Defending champions eliminate Capahas from NBC World Series

WICHITA, Kan. -- The Plaza Tire Capahas gave the Havasu (Ariz.) Heat a much tougher game this time.

But for the second straight year the Heat -- the 2007 National Baseball Congress World Series champions -- defeated the Capahas at the prestigious tournament.

Havasu's 5-3 victory Monday eliminated the Capahas from the NBC World Series. Plaza Tire went 2-2 in the 42-team event.

"They're good, that's why they're national champions." said Capahas manager Jess Bolen, whose squad finished its season with a 29-7 record while making its 27th consecutive NBC World Series appearance.

Havasu blasted Plaza Tire 15-1 in the second round of last year's tournament on its way to the title. That game was stopped after five innings by the 10-run mercy rule.

The Heat, who were upset in the first round of this year's tournament despite being the top seed, enjoyed no breather Monday.

Plaza Tire, which trailed 4-0 after seven innings, rallied with three runs in the bottom of the eighth but got no closer.

"We played pretty good baseball. We could have won that ballgame," Bolen said. "I think we showed them we could play with them. At least I feel a lot better walking off the field this time compared to last year, when we got embarrassed."

The Capahas never could solve Havasu pitcher Bret Montgomery, who entered the game 7-0 with an 0.69 earned-run average.

Montgomery, a 6-foot-6, 250-pound right-hander, limited the Capahas to four hits -- including two infield singles -- through eight innings. The three eighth-inning runs were unearned. He struck out six and walked three.

"That guy on the mound was good," Bolen said. "They had him clocked at 93 [mph], and he kept the ball down real good."

Nate Russ closed things out for the Heat in the ninth inning, retiring the first two batters, allowing a pinch-hit single to Chad Mercado and getting a strikeout to end the contest.

"Our pitching kept us in the game, but we just did not hit enough early," said Bolen, whose squad had five hits compared to 11 for the Heat.

Plaza Tire starter James Leigh, who had pitched only two innings this summer after joining the team several weeks ago, was solid.

Leigh allowed four runs -- three earned -- and eight hits in six-plus innings. He struck out seven and walked three.

Phillip Riley worked the final three innings, allowing one run and three hits. He struck out four and walked none.

"James Leigh really threw good, and so did Phillip Riley," Bolen said.

Havasu took a lead it would not relinquish with two runs in the top of the second inning.

Two singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out. Leigh might have escaped the jam unscathed when Quinton Shamisa-Bady hit what appeared to be a double-play ball to second baseman Omar Padilla.

Padilla threw to shortstop Zach Borowiak for the force at second, but Borowiak's throw to first hit Cody Lassley -- who was coming to second -- and caromed into right field. Two runs scored on the play, one being unearned.

"That double play ball was a tough break," Bolen said. "When Zach came across the bag the throw hit the runner coming from first on the arm.

"It wasn't Zach's fault. He was trying to throw to first base and the runner, who wasn't sliding, got in the way. It was a routine double play and would have gotten us out of that inning. That was two runs. It really hurt."

The Heat used three hits to score twice in the sixth inning as they grabbed a 4-0 lead.

Plaza Tire rallied with three in the eighth, after the first two batters were retired.

A walk, a fielder's choice and an error brought in one run and left men on second and third. Borowiak's two-run single made it 4-3 and he moved to second on the throw home. Jerry Hodges walked, but Chris Gibson flew out.

Havasu added an insurance run in the ninth.

Both of Plaza Tire's losses in this year's tournament came against the past two World Series champions.

The Capahas were sent to the losers bracket on Friday as 2006 tournament winner Santa Barbara, Calif., handed Plaza Tire a 12-5 defeat.

Those same squads also dealt the Capahas both their losses in last year's World Series, when Plaza Tire went 4-2 and finished seventh.

"It would be nice to play somebody different out here for a change," Bolen said.

Still, Bolen had no complaints about the season as a whole.

"It was a good season. It was a fun season," Bolen said. "It was a good group of guys. That's what makes it a lot of fun, when you've got a bunch of guys who get along.

"Sure we would have liked to finish higher here, but I told them I couldn't be prouder of them."