Capahas survive regional opener in 10 innings

The Springfield Generals Brett Lisher slid under the tag of Capahas third baseman Daryl Graham during the fourth inning of Friday night's NBC Mid-South Regional game at Capaha Field. (AARON EISENHAUER ~aeisenhauer@semissourian.com) [Click to enlarge]

For most of Friday night's game, it looked like the Plaza Tire Capahas would fall into the loser's bracket of the National Baseball Congress Mid-South Regional.

But a late comeback allowed the host Capahas to escape with a thrilling 6-5, 10-inning victory over the Springfield (Mo.) Generals.

And it allowed Plaza Tire to avoid dipping into the loser's bracket after just one tournament contest.

"We really needed to win this game," said Dustin Pritchett, who drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning. "Otherwise we would have been looking at having to win four straight over the next two days."

Instead, the Capahas need just one win both today and Sunday in order to capture their third straight Mid-South Regional title.

The Capahas (21-5) play the Charleston Riverdogs at 4 p.m. today in the winner's bracket final of the four-team event. The victor earns a berth in Sunday's championship

Also today, the Generals take on the Pine Bluff (Ark.) Braves at 1 p.m. in an elimination contest, followed by another elimination game at 7:30 p.m.

"Springfield has a really good team and I give them a lot of credit," Plaza Tire manager Jess Bolen said. "But I'm really proud of my guys. What a ballgame."

Things did not look good for the Capahas most of the way as they fell behind 4-0 in the third inning, when starting pitcher Phillip Riley was knocked from the game after taking a line drive off his pitching elbow.

"Phillip was throwing really well," Bolen said.

Jamie McAlister, after a shaky start upon replacing Riley, ended up giving the Capahas brilliant relief work as he went the rest of the way.

Still, the Capahas continued to trail the entire night until scoring two runs -- on just one hit -- in the ninth to forge a 5-5 tie.

The Capahas then capitalized on two Springfield errors to score an unearned run in the 10th. They had three unearned runs as the Generals made four errors.

"Sometimes you have to be a little lucky," said Zach Johnson, whose bases-loaded single with two outs in the ninth pulled the Capahas into a 5-5 tie and forced extra frames.

Johnson had been hitless -- along with a walk -- in four previous plate appearances before bouncing a single up the middle in the ninth.

"It was a seeing-eye hit," said a smiling Johnson. "But it felt good to contribute."

In a wild 10th, Jordan Payne reached on a one-out infield single and moved to second on a throwing error.

Asif Shah was intentionally walked, then Daryl Graham's routine pop fly was dropped by shortstop Chris Hampton for an error that loaded the bases.

Chad Mercado then appeared to pull his bat back on a suicide squeeze attempt as Payne was caught off third in a rundown.

Mercado wound up being hit by a pitch to again load the bases. Pritchett then drilled the first pitch down the third-base line to bring home Shah with the game-ending run.

Riley allowed three hits and struck out seven in 3 1/3 innings, but he was charged with three of the runs during Springfield's four-run fourth that featured just two hits, along with three walks and a hit batter.

McAlister walked one, hit one and allowed a two-run single upon entering the contest. One of the runs was charged to him.

But McAlister allowed just one run the rest of the way. In 6 2/3 innings, he gave up five hits while striking out nine, walking two and hitting two as he notched the victory.

Springfield starter Blake Wixson had a one-hit shutout through five innings and wound up allowing just one run and three hits in six innings.

Four relievers followed Wixson to the mound.

The Capahas had nine hits. They also received 10 walks and three hit batters, along with the four errors.

Levi Olson had three hits, including a home run, to lead the Capahas. He drove in two runs. Pritchett and Payne both added two hits.

Capahas 6, Generals 5, 10 innings

WP -- Jamie McAlister. LP -- Jason Hammer. HR -- Eric Tennyson (G), Levi Olson (C). Multiple hits -- Generals, Tye Throneberry 3-4, Adam Browett 2-4; Capahas, Olson 3-4, Dustin Pritchett 2-4, Jordan Payne 2-6.