CAPAHAS WIN 2 IN TOURNEY

VALMEYER, Ill. -- The McDowell Capahas got the maximum consoling out of the Valmeyer Tournament consolation bracket over the Fourth of July weekend.

After dropping out of contention for the tournament title with a first-round loss Saturday to Fairview Heights, the Capahas bounced back with a 2-1 victory over Granite City Sunday and a 9-2 triumph over Millstadt (Ill.) on Monday.

The trio of Matt Palmer, Ronnie Lewallen and Lanson Debrock combined for 10 strikeouts against Granite City and allowed eight hits. Debrock allowed just one hit over the final 2 1-3 innings for the win.

Granite City's lone run came on a third-inning home run, but McDowell (18-6) answered with one run in the sixth and the winning run in the ninth. Darin Kinsolving scored Brent Self with a one-out sacrifice fly to center field to end the game. Self had led off the inning with a bunt single, was sacrificed to second and advanced to third on an error.

Darrick Smith, George White and Jerry Wolsey each had two hits as the Capahas finished with 12 overall.

McDowell had nine hits against Millstadt. Jeff Bourbon, Ben Margalski and Brent Self each had two hits for the Capahas. Bourbon's hits included a leadoff home run in a four-run fifth inning and a double. Kinsolving also added a two-run home run.

The Capahas jumped out to a 4-0 lead with one run in the first and three in the second. The lead grew to 8-1 in the fifth.

Todd Pennington pitched five innings for the win. He allowed five hits, struck out five and walked four. Wolsey allowed three hits over the final four innings. He struck out three and walked one.

The Capahas return to action Wednesday at Fairview Heights.