Capahas start Wichita with a 'W'

WICHITA, Kan. — An early four-run deficit didn't faze the Plaza Tire Capahas.

The Capahas stormed back to knock off the El Dorado (Kan.) Broncos 10-6 on Monday morning in their opening game at the National Baseball Congress World Series.

Plaza Tire (28-5) advanced to the winner's bracket round of 16 in the 42-team, double-elimination event.

The Capahas will play either Santa Barbara, Calif., or Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., on Friday at a time to be determined. Those two squads square off today.

Plaza Tire manager Jess Bolen said he was not overly concerned when the Capahas trailed 4-0 after three innings.

"This team has so much maturity. We've got players who won't get nervous being down three or four runs," Bolen said.

Plaza Tire ace Anthony Maupin was hit harder than he has been all summer, giving up six runs and 10 hits in eight-plus innings. He entered the game having allowed just four earned runs in 52 innings.

Wayne McPherson ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian The Capahas' Jerry Hodges slid home safely during Monday's game at the NBC World Series in Wichita, Kan.

But Maupin (9-0) settled down after a shaky start to blank the Broncos from the fifth through the eighth innings. He struck out seven and walked four.

"Anthony just generally was having trouble with the strike zone. He'd get behind in the count, he was up with his pitches, totally not like him," Bolen said. "But you expect a guy like him to turn the corner, and he did. He did a great job settling down."

The Capahas banged out 17 hits as everybody in the lineup had at least one hit. Zach Borowiak went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.

Jerry Hodges, who leads the Capahas in most of the major offensive categories, had two hits, including his team-high fifth home run, and two RBIs.

Omar Padilla, Chris Gibson, Levi Olson, Asif Shah and Chad Mercado all delivered two hits. Daniel Schuh added two RBIs and had Plaza Tire's other extra-base hit, a double.

"It blew me out of the water the way we hit the ball, with wood bats against good pitchers," Bolen said. "I was worried about our hitting because we hadn't played in eight days, but we hit pretty well up and down the lineup."

Gibson, the son of former Cardinals pitching great Bob Gibson, joined the Capahas for the tournament after last playing for them in 2006. He spent most of the summer with a team in Omaha, Neb.

"Chris is a really good addition for us," Bolen said.

Trailing 4-0, the Capahas finally broke through in the top of the fourth inning, getting an RBI double from Borowiak and a two-run homer from Hodges to pull within 4-3.

"Jerry blasted one like you see in the major leagues," Bolen said. "I think that home run really got us back up and in the game."

El Dorado made it 5-3 in its half of the fourth, but the Capahas went ahead for good with a three-run sixth. Gibson's RBI single tied the contest, and Borowiak's RBI single put the Capahas up to stay.

Plaza Tire added three runs in the seventh and one in the eighth to carry a seemingly safe 10-5 lead into the ninth.

But the Broncos, who won NBC World Series titles in 1996 and 1998, made things interesting.

Maupin walked the leadoff batter and came out after throwing 130 pitches.

"He gave us everything he had," Bolen said.

Relief ace Josh Parham, who had not allowed a run in 17 1/3 innings this year, hit the first batter he faced and issued a walk to load the bases with none out.

Bolen turned to Cape Girardeau native Brad LaBruyere, the Capahas' youngest player.

LaBruyere, who has had a strong rookie season, retired three straight batters to close out the victory and earn a save. One run scored, that being charged to Maupin.

"The ninth inning got hairy," Bolen said. "Josh just didn't have his control, but I told him I wouldn't hesitate to use him again in our next game.

"I have a lot of confidence in Brad because he's somebody who can throw strikes. He did a great job."

The Capahas will have several days off before preparing for Friday's contest, where a meeting with 2006 NBC World Series champion Santa Barbara, Calif., could await. The Foresters eliminated Plaza Tire from last year's tournament as the Capahas finished seventh.

Bolen said he will try to schedule a practice at a local high school field Wednesday, but tonight the veteran manager with more than 1,300 career wins will be occupied: He will be inducted into the NBC Hall of Fame prior to the 7:30 p.m. feature game.

Most of Bolen's family, along with the entire Plaza Tire squad, will attend the ceremony at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.

"I'm looking forward to that," Bolen said.