Capahas make early lead stand in semifinal win at Valmeyer Tournament

The Plaza Tire Capahas secured their spot in the championship game of the Valmeyer Tournament with wins on Friday and Saturday.

The Capahas (13-3) won 8-5 on Saturday against Belleville, Illinois, to advance to the title game where they'll face the St. Louis Golden Spikes at 3:30 p.m. today. The Spikes defeated the Capahas 5-3 on June 29.

The Capahas took a six-run lead in the first inning of Saturday's game.

Jackson graduate Laban Petzoldt hit a leadoff double and scored on a sac fly.

Sean Bard hit a two-out home run before a hit batsman, walk and single loaded the bases for the Caps, and Oran graduate Alex Heuring it a grand slam to left center.

"Heuring's grand slam was the key blow in that game, no question about it," Capahas manager Jess Bolen said.

Belleville gave the Caps a scare in the sixth when they scored five runs. Starter Dylan Lynn, who pitched at Southeast for two seasons, gave up two earned runs before facing the No. 9 hitter with two outs and the bases loaded.

Lynn struck the batter out but a passed ball allowed him to reach first and another run to score. A double and a single cut the Capahas lead to 6-5.

Lynn allowed five runs -- two earned -- on nine hits while striking out seven and walking four in his six innings of work.

Riley Calvird, who will be redshirt freshman at Southeast next season, inherited a runner on first with no outs in the seventh but retired the side.

He walked a batter in both the eighth and ninth innings but did not allow a hit to earn the save.

The Capahas added two more runs in the seventh for the final score.

Petzoldt went 3 for 5 with two doubles in the win while Kenton Parmley was 2 for 4 with an RBI and Adam Connor was 2 for 3 with an RBI.

"We knew we were playing a tough team, a good hitting team, and that's why I thought Dylan Lynn and Riley Calvird did an outstanding job," Bolen said.

Plaza Tire defeated Fairview Heights, Illinois, 5-1 in its opening game of the tournament on Friday.

Southeast Missouri State ace and Ohio Valley Conference Co-Pitcher of the Year Travis Hayes allowed one run in the first inning after giving up a triple and a double, but it was the only one he'd allow in his complete-game win. He struck out 10 and only walked one batter in the victory.

The Capahas failed to put a run on the board until the seventh inning.

Notre Dame graduate Cody Heisserer singled home the Caps first run before a base hit by Blake Slattery drove in the go-ahead run. Sean Bard's RBI-double made it 4-1.

Notre Dame graduate Chase Simmons led off the eighth with a home run for the final score.

"Travis Hayes was in command that whole game," Bolen said. "He really pitched well and was ahead in the counts all day long. He had 86 pitches after seven. He goes out there in the eighth and gets them out on six pitches. That's the way the game went. He was throwing strikes and that's the way he pitches. He's got an idea of what he wants to do on every pitch, and it's fun to watch. He was dominant."