Havasu gets early jump on Capahas

~ Plaza Tire surrendered 12 runs in the first inning of a 15-1 loss.

There's a reason baseball was invented and traditionally played during daylight hours.Baseball in the wee hours can be brutal.

The Plaza Tire Capahas learned that lesson in the early morning hours Sunday at the NBC World Series at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in Wichita, Kan.

Playing the Havasu (Ariz.) Heat in a game that did not start until 2:45 a.m., the Capahas were quickly decked by a 12-run first inning and suffered a 15-1 loss in a game shortened to five innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.

The loss sent Plaza Tire (29-7) into today's 10:30 a.m. elimination game against the Moreno Valley (Calif.) Rockets.

The Heat, who extended their winning streak to 22 games and improved to 43-2, banged out 13 hits off five Capahas pitchers.

It made for quite a contrast to the Capahas' World Series debut Thursday, when Plaza Tire's Phillip Riley threw a one-hit complete game in a 3-1 victory over Junction City (Kan.).

"I attribute it to a team last night, at least for one game, that was much better than us," Capahas manager Jess Bolen said. "They had the same starting time we had -- they just hit the ball all over the place. They hit curveballs that were down, and hit it hard all over the place. It was almost like they knew what was coming."

Havasu sent 17 batters to the plate in the top of the first inning and banged eight hits off three Capahas pitchers. The explosion, which started off losing pitcher Jason Chavez, included two home runs, two doubles, four singles, three walks and two errors.

After the first batter was retired, 14 consecutive Heat players reached base safely. Brad Arnett started the onslaught with a solo home run to center field. The following batter walked, and No. 4 hitter Jared Stanley sent another home run to center for a 3-0 lead.

A double, a hit batsman, a single and a fielder's choice put the next four Heat hitters on base and ended the day for Chavez. Left-hander Stan Skakalski entered and faced five batters but was unable to record an out. He walked two batters, gave up two singles and was hurt by an error.

Bolen said the team's overall defensive play was not up to its usual standard in the first inning.

"When you do that against a team really hitting the ball, that really hangs the pitcher out there to dry," Bolen said of the errors.

Trailing 9-0, the Capahas turned to Chad Bogenpohl, who surrendered an RBI single and a two-run double before retiring the final two batters.

The Capahas scored their lone run in the bottom of the first on a two-out double by Asif Shah.

Drew Moffitt added a three-run home run off Bogenpohl in the third inning to complete the scoring.

Bogenpohl allowed six hits in 2 2/3 innings. He recorded the only two strikeouts by Capahas pitchers and walked no one. Andrew Graham and Adam Patterson each worked a scoreless inning for the Capahas before the game was ended due to the 10-run mercy rule.

"Our pitching is still in good shape," Bolen said. "I didn't extend anyone so they can come back and be available [today]."

Havasu's Tim Carrier and Cody Neer each went 3-for-4 while Arnett, Stanley and Moffitt had two hits apiece.

Derrick Miramontes allowed four hits in five innings to record the win for Havasu. He struck out nine and did not walk a batter.

Jordan Payne, Daryl Graham and Jerry Hodges also had hits for Plaza Tire.

The Capahas face another challenge in Moreno Valley, which was sent into the losers bracket with a 4-3 loss to Santa Barbara (Calif.), the defending NBC World Series champion. Anthony Maupin will start for the Capahas.

"To tell you the truth, we need to put up more runs," Bolen said. "You can't depend on a pitcher to hold a team to one run every game."

HAVASU 15, CAPAHAS 1 (5 inn.)

Havasu (12)03 00 -- 15 13 1

Team 100 00 -- 1 4 2

WP -- Derrick Miramontes, 1-0. LP -- Jason Chavez, 0-0. HR -- Brad Arnett (H), Jared Stanley (H), Drew Moffitt (H). 2B -- Cody Neer (H), Scott Talbert (H), Asif Shah (C). Multiple hits -- Havasu, Tim Carrier 3-4, Arnett 2-4, Stanley 2-3, Neer 3-4, Moffitt 2-3. Records -- Havasu 43-2, Capahas 29-7.