Capahas open region defense with a tight win

The Plaza Tire Capahas began their quest for a fourth straight Mid-South Regional title and automatic berth to the National Baseball Congress World Series by beating the Pine Bluff (Ark.) Braves 5-1 on Saturday afternoon in the winners bracket final.

Anthony Maupin scattered five hits in a complete-game performance for the Capahas. The only run he allowed was unearned, helped along by a throwing error by catcher Chad Mercado following a strikeout.

The Capahas struck first with a double by Levi Olson, who moved to second on a sacrifice by Tom Bolen and scored on Daniel Schuh's sacrifice fly.

After Pine Bluff tied the score 1-1 with a run in the top of the fifth, the Capahas answered with two. Omar Padilla walked, Zack Borowiak ripped an RBI double to left field, and Jerry Hodges followed with an RBI double to left center.

The Capahas added two more runs in the top of the ninth with a walk (the sixth of the game by Christian Kidd), a hit batsman (the fourth of the game) and a single by Borowiak that also included an outfield error to score the final run.

Pine Bluff had two runners on in the eighth inning with No. 3 hitter Keenan McCoy at the plate, but Maupin struck out McCoy to end the threat.

The Capahas have beaten Pine Bluff four times in the three previous title runs, including 10-run victories on two occasions. Pine Bluff has been the region runner-up the last two years.

The Capahas will play 2 p.m. today in the championship round of the three-team, double-elimination event against the winner of Saturday night's Riverdogs-Braves elimination game.