Capahas encounter first loss in split

The Plaza Tire Capahas ran their season record to 3-0 on Sunday before encountering an eight-inning loss in the split of a doubleheader with the St. Louis Printers.

Plaza Tire banged out 17 hits in a 13-5 road victory in the opener, but the Capahas fell silent after scoring four runs in the first inning of the nightcap that ended in a 5-4 loss.

Sean Bard, Drew Pixley and Jordan Kimball each went 3 for 5 in the opener as the Capahas attained double-figure runs for the third straight game. Plaza Tire (3-1) had opened its season Friday with an 11-10 victory against Valmeyer (Ill.), then routed the Lakers 13-1 on Saturday.

Pixley collected three RBIs, while Bard, who had two doubles among his hits, had two RBIs.

Clint Cashen, Garrett Stevens and Josh Eftink each added two hits. Cashen and Stevens both had two RBIs.

Dustin Hunter recorded the win on the mound, allowing five hits in six innings. He struck out five, walked five and gave up one earned run.

Josh Parham pitched a scoreless seventh.

The Capahas scored in five of the seven innings, including three runs in both the third and fourth innings and four runs in the fifth.

In the second game, the offense continued to roll as the Capahas opened with another four-run inning. The Printers pulled even with two runs in both the first and second innings against Capahas newcomer Cody Hafeli.

"Honestly, I think we should of won the second game," Capahas manager Jess Bolen said. "When you score four in the first, you expect to score one or two more."

After the second, both teams went scoreless the duration of the scheduled seven-inning game.

The Printers opened the eighth with a double and the next batter singled home the winning run.

Paul Johnson and Greg Craft each went 2 for 4 as the Capahas had nine hits overall.

Hafeli, who went 6-2 in his freshman season at Kankakee Community College, struck out eight and walked one in seven innings. He allowed 10 hits, but only two of the five runs scored were earned.

"He pitched very well," Bolen said. "They had 10 hits, but he scattered them. You have to score runs in more than one inning."

The Capahas return to action at 6 p.m. Wednesday when they visit Valmeyer.