Capahas nicked by Spikes in tournament championship

~ Plaza Tire fell 6-2 in the championship game of the Valmeyer Tournament

The St. Louis Golden Spikes proved to be a nemesis for the second time in eight days for the Plaza Tire Capahas on Sunday.

After the Capahas plated 13 runs in the first two games of the Valmeyer Tournament, Plaza Tire could muster just a pair of runs on a Sean Bard home run in a 6-2 loss to the Golden Spikes in the championship game.

The Spikes, who had beaten the Capahas 5-3 in Cape Girardeau on June 29, countered with three one-run innings and a three-run seventh to claim the victory.

"We just didn't play very well," said Capahas coach Jess Bolen, who saw his team post an 8-5 victory over Belleville, Illinois, on Saturday and a 5-1 win over Fairview Heights, Illinois, on Friday. "We played good ball up here, but not today. Little things just went against us."

The Spikes scored a run in the second off losing pitcher Lance Young before Bard unloaded his home run in the bottom of the fourth for a 2-1 lead. Kenton Parmley had singled with one out before Bard's blast.

The Spikes pulled even in the fifth and moved ahead in the sixth.

Young allowed four hits and gave up four walks over five innings.

He was followed to the mound by Grant Grey, who have up three unearned runs over an inning, and Cody Heisserer, who threw a hitless inning in his first pitching appearance of the season.

"Face it, we just ran low on pitching," Bolen said. "That's the way it happens in tournaments. They had a little bit more left in the tank."

The Capahas, who fell to 13-4, are 1-2 against the Spikes this season.

Plaza Tire will visit Fairview Heights for a 7:30 p.m. game Tuesday.