Plaza Tire rolls along in elimination bracket

WICHITA, Kan. -- Jess Bolen is as surprised as anybody by what his Plaza Tire Capahas are doing at the National Baseball Congress World Series.

But Bolen wasn't about to complain after the Capahas posted their third straight tournament victory, 5-2 over the Liberal (Kan.) BeeJays on Sunday.

Despite opening the 42-team, double-elimination event with a loss, the Capahas (24-10) remain alive.

"Oh yeah, I'm surprised," said Bolen, in his 40th season as the Capahas' manager. "We came out here kind of shallow, with all the injuries and depth problems, so who would have thought we'd come out here and win three of our first four games?

"I have no idea why we're doing this good because I really didn't expect it. But we're just playing good baseball, doing the little things it takes to win. And I think we've stepped up to the level of the competition."

The Capahas, who trailed 2-0 after five innings Sunday, broke a 2-2 tie with three unearned runs in the bottom of the eighth, thanks in part to a pair of errors by the BeeJays.

Levi Olson led off with a single and was sacrificed to second by Dustin Pritchett. Jordan Payne reached on an error, as did Scott Hubbard, with Olson scoring on the play. Josh Ford drove in Payne with a ground ball and Zach Johnson's single scored Hubbard.

Plaza Tire got on the board in the sixth inning when Payne's single drove in Bryan Kurt, who had walked and moved up on a single by Olson.

The Capahas tied it in the seventh as Ford walked, was sacrificed to second by Johnson and scored on Robby Moore's double.

"We're doing a lot of things that are working," Bolen said. "We put down two sacrifice bunts today and both of the guys we moved up scored. The other day we had a successful squeeze. We're just doing things right."

Anthony Maupin gave the Capahas a strong starting pitching performance despite a somewhat rocky start.

The first batter Maupin faced tripled and the next batter doubled to put the Capahas in an early 1-0 hole. But he escaped the opening inning with no further damage.

Maupin, who gave up Liberal's final run in the fourth, went 7 1/3 innings. He allowed nine hits, struck out five and walked one.

"Maupin pitched a really good game," Bolen said. "The start was kind of rough, but he settled down and started getting his breaking ball over."

In the top of the eighth, with the score tied 2-2, Maupin allowed a leadoff double, and that runner being sacrificed to third.

Josh Parham replaced Maupin. Parham walked the first batter he faced but stranded the runners on a pop out and a ground out.

After the Capahas broke the deadlock with their big eighth inning, Parham retired the side in order in the ninth and earned the victory.

"Parham came in and did a great job," Bolen said.

Both squads had nine hits. Olson and Payne each went 2-for-4 to lead the Capahas.

"Liberal is a good team, usually one of the better teams out here," Bolen said. "I think they finished tied for first in the Jayhawk League, so that tells you what kind of ballclub they have."

Added Bolen: "But they're going home and we're still playing."

The Capahas will be back in action at 8 a.m. today when they face the Newton (Kan.) Rebels in another elimination game. Newton has also posted three straight tournament wins after an opening defeat.

Jason Chavez is scheduled to start for the Capahas today.