Bats deliver as Capahas roll to 14-1 win

The result was the same, but the performance was considerably better.

One day after making six errors to narrowly win their season opener, the Plaza Tire Capahas played errorless baseball in routing the Valmeyer (Ill.) Lakers 14-1.

"We played a lot better today," outfielder Zach Johnson said. "I think we got all the nerves out."

Saturday's contest at Capaha Field was stopped after 6 1/2 innings by the 10-run mercy rule.

The teams were scheduled to play a doubleheader, but did not because Valmeyer needs to make up some rained out league games early next week.

So the Capahas wound up sweeping the two-game series from the Lakers, which began with Friday's sloppy 14-12 season-opening victory.

"At least we wiped some of those errors off," Capahas manager Jess Bolen said. "That was awful last night. It was like the Bad News Bears."

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.com Capahas pitcher Anthony Maupin pitched against Valmeyer during Saturday's game at Capaha Field.

What did not change for the Capahas on Saturday was their noisy bats.

The Capahas, after getting 12 hits Friday — including two home runs, two triples and a double — came back with 14 more hits, including two triples and two doubles.

"The pitching we'll see is going to get better, but you have to hit whatever's thrown out at you," Bolen said. "Right now we're hitting it."

Johnson went 3-for-5 with a triple and drove in four runs. He has two triples and seven RBIs in the first two games.

"I'm seeing the ball well," Johnson said.

Daniel Schuh went 3-for-4 with a triple, while Phillip Riley and Kendal Deason both added two hits.

The Capahas snapped a 1-1 tie with a two-run third inning, going ahead for good on Schuh's RBI triple.

An eight-run fourth inning that featured eight hits broke things open. Johnson's bases-loaded triple in the sixth rounded out the scoring.

All that offense was more than enough for three Plaza Tire pitchers who combined for a three-hitter.

Starter Anthony Maupin got the win as he worked the first five innings, allowing three hits and the lone run. He struck out six and walked none, although he hit three batters.

"Anthony threw the ball great," Johnson said.

Stan Skakalski struck out two and hit a batter in the sixth, while Josh Parham fanned two during a perfect seventh to close things out.

"They all threw pretty well," Bolen said. "I wish we could have played two games because we've got several guys we need to get on the mound."

Bolen should get the chance to use several more hurlers today as the Capahas close out a four-game weekend homestand with a 1 p.m. doubleheader against the St. Louis Printers.

Valmeyer 010 000 0 — 1 3 3

Capahas 120 803 X — 14 14 0

WP — Anthony Maupin. LP — Dakota Schutt. 3B — Zach Johnson (C), Daniel Schuh (C). 2B — Chris Rohlfing (V), Josh Eftink (C), Phillip Riley (C). Multiple hits — Valmeyer, Tyler Harrison 2-3; Capahas, Johnson 3-5, Schuh 3-4, Riley 2-4, Kendal Deason 2-3. Records — Capahas 2-0.