Capahas extend winning streak to seven games

Round one of the Plaza Tire Capahas' highly anticipated series went their way.

They'll try to continue their winning streak today.

The Capahas knocked off the Crestwood (Ill.) Panthers 5-2 on Saturday night in a matchup of top-10 finishers from last year's National Baseball Congress World Series.

Plaza Tire and Crestwood will close out their three-game set today with a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Capaha Field.

"Getting this first one is big," Plaza Tire's Josh Eftink said.

The Capahas extended their winning streak to seven as they improved to 12-3. That includes an 8-2 victory earlier in the day over the St. Louis Printers, and a 7-6 triumph Friday night over previously undefeated Waterloo, Ill.

"We're playing good baseball," said Capahas manager Jess Bolen following the first three legs of his squad's five-game weekend homestand.

Crestwood (8-4) has placed third in the past two NBC World Series. The Capahas finished seventh in last year's event.

Even though the score didn't indicate it, the Capahas dominated the series opener, which came after the Panthers suffered a 4-3 loss to the Printers earlier in the day.

The Capahas had 10 hits while Crestwood managed just three singles — two of the infield variety — against Plaza Tire ace Anthony Maupin.

"They have a good ballclub. They're young. We have them a little bit on age," Bolen said. "But to be honest with you, it's a pretty decent ballclub we put on the field. We should be able to compete pretty well."

Facing a Crestwood team that was missing some of its key players who did not make the trip from the Chicago area, Maupin was dominant.

Maupin, who completed a solid career at Southeast Missouri State in 2006, improved to 4-0. Both the runs he allowed were unearned. He struck out five, walked two and hit three batters.

"It was no different than the first weekend I had. I think I hit four or five guys," said Maupin, who has given up two earned runs and 10 hits in 22 innings this year. "I hit a few guys with curveballs, which is not a good thing."

But overall, Maupin had few complaints about his stuff.

"Early it was the fastball, then the split finger and curveball after they got more aggressive," Maupin said.

Eftink, whose two-run, first-inning double wiped out a 1-0 deficit and put the Capahas ahead for good, was impressed with Maupin.

"He hit a few people, but other than that, he did a great job," Eftink said.

Eftink, Matt Wagner and Denver Stuckey led the Capahas' offense with two hits apiece.

Plaza Tire was clinging to a 3-2 lead late in the seven-inning contest before adding two sixth-inning runs.

"Maupin looked really good," Bolen said. "It's nice to be able to play a team like that here in front of our fans."

Panthers 101 000 0 — 2 3 0

Capahas 210 002 x — 5 10 2

WP — Anthony Maupin, 4-0. LP — Alan Landini. 2B — Josh Eftink (C), Tom Bolen (C). Multiple hits — Capahas: Eftink 2-4, Denver Stuckey 2-3, Matt Wagner 2-4. Records — Panthers 8-4, Capahas 12-3.