CAPHAS NOTCH 4-2 VICTORY OVER FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS

The McDowell Capahas got solid pitching from Chad Bogenpohl and Jerry Wolsey and got two key hits in the sixth as they knocked off the Fairview Heights Redbirds 4-2 Friday night at Capaha Field.

Wolsey got the win in relief as the Capahas improved to 4-1 on the season.

He went the final four innings and allowed two runs on six hits, while walking one.

But it was Bogenpohl who was especially sharp.

Bogenpohl who was on a pitch limit -- dominated the first five innings, allowing four hits and striking out seven.

"He looked great," said Capahas manager Jess Bolen of the former Oak Ridge and Southeast Missouri State pitcher. "That was his third outing, but he pitched one inning his first time and 30 pitches the next. He threw 55 pitches tonight and that was plenty."

The Capahas scored three of their runs in the sixth.

Darin Kinsolving drew a one-out walk, followed by Phil Warren who was hit by a pitch. Designated hitter Chris Sledge then drove home Kinsolving on a single up the middle. After Warren and Sledge moved up to second and third on a fielder's choice, Ryan Murphy came up with a huge two-run single to left.

"I thought that hit by Murphy with two outs was the biggest hit of the game," Bolen said.

The Caps added another run in the seventh when Kevin Meyer led off the inning with a bunt single and advanced to second on an overthrow. He then scored when Zach Borowiak -- whose line drive to center was dropped -- got caught in a rundown.

The Capahas had a shutout going into the ninth, but made it interesting.

Jeff Dunbar and Jim Beever both singled with one out. Paul Miles and Steve Guisgond both provided RBI singles to cut the Capahas' lead to 4-2.

A key play in the inning came when the Caps caught Miles trying to advance to third when the runner ahead of him was not sent after Giusgond's single. A run scored, but the Capahas were more than happy to take the out. Instead of having the bases loaded with one out and the tying run at second, there were two outs with the tying run at first.

The Redbirds actually outhit the Caps 9-6.

But the Capahas, in preparation for the National Baseball Congress World Series, were using exclusively wooden bats.

Some of the Redbird hitters used aluminum.

"We had a lot of hard-hit balls," said Bolen. "We're getting better with the wooden bats."

Ben Volk suffered the loss for Fairview Heights.