. He allowed two runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings, with three strikeouts and three walks.

"I thought Billy was tremendous," Bolen said. "He left St. Louis at 5 a.m. and the game starts at 1. To pitch that well was very impressive."

Brady Wright pitched the final 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit, striking out one and walking one.

Wright relieved Roll with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh as the Bee Jays had a chance to add some insurance. Wright escaped the jam with consecutive infield popups as the Capahas remained within 2-0.

The Capahas outhit the Bee Jays 11-7. Connor, Fieldhouse, Kody Campbell and Kenton Parmley all had two hits for Plaza Tire.

Liberal scored single runs in the second and fifth innings. That's the way things stood until the Capahas rallied.

Plaza Tire remained errorless in the tournament with another flawless defensive performance.

"We've gotten good pitching every game and our defense is as good as anybody," Bolen said. "You get good defense and pitching and you've got a chance."