Capahas wrap up regular season with win over RiverDogs

Jackson graduate Laban Petzoldt went 4 for 6 with an RBI on Sunday to wrap up the regular season for the Capahas, who defeated the Charleston RiverDogs 9-1 at Saxony Lutheran High School.

The RiverDogs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning, but the Capahas scored three runs in the top of the fourth and never relinquished their lead, thanks to a two-run double by Brady Wright.

Adam Connor added an RBI single in the fifth before Cody Gilbert hit a solo home run in the sixth to extend the Capahas' lead to 5-1 heading into the seventh.

The Capahas added three runs in the seventh and one in the eighth to conclude their scoring on the day. They combined for 14 hits.

"Anytime you score over five runs with wood bats, you're having a good game," said Capahas coach Jess Bolen, whose team is now 15-4 on the year. "... It's not conducive to good baseball when you play one game and then get rained out two or three in a row. If you ever played, you know what I'm talking about. It's hard to get your timing and your rhythm down as a pitcher. The whole thing's bad."

Adam Pennington was credited with the win on the mound. He threw three innings of relief, struck out five batters, walked none, gave up three hits and allowed no runs. Central graduate Lance Young got the start on the mound. He pitched three innings, had two strikeouts and one walk, scattered two hits and allowed one earned run.

Connor, Wright and Drew Morecraft each finished 2 for 5 with a double to lead the Capahas at the plate.

The Capahas will head Thursday to Wichita, Kansas, to compete in the National Baseball Congress World Series, which is held annually at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. Bolen said the team will take the field Friday against an opponent that is yet to be determined. Southeast Missouri State graduate Dylan Lynn is expected to get the start.

"Baseball's such a fun game. You just never know," Bolen said. "... We'll just see. Most of the time, once you get in the tournaments, it's dictated by your pitching more than anything else. We've got a few good pitchers to throw out there in Wichita, so you just never know."