CAPAHAS WIN IN TOURNEY

WICHITA, Kan. -- Cape Girardeau's Kohlfeld Capahas came through Sunday with their backs to the wall.

The Capahas, facing elimination after losing Friday night during the opening round of the National Baseball Congress World Series, bounced back Sunday to defeat the Austin (Texas) Gold Sox 8-5.

So the Capahas, who were scheduled to return to Cape Girardeau late Sunday night, earned the right to return to Wichita for more baseball. Their next game will be Saturday against an opponent that will be determined later.

"We needed to bounce back after Friday's tough loss (11-10 to Clarinda, Iowa). I haven't went out there and gone 0-2 in I don't know how many years," said Capahas manager Jess Bolen. "It was a good ballgame, a well-played ballgame."

The Capahas, who improved to 31-6 on the season, got a strong pitching performance from Danny Simpher. In 8 2/3 innings, Simpher allowed 12 hits while striking out four and walking only one. Kevin Vent came on in the ninth with two on to get the final out and earn a save.

"Simpher pitched a great ballgame," said Bolen. "He gave up quite a few hits but he scattered them out. And he only walked one, which was really big after we had walked nine in the first game."

For the second game in a row, the Capahas pounded out 16 hits. Tom Breuer, batting .667 in the tournament, ripped three doubles and added a single. He drove in two runs.

"Breuer really rammed the ball," Bolen said.

Lance Craft, Cory Crosnoe, Ryan Murphy and Jeremy Johnson all added two hits for the Capahas. Shawn Pemberton had two RBIs while Craft stole two more bases, giving him five steals in the tourney.

Austin had 12 hits, led by Austin Evans and Seth Spiker with three apiece. Austin's Mark Cridland had the game's only home run.

"They (Austin) are a good-hitting ballclub," said Bolen. "They had 17 hits the day before."

The Capahas jumped ahead with two runs in the top of the first inning and never trailed. They led 8-2 before the Gold Sox made things interesting with a three-run eighth.