Bats quiet in Caps' win

When two strong amateur baseball teams with solid pitching take part in a wood bat game, the contest figures to be low scoring and fast paced.

That was the case Thursday night at Capaha Field as the Plaza Tire Capahas and Tradewater (Ky.) Pirates squared off.

The host Capahas managed just four hits -- all singles -- yet squeezed out a 3-2 victory. The game lasted only two hours.

"With wood bats and two good teams going at it, this is the kind of game you expect," Capahas manager Jess Bolen said. "It was a good ballgame. They have a good young team with mostly college players, like we do."

The Capahas improved to 10-3 and the Pirates fell to 8-8. The teams will likely meet again next month when Plaza Tire hosts the National Baseball Congress Mid-South Regional tournament. Last year, the Pirates knocked off the Capahas in the regional championship game.

"They'll be coming back to the tournament," Bolen said. "We might play them again, you never know."

Former Murray State pitcher Kyle Perry, who is familiar with several of the Pirates -- their team is based out of Dawson Springs, Ky., which is a little more than an hour from Murray, Ky., -- worked seven strong innings to lead the Capahas.

Perry, a right-hander, allowed two runs and seven hits while striking out 10 and walking one. He had been bothered by control problems during some earlier starts but appeared to be in fine form Thursday.

"I know about three or four of their players and they've got a good team," Perry said. "The last two times I pitched was the most walks I've had. I got it back tonight and this is the best game I've had this summer."

Said Bolen: "I thought Kyle Perry pitched a really good game."

Josh Parham earned his third save of the summer by pitching the final two innings and preserving the victory. The left-hander gave up one hit.

Pirates' starter J.D. Dykes also was strong. The right-hander went the distance, striking out four and walking five. Dykes did not allow a hit until the fifth inning.

The Capahas trailed 2-1 entering the bottom of the sixth. Wade Walter led off with a single and Levi Olson walked. Tom Bolen sacrificed the runners to second and third, but Robbie Moore struck out.

Jess Bolen then sent Bryan Kurt in to pinch-hit for Seth Hudson, and the move paid off when Kurt blooped a two-run single to short right field that fell just out of the reach of second baseman Tyler Pittman.

"He didn't hit it that great, but it got the job done," Bolen said.

James Akin's RBI double in the fourth gave Tradewater a 1-0 lead. Plaza Tire tied it in the fifth as Eric Horstman walked with two outs, stole second and scored on Lance Seasor's single that marked the Capahas' first hit.

Pittman's RBI triple in the sixth put the Pirates up 2-1, but the Capahas came right back to go ahead for good in the bottom of the frame.

Akins doubled twice and Pittman added a single to go along with his triple as they led the Pirates' eight-hit attack.

Jamie McAlister, one of Plaza Tire's top pitchers who was serving as their designated hitter, added the Capahas' other hit.

The Capahas will return to action Saturday as they host Williamson County, Ill., in a 4 p.m. doubleheader.