Capahas suffer first series loss

Southeast Missourian

The Plaza Tire Capahas finally had their magic interrupted at the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan.

Plaza Tire, after needing 13 innings and 14 innings to win their first two games in the 79th annual 32-team, double-elimination event, suffered their first tournament loss Tuesday.

The San Diego Force grabbed an early lead with two runs in the bottom of the first inning and stayed ahead the rest of the way during their 4-1 victory.

San Diego improved to 37-6 on the season and 3-0 in the tournament. The Capahas, making their 32nd consecutive NBC World Series appearance, fell to 30-4 on the year and 2-1 in the tournament.

"They're a good ballclub. We knew that going in," Capahas manager Jess Bolen said of the Force. "We had our chances, we just came up short."

Plaza Tire will try to stay alive today when it plays either the Kansas Alumni or Liberal (Kan.) Bee Jays at 1 p.m. Those squads squared off late Tuesday night in an elimination game.

If the Capahas win today, they'll play another game later in the day. They opened the tournament with a 5-4, 13-inning victory over the Kansas Alumni.

On Tuesday, the Force took control in the bottom of the first as their first three batters all hit safely.

A leadoff single was followed by an inside-the-park home run by Timothy Williams on a play that could have been ruled a single and three-base error. Williams' hit to left field was misplayed and rolled to the wall.

San Diego made it 3-0 in the third inning on a single, a double and a sacrifice fly.

The Capahas finally broke through in the fourth with their only run of the day.

Christian Cavaness led off with a single. Kody Campbell's one-out single was misplayed in right field for an error as Cavaness scored an unearned run.

The Force went ahead 4-1 in the fifth inning on a leadoff home run by Carter Loud. That marked the end of the day's scoring.

Plaza Tire, after having just five hits during Monday's 1-0, 14-inning win over the Kansas Cannons, had seven hits Tuesday.

The Capahas had at least one hit in each of the first six innings but were held without a baserunner over the final three frames.

"It was one of those games that was very winnable but it seemed like we just spun our wheels the whole game," Bolen said. "We had a lot of hard-hit balls. I thought we hit the ball well enough to score four or five runs."

Jake Pewitt went 2 for 3 and Campbell 2 for 4 to lead the Capahas.

Williams and Nick Boggan each went 3 for 4 to pace the Force.

Andrew Williams pitched all eight innings for the Capahas. He allowed 11 hits, struck out one and walked one.

"I thought Andrew did a good job. I thought he battled all day long. He gave us a chance to win. That's all you can ask out of any pitcher," Bolen said. "Another thing he did, he saved our pitching staff. We came out here thin in pitching. He gave us a chance to win another game tomorrow."

Connor Little, a 6-foot-5, 235-pounder, threw all nine innings for the Force. He allowed seven hits, struck out seven and did not issue a walk. He retired the game's final 11 batters.

"You have to give their pitcher credit," Bolen said.

The Capahas were not charged with an error Tuesday and still have not committed an error in the tournament.

While the Capahas' pitching and defense have sparkled in Wichita, Bolen knows the offense must get going if Plaza Tire is going to stay alive in the tournament much longer.

"We've got to put up some runs [today]. We've scored two runs in the last 23 innings. That just won't get it done," Bolen said.