CAPAHAS' RECORD IMPROVES TO 18-0

PADUCAH, Ky. -- The Kohlfeld Capahas utilized three home runs in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday against Paducah to keep intact a perfect start to the 1997 season.

Steve Kress connected for the homer, a ninth-inning, game-winning blast which lifted the Capahas to an 8-7 victory.

The Capahas rolled to a 17-1, five-inning victory in the nightcap to improve to 18-0 on the season.

In the opener, Darrick Smith staked the Capahas to a 4-0 lead in the third inning with a grand slam. Paducah countered with a grand slam of its own in the bottom of the inning to knot the score 4-4.

Kohlfeld added two runs in the fourth and a run in the fifth on a Tom Breuer solo home run. The Capahas took a 7-4 lead into the bottom of the seventh, but saw Paducah rally for three runs to force extra innings.

After a scoreless eight inning, Kress homered with one out in the ninth.

Winning pitcher Chad Bogenpohl relieved starter Kevin Vent with two out in the seventh and held Paducah hitless for 2 1-3 innings. Bogenpohl did not walk a batter and struck out one.

"We crushed them last night (20-2) and they came back and played a real good ballgame the first game today," said Capaha manager Jess Bolen.

Ryan Murphy and Darin Kinsolving each had three hits for the Capahas while Julio Vega and Breuer both finished with two.

In the second game, the Capahas struck for eight runs in the first and never looked back. After Paducah scored a run in the first, Kohlfeld retaliated with nine unanswered runs over the next three innings.

Lance Craft collected three of Kohlfeld's 17 hits. Cory Crosnoe, George White, Breuer, Kress, Murphy and Kinsolving all finished with two hits.

Brandon West pitched the full five innings. He struck out four, walked nobody and allowed three hits.