Capahas debut with rout of Lakers

The Plaza Tire Capahas played their first game of the year Friday night -- but they appeared to be in midseason form.

Combining a solid offensive attack with stellar pitching from Jason Chavez, the Capahas opened the 2005 campaign with a 10-0 rout of the visiting Valmeyer (Ill.) Lakers.

The contest, which was stopped after the top of the seventh inning by the 10-run rule, was the start of a three-game series between the teams. The set will conclude with today's 1 p.m. doubleheader at Capaha Field.

"We hadn't played together yet, but I'm not surprised we put up some runs," Capahas manager Jess Bolen said. "Most of these guys have been playing all year."

Virtually all of the Capahas' position players recently concluded college seasons, so Bolen figured it wouldn't take the squad long to get going offensively.

"We've got an experienced, veteran team," Bolen said.

The Capahas also have some experienced pitchers, including Chavez, a right-hander who recently concluded a two-year career at Southern Illinois University.

Chavez, a Central High School graduate who also pitched two seasons at Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Mo., allowed just one hit Friday in notching the complete-game shutout. He struck out 13 and walked three.

"My arm felt good and my stuff was working," Chavez said.

The only hit by the Lakers -- who fell to 8-3 as they have already played plenty of games -- was a clean single to left field by Chris Maschbacher in the third inning.

"Jason looked strong," Bolen said.

The Capahas' 10-hit attack was led by a 3-for-4 performance from second baseman Lance Seasor, coming off a senior college season at Morehead (Ky.) State in which he was named the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year.

Seasor, in his third year with the Capahas, singled, doubled and tripled, as he drove in three runs.

"It's a lot of fun playing here and I'm glad to be back," Seasor said. "I think we have a really good team. We should do really well."

Third baseman Eric Horstman, who recently completed his senior season at Southeast Missouri State by making the all-OVC first team, went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Shortstop Robby Moore, who recently completed a strong two-year career at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Mo., and is being recruited by several Division I programs, also went 2-for-4, with a double and two RBIs.

The Capahas scored an unearned run in the second inning and only led 1-0 through four innings. But it wasn't long before they broke the game open.

A two-run fifth -- featuring an RBI double by Seasor and an RBI single by Horstman -- began to give Chavez some breathing room.

The Capahas then ended all suspense with a seven-run sixth, the key blows being a two-run triple by Seasor and a two-run single by Moore.

"We had some guys hit the ball well, Jason did a good job on the mound, and we didn't have an error," Bolen said. "It was a good first game for us."

Bolen hopes the Capahas can keep up their strong early play the rest of the weekend, not only in today's doubleheader but in Sunday's 1 p.m. contest against the Cape Girardeau Riverdogs.

"I think this team has quite a bit of potential," Bolen said.