Capahas improve to 6-0 with rout of Riverdogs

~ Plaza Tire banged out nine hits in the first inning of its 16-4 victory over Charleston.

CHARLESTON -- It didn't take long for the Plaza Tire Capahas to pretty well assure themselves of a sixth straight win to begin the season.

The Capahas jumped on the host Charleston Riverdogs for eight first-inning runs and cruised to a 16-4 victory Thursday night at Hillhouse Park in a game stopped after seven innings by the 10-run rule.

"We had some time off since our last game [Sunday] and everybody was ready to get going," Plaza Tire's Zach Blemker said. "We put pressure on them early."

The Capahas' first five batters hit safely in the opening frame, and seven of their first eight batters got hits. Plaza Tire finished the inning with nine hits.

The Capahas' Zach Blemker drove in a run during the second inning.

"It's always nice to get off to a good start," the Capahas' Levi Olson said. "I think our team is really strong this year."

The Capahas, who finished Thursday's wood bat game with 21 hits, have outscored their six opponents 72-18.

In their last three games -- all played with wood bats -- the Capahas have 52 hits.

"It's impressive the way we're hitting the ball with wood," Plaza Tire manager Jess Bolen said. "Sunday at Evansville, their pitcher was throwing in the 90s and we really hit him.

"I'm really pleased with the way we're playing so far, but it's a long season."

Jordan Payne (6) was greeted at the plate by teammates after hitting a three-run homer against the Riverdogs during the first inning Thursday in Charleston. (AARON EISENHAUER ~aeisenhauer@semissourian.com)

Blemker and Jordan Payne both went 4-for-4 and reached base five times to pace the Capahas' offensive attack.

Payne homered -- a three-run shot in the opening inning -- and drove in four runs. Blemker delivered three RBIs.

Omar Padilla went 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs.

Getting two hits apiece for the Capahas were Olson, Daryl Graham and Tom Bolen. Brent Lawson added two RBIs.

"We're hitting the ball up and down the lineup, which is always good to see," Jess Bolen said.

Jason Chavez was the winning pitcher. He went the first five innings, allowing two runs (one earned) and three hits. Chavez struck out 10 and walked six.

Two relievers followed Chavez to the mound, with Josh Parham striking out the side in a perfect seventh.

On the receiving end of most of Plaza Tire's offensive barrage was former area standout Denver Stuckey.

Stuckey, a Kelly High School graduate, starred at third base for Southeast Missouri State and played several years professionally in the independent Frontier League, earning an all-star berth with Evansville, Ind.

Stuckey also played nearly three years with the Capahas. He is the head boys basketball coach and an assistant baseball coach at Oran High School, and this summer is coaching the Scott County American Legion team.

Stuckey, who is playing with the Riverdogs (1-3) whenever it works out around his Legion schedule, estimated that he had not really pitched in a competitive game since high school.

"I've seen an inning or two now and then. That's been about it," Stuckey said.

Stuckey, taking it all in stride, added with a smile: "As you can tell."

Stuckey was charged with 14 runs (11 earned) off 18 hits in 3 2/3 innings.

A bright spot for the Riverdogs was the pitching of Mike Taylor, who worked 2 1/3 hitless frames.

The Riverdogs had six singles by six different players.

The Capahas host perennial power Waterloo, Ill., at 7:30 p.m. today in what Bolen expects to be their stiffest test of the season to date.

Capahas 16, Riverdogs 4, 7 innings

Capahas 830 300 2 -- 16 21 3

Riverdogs 100 102 0 -- 4 6 1

WP -- Jason Chavez. LP -- Denver Stuckey. HR -- Jordan Payne (C). 2B -- Omar Padilla (C) 2. Multiple hits -- Capahas, Payne 4-4, Zach Blemker 4-4, Padilla 3-5, Daryl Graham 2-5, Levi Olson 2-5, Tom Bolen 2-5. Records -- Capahas 6-0, Riverdogs 1-3.