Capahas encounter first two losses of the season

Manager Jess Bolen doesn't know when the last time his Plaza Tire Capahas were swept in a home doubleheader.

Suffice to say, it had been a long time.

"I can't remember the last time we lost a doubleheader here," Bolen said. "It's been years."

The most recent time it happened will now be fresh on Bolen's mind after the visiting St. Louis Printers posted 10-5 and 10-6 wins Sunday afternoon.

While Bolen gave the Printers credit and did not make excuses, the Capahas (2-2) are basically fielding a makeshift roster until several key players join the squad.

"It's still early in the season. We're waiting on some guys," Plaza Tire's Asif Shah said. "It's still tough, regardless. You don't want to lose a doubleheader.

"But we're a very talented ballclub and we'll be fine."

Capahas shortstop Kendal Deason and Printers base runner Korey Coe looked for the umpire's call on Coe's attempt to steal second base during the first game. Coe was safe.

The Capahas opened the season with plenty of offense as they scored 28 runs on 26 hits in beating the visiting Valmeyer (Ill.) Lakers Friday and Saturday.

Plaza Tire's bats were fairly quiet Sunday with just 13 hits.

In addition to the Printers having better pitching than Valmeyer, there was another big difference.

Sunday's games were played with wood bats, while the Friday and Saturday contests featured aluminum. The Capahas use wood bats most of the season.

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.com Capahas left-fielder Asif Shah fielded a hit by the St. Louis Printers in the first game Sunday at Capaha Field.

"It's different," said Shah, who had three hits in Sunday's opener. "A lot of us have been hitting with wood [in batting practice], but not live pitching."

Wood didn't slow down Printers standout Rick Mundy, a former professional player who reached as high as Class AAA.

The 38-year-old Mundy, who last played minor league baseball in 1993, went 5-for-7 with five RBIs.

"I think I'm doing it with smoke and mirrors," Mundy joked.

Bolen knows better. He has picked up Mundy for his bat during some of the Capahas' appearances at the NBC World Series.

"I told him he looks like he did 10 years ago," Bolen said.

Sunday's opener featured a dominant start by Plaza Tire's Phillip Riley, who struck out seven during three perfect innings.

Riley got wild in the fourth, walking four. Two errors opened the floodgates during a 10-run outburst by the Printers.

The Printers had just three hits in the frame and only one run was earned. They finished the game with three hits and withstood a five-run Plaza Tire rally in the seventh inning.

Plaza Tire led 6-4 in the second game before the Printers rallied with a six-run sixth inning, this time earning most of what they got. The Printers had 10 hits in the contest.

Among the highlights for the Capahas were strong performances from rookies making their first Plaza Tire appearances on the mound.

Cameron Heath, a Jackson High School product who played this year at Shawnee (Ill.) Community College, worked two perfect innings in the opener.

Brad LaBruyere, a Central High School graduate who recently completed his freshman season at Southeast Missouri State, hurled two scoreless frames in the nightcap.

"I thought they both looked good," Bolen said.

Another highlight was two hits in the nightcap by Ryan Poole, who was strictly a pitcher at Southeast this year.

The Capahas host the Charleston Riverdogs Friday night.

Printers 10, Capahas 5

Printers 000 (10)00 0 -- 10 3 3

Capahas 000 000 5 -- 5 7 2

WP -- Dominic Marchesi. LP -- Phillip Riley. 2B -- Rick Mundy (P), Jerry Hodges (C). Multiple hits -- Printers, Mundy 2-4; Capahas, Asif Shah 3-4. Records -- Capahas 2-1.

Printers 10, Capahas 6

Printers 103 006 0 -- 10 10 2

Capahas 210 300 0 -- 6 6 1

WP -- Matt Miller. LP -- Stan Skakalski. 2B -- Ryan Poole (C). Multiple hits -- Printers, Mundy 3-3, John Bridges 2-3; Capahas, Poole 2-2. Records -- Capahas 2-2.