CAPAHAS SLIP PAST CLARINDA IN OPENER OF WEEKEND SERIES

McDowell Capaha manager Jess Bolen has been Capahas manager for 34 years now and has been affiliated with the amateur team for 40 years.

It only figures that he's learned a few tricks along the way.

Bolen used one of those sly maneuvers to help the Capahas (16-4) defeat Clarinda 3-2 in an extra-inning game Saturday night.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth and second baseman Chris Sledge stepping up to the plate, the Capahas reached into their bag of tricks.

Bolen noticed that Clarinda third baseman Steve Hindman was playing deep against some right-handed hitters. So Sledge laid down a bunt single. He later scored the winning run after a huge single by catcher Nathan Taylor and a sacrifice fly by Tom Bolen.

"It was a set play," said Bolen of Sledge's bunt. "I told him that if he saw me talking to the third baseman to try it. I was talking to him and trying to keep him back."

Bolen then grinned and said, "But that's just baseball."

The play worked to perfection and the Caps had the winning run on first base.

The two teams were set to start a 7-inning doubleheader at 5 p.m., but the start was delayed by rain. The results of the second game were not available when the Southeast Missourian went to press.

Taylor's single to right put runners at first and third with one out. Bolen then hit a shallow fly to left. The third baseman cut off the throw home and Sledge scored without a play.

"Taylor's hit is what really won the ballgame," Bolen said. "On a fly ball like that, you have to send him. If you don't, you might be playing all night."

Both teams, who were playing with wooden bats, scored their first two runs the same way on two-run homers.

Darin Kinsolving did the honors for the Caps in the first inning, driving home Cory Crosnoe -- who doubled -- on a two-out rip over the left-field fence.

The Capahas maintained that lead until the sixth inning when Tory Haven hit an opposite-field shot to rightcenter. He drove home Chris Klemm who reached on a fielder's choice.

But the theme of the game was pitching.

Both starters threw gems, but neither got the win.

Reliever Brent Self got the win for the Caps. He faced three batters in the ninth and struck out two of them.

Jeffrey Hilz picked up the win. He went eight full innings and allowed both runs on five hits and a walk while striking out six.

"Hilz threw great. He was around the plate all game," said Bolen. "And when you throw strikes you usually get good defense behind you."

Indeed, the Caps played good defense, committing just one error.

Jake Casanova suffered the tough-luck loss.

He went the distance and gave up all three runs on seven hits.

"It was an outstanding game," Bolen said. "We beat a good pitcher tonight. This a traditional team and it's teams like these that you see every game in Wichita (at the National Baseball Congress World Series.)"