Pirates plunder Caps again

Tradewater defeated Plaza Tire 3-0 in the title game, denying the Capahas for the second straight year.

By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian

The Tradewater (Ky.) Pirates did it to the Plaza Tire Capahas again.

For the second year in a row, the Pirates relegated the host Capahas to runner-up status in the National Baseball Congress Mid-South Regional as they prevailed 3-0 in Sunday afternoon's finals at Capaha Field.

The Pirates (22-10) captured their second straight regional title -- they have competed in the event only the last two years -- and earned an automatic berth into the NBC World Series in Wichita, Kan. Tradewater went 3-0 in the tournament and allowed just one run.

The Capahas (18-7), who lost to Tradewater 3-1 in 10 innings during Saturday's winner's bracket final, have now finished second in the regional three straight times after previously dominating the tournament.

"It's very disappointing," Capahas manager Jess Bolen said. "But I'll take the blame, because I should have put a better hitting team on the field. We had the pitching."

Plaza Tire, which still has 10 games left in the season, is hopeful of receiving a third consecutive at-large berth into the NBC World Series. The Capahas have made 18 straight appearances in the prestigious event that begins late this month.

"I think it's a 50-50 deal as far as us getting in," Bolen said. "I wouldn't be surprised if we got a bid and I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't."

The Pirates rode the shutout pitching of J.D. Dykes and Dominic Rio's three-run double in the sixth inning to victory on Sunday.

"The Capahas are a heck of a team. They play unbelievable baseball," Pirates coach Steve Fowler said. "But I think they bring out the best in us. We had a great tournament, and to come here and win two years in a row is unbelievable."

Dykes, a right-hander who pitched for Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo., in the late 1990s, scattered nine hits while striking out three and walking four. He won the tournament's outstanding pitcher award.

"I didn't think my stuff was very good. I think I had my C game," Dykes said. "But we had plenty of defense and got our offense going in the nick of time."

Tradewater, which played spectacular defense throughout the tournament, turned four double plays Sunday as Dykes worked out of constant trouble. The Capahas stranded 11 runners.

Rio, a center fielder who was one of the top hitters this year for Western Kentucky's team that qualified for the NCAA Division I playoffs, went 5-for-12 in the regional, including three doubles. He was named the tournament's most valuable player.

"The Capahas are tough and they just came to our house and beat us 10-1 last week," Rio said. "It's sweet to win this tournament."

Plaza Tire starter Kyle Perry, who beat Dykes 3-2 earlier this season at Capaha Field, also went the distance. In eight innings -- Tradewater was the home team on the scoreboard -- the right-hander allowed nine hits while striking out eight and walking one.

"Kyle pitched a great game, and so did their guy," Bolen said.

Rio and Aaron Clark led the Pirates with two hits apiece. Robby Moore, Eric Horstman and Seth Hudson all had two hits for the Capahas.

Both teams had plenty of opportunities to take control early -- each stranded six runners in the first three innings as the Pirates wound up leaving 10 on base -- but failed to capitalize.

The Capahas' best chance came in the third, when the first four batters reached but none scored. Moore led off with a single but was picked off. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases, but Dykes got a strikeout and fly ball to escape.

"We had plenty of chances but couldn't come up with the big hit," Bolen said. "Getting picked off in the third hurt, since the next three guys got on."

Tradewater finally broke through in the sixth. James Akin and Adam Schneider singled, then Sean Watts got a one-out single to load the bases. Perry looked like he might get out of trouble when Nick Utley flied to short center, but Rio followed with his line-drive double to left that scored all three runners.

"He hung a curveball," Rio said. "Somebody had to step up, and it happened to be me."

Plaza Tire's Josh Eftink was the top hitter in the tournament as he went 8-for-17 with two home runs, two doubles and nine RBIs.