Capahas win NBC Mid-South Regional

~ Plaza Tire reached the NBC World Series in convincing fashion.

The Plaza Tire Capahas weren't as dominant as last year, when they won all three of their games by at least 10 runs and outscored the opposition 40-4.

But the Capahas still breezed to the title in the 2006 National Baseball Congress Mid-South Regional at Capaha Field.

The Capahas capped off an impressive pitching display Sunday by beating the Pine Bluff (Ark.) Braves 10-3 for their second consecutive regional championship.

Plaza Tire finished the three-team, double-elimination tournament with a 3-0 record and improved its season mark to 19-8. The Capahas earned an automatic berth in the NBC World Series in Wichita, Kan., as they will participate in that event for the 24th consecutive year.

"I would have liked to have had more teams in the tournament," Capahas manager Jess Bolen said. "But you have to go with what you have.

"I told the guys before the game that a championship is on the table. It's always nice to win a championship."

After easing past the Braves 7-2 and the Springfield (Mo.) Generals 5-1 during Saturday's round-robin portion of the tournament, the Capahas had little trouble with the Braves in Sunday's rematch.

Plaza Tire Capahas Tom Bolen was tagged out at the plate by Pine Bluff catcher Corey McCoy to end the first inning Sunday at Capaha Field. (Fred Lynch)

"We played well in the tournament. It was probably the best ball we've played in a while," said Chris Gibson, named the tournament's most valuable player. "It's a good time for us to play well."

Gibson had four hits in the three games, including a home run, a triple and a double. He scored five runs and drove in three runs.

Bryan Kurt had four of the Capahas' nine hits Sunday to finish the tournament with a team-high six hits.

Levi Olson, who joined Gibson in homering Saturday, ended the tournament with four hits and a team-leading four RBIs. Josh Ford also had four hits and added three RBIs, while Robby Moore matched Gibson with five runs scored, including three Sunday.

"I thought overall we played well in the tournament," Bolen said. "The guys hit the ball pretty well. When we hit the ball, with our pitching, we can beat a lot of teams."

After dominant pitching Saturday -- including a no-hitter against Springfield by Jason Chavez, who won the tournament's most valuable pitcher award -- the Capahas received more of the same Sunday.

Matt Stroup notched the victory as he worked the first five innings, allowing five hits and two runs. He struck out five.

Kyle Perry, Chad Bogenpohl, Jamie McAlister and Shayn Mabury all pitched one inning, with only Bogenpohl giving up a run or a hit. The Braves reached him for a single tally on two hits in the seventh.

Perry struck out two, Bogenpohl struck out three, McAlister fanned two and Mabury fanned one. That adds up to 13 total strikeouts.

Saturday, Chavez fanned 13 against the Generals, while against the Braves Anthony Maupin struck out 11 in 7 1/3 innings and Josh Parham fanned three in 1 2/3 innings.

"Our pitching was good all weekend, like it has been pretty much all year," Bolen said.

The Capahas scored four runs in the first inning Sunday and were never threatened. It was 8-2 after six innings.

Another highlight Sunday for the Capahas was the return of Seth Hudson, who made his first appearance of the summer as he entered the game in the fifth inning at designated hitter. He flied out and walked in two trips to the plate.

Hudson, a second baseman, was one of the Ohio Valley Conference's top hitters for Murray State this year when he suffered a hand injury late in the season that required surgery and kept him from playing for the Capahas until Sunday.

"It felt good to be back out there," Hudson said. "I'm rusty, but hopefully I'll get back on track pretty quick."