Capahas complete 5-0 weekend with sweep of doubleheader

It would be hard to imagine the Plaza Tire Capahas having a better three days.

Especially considering the competition they faced.

The Capahas finished off a 5-0 weekend Sunday by sweeping a doubleheader from the visiting Crestwood (Ill.) Panthers 6-0 and 4-2.

That came after they also beat the Panthers on Saturday, along with a Saturday victory over the St. Louis Printers and a Friday night triumph over Waterloo, Ill.

Crestwood finished third in the past two National Baseball Congress World Series, while Waterloo came to Cape Girardeau 15-0.

"We played good baseball this weekend," said Plaza Tire reliever Josh Parham, who closed out both wins Sunday with perfect seventh innings.

The Capahas improved to 14-3 and ran their winning streak to nine games.

Capahas pitcher Phillip Riley delivered a pitch against Crestwood during Sunday's first game.

"We're clicking pretty well," said Plaza Tire manager Jess Bolen, whose squad placed seventh in last year's NBC World Series. "This is a pretty good ballclub. We knew that when we put it together."

Plaza Tire's pitching was particularly impressive all weekend, and especially in the three-game series with Crestwood (8-6).

After Anthony Maupin dominated the Panthers during Saturday's 5-2 victory — he allowed two unearned runs and two infield singles among three total hits — Phillip Riley did the same in Sunday's opener, and Jason Chavez was solid in the nightcap. Parham added perfect relief.

"There can't be enough said about the pitching," said Plaza Tire's Chad Mercado, who caught both ends of Sunday's doubleheader and also was behind the plate for two of the Capahas' other games over the weekend.

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.com Omar Padilla ran toward home to score on a single by Jerry Hodges in the fifth inning against Crestwood Sunday at Capaha Field.

Asked about the type of workout he received Sunday, Mercado smiled.

"That's the first time I've done that [caught an entire doubleheader] since I was like 14," Mercado said. "It was a combination of salt pills and a lot of Gatorade."

Riley, as Maupin had done the previous night, overmatched Crestwood in Sunday's opener.

Riley worked six innings, allowing just two infield singles. He struck out four, walked two and hit two batters. In 19 1/3 innings, Riley has given up only one earned run and seven hits.

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.com Josh Eftink blasted a three-run homer for the Capahas during the fifth inning of Sunday's first game against Crestwood at Capaha Field.

Crestwood was able to compile a bit more offense against Chavez in the nightcap as he allowed seven hits and two runs in six innings. But Chavez was plenty tough as he struck out seven, walked one and hit a batter.

"I finally feel a little more comfortable on the mound," Chavez said of his best performance so far this season.

Said Parham: "Crestwood is a solid team, but we've got a lot of quality arms. We've got a lot of guys who can throw."

That includes the left-handed Parham, who serves as Plaza Tire's closer.

While there wasn't much pressure when Parham finished off Sunday's first game, that was not the case in the second contest.

Chavez allowed a leadoff single in the top of the seventh, then threw two balls to Matt Kucharski.

On came Parham, who struck out Kucharski and retired the next two batters to earn his first save of the season. Parham has allowed two hits and no runs in 9 2/3 innings.

"Josh does a great job out of the bullpen for us," Bolen said.

The Capahas did not exactly batter Crestwood's pitching staff Sunday. Plaza Tire had seven hits in the opener and six in the nightcap, but they came at opportune times.

"That's a good team we played," Bolen said. "A lot of guys had good days for us. Mercado had an excellent day, catching both games."

Mercado also had two hits in the nightcap, as did Daniel Schuh.

Josh Eftink had a three-run home run in the opener and finished the day with four RBIs.

The Capahas will have four days off before resuming action Friday night with a rematch at Waterloo, Ill.

Capahas 6, Panthers 0

Panthers 000 000 0 — 0 2 1

Capahas 000 240 X — 6 6 2

WP — Phillip Riley, 3-1. LP — Dave Nykiel. HR — Josh Eftink (C). 2B — Omar Padilla (C). Records — Panthers 8-5, Capahas 13-3.

Capahas 4, Panthers 2

Panthers 000 020 0 — 2 7 1

Capahas 000 121 X — 4 7 1

WP — Jason Chavez, 2-0. LP — Ryan Frevert. 3B — Jerry Hodges (C). 2B — Mike Marshall (P), Daniel Schuh (C), Chad Mercado (C). Multiple hits — Panthers, Andrew VanByssum 2-3, Pecos Soto 2-4; Capahas, Schuh 2-3, Mercado 2-3. Records — Panthers 8-6, Capahas 14-3.