CAPAHAS STRIKE EARLY, RALLY LATE FOR 8-7 WIN

With the way McDowell began the game Friday night, it looked certain that the Capahas would win their fifth game of the season via a blowout.

So much for first impressions.

The Capahas scored four runs in the first inning and looked in command of the game, but had to rally late to capture an 8-7 victory over Waterloo (Ill.).

Darrin Kinsolving grounded a single off the end of his bat past the second baseman to end the game in the bottom of the ninth. The hit scored Steve Kress, who reached on an error and was moved over to second on a perfect sacrifice bunt by Darrick Smith.

Waterloo, which trailed most of the game, took a 7-6 lead in the seventh by scoring two runs on three doubles.

The Capahas (5-1) tied it in the bottom of the eighth on a double by Ben Arbeiter, which was followed by a triple to the 380-foot sign in leftcenter by Tom Bolen. But Bolen was nailed at the plate for the third out of the eighth when he tried to score on a flyout to Waterloo right fielder John Wahlig.

After Waterloo took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a homer by Neil Fiala, McDowell blistered Buds starting pitcher Chris Brown for four runs.

Kress spanked the second pitch to deep leftcenter for a double. Smith moved him over on a deep fly to center, then Kress scored on a wild pitch.

Cory Crosnoe then belted his fourth homer of the young season to straight-away center to put the Capahas up 2-0. A long double, an error, another double and a sacrifice fly later and McDowell was up 4-1.

The Capahas added another run in the third on an RBI single by Ryan Murphy to go up 5-1. McDowell could've scored more, but Ben Arbeiter hit into a double play to end the inning and stranded a runner at third.

In the top of the fourth, Warterloo plated three runs on three hits and a walk. The biggest blow was a two-run triple by Barry Grant which cut the Capaha lead to 5-4.

Waterloo tied the game 5-5 when Capaha shortstop Ryan Murphy overthrew first base, allowing Mike Wirth to score from second with two outs.

Kinsolving recaptured the lead for the Capahas when he roped a homer halfway up the hill behind the left field fence in the fifth.

Matt Palmer picked up the win for the Capahas in relief of starter Chad Bogenpohl. Palmer went three innings and gave up two runs on five hits.

Ryan Umger, Waterloo's third hurler of the night, was tagged with the loss. He went the final 1 1/3 and gave up the tying and winning runs on two hits. The winning run was unearned.

Waterloo committed three errors which led to five unearned runs.

Bogenpohl went seven innings and gave up five runs on seven hits. He fanned four.