CAPAHAS SUFFER HEARTBREAKER IN TOURNEY

WICHITA, Kan. -- McDowell Capahas manager Jess Bolen has been in his current post for 34 years, but he said the defeat his team suffered here Friday night was the toughest he's ever experienced.

The Capahas, playing in the winner's bracket round of 16 in the 66th annual National Baseball Congress World Series, led the third-seeded San Diego Stars 6-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning as pitcher Lanson Debrock was cruising along with a two-hitter.

If the Capahas could retire the Stars in the frame, they would end the contest by way of the six-run rule after seven innings. Bolen knew the Capahas were so close to reaching the winner's bracket quarterfinals, they could taste it.

But an error to lead off the bottom of the seventh started a six-run rally -- four of the runs were unearned -- for the Stars as they tied the contest. The Stars then scored a run in the eighth and went on to post a 7-6 victory that left Bolen reeling.

"In 34 years of coaching, probably about 1,400 games, that's the toughest loss I've ever had in my life," he said. "Considering where you're at, what position you're at in the tournament, it's really tough. What's so bad about it, we'd be 3-0 and still in the winner's bracket. We should have won the game, no doubt about it."

The Capahas, who fell to 33-9 overall and 2-1 in the double-elimination tournament, will play Sunday at a time to be determined. There is a good chance McDowell will face the defending champion Dallas Phillies, who play tonight in a loser's bracket contest.

"Now we'll probably have to play the defending champions," Bolen said. "At least we don't have to come right back and play (this morning)."

In the bottom of the seventh, the Stars' leadoff batter hit a routine ground ball to shortstop Zach Borowiak, whose throw sailed into right field for an error that sent the runner to third.

A ground out followed as the runner held, but then the Stars got five hits -- with an out in between -- to pull within 6-3. Matt Palmer came in to pitch with two runners on and a triple to right field on a play in which Kevin Meyer fell down made it 6-5. Chad Bogenpohl then relieved Palmer and threw a wild pitch that allowed the tying run to come home.

"We make an error on a routine play to start the inning. The next guy grounds out, so we're looking at two outs and nobody on and the game's probably over. Then if Meyer doesn't fall down, he catches that ball," said Bolen. "We just gave them too many chances. You do that, you pay out here."

In the bottom of the eighth, a one-out double and a two-out single scored the tie-breaking run as the Stars remained undefeated in the tournament.

The Capahas built their big early lead with a steady offensive attack over the first six innings. They got one in the first, one in the second, two in the third, one in the fourth and one in the sixth.

Both teams had 10 hits. For the Capahas, Meyer had two doubles while Ross Bennett added two hits. Borowiak drove in two runs while Meyer, Steve Kress and Nathan Taylor also had RBIs.

Debrock, who was so brilliant through six innings, wound up hurling 6 2/3 frames. He allowed seven hits and five runs -- just one earned -- while striking out two and walking two.

"Lanson was tremendous for six innings," said Bolen. "And he could have easily gotten out of the seventh."

Palmer was charged with a run without retiring a batter and Bogenpohl suffered the loss, allowing two hits and one run in 1 1/3 innings. He fanned three and walked two.