Capahas' offense keeps churning in 11-4 win over Bulls

The hits and runs are coming in droves for the Capahas.

And so are the wins.

Two days after rapping out 22 hits in a 12-3 win over Fairview Heights, the Capahas pounded out 24 more in an 11-4 victory over the St. Louis Raging Bulls at Capaha Field.

Cody Gilbert led the charge, going 4 for 5 with a pair of triples, while Cody Heisserer also had four hits as the Capahas set a season-high with 24 hits.

"It's all contagious," Gilbert said. "Everybody's getting base hits and scoring runs. It's a lot of fun."

Capahas manager Jess Bolen likes how his team is swinging the bat.

"It's been the last five games, actually," Bolen said, going back to last weekend's tournament in Valmeyer, Ill. "When's the last time you played on a team that's gotten 20 hits in a game, then turned around and come back with 20 or more again? I don't know that we've ever done that."

The Capahas (12-4) picked up right where they left off, rapping out five hits in the bottom of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. They had 10 hits through four innings, but just two runs to show for their efforts as the Bulls turned a double play to end the second inning and the Capahas ran themselves out of two more frames.

Heisserer drove a pitch over the head of the Bulls' right fielder with the bases loaded in the first, but wound up passing teammate Drew Morecraft, who had held up to make sure the ball wasn't caught, on the basepath for the second out of the inning. After Gilbert struck out, the Capahas had to settle for just two runs.

In the fourth, Alex Heuring tripled to right with one out, but he was cut down at the plate on Kenton's Parmlee's grounder to third.

"We left the bases loaded a couple of times," Gilbert said.

That allowed the Bulls to take a 4-2 lead after they scored three times in the top of the fifth. But the Capahas came right back with three more in the bottom of the frame to pull ahead 5-4, then put the game away with three more runs in the bottom of the sixth and two more in the seventh to lead 10-4.

"At one time there we had 12 hits and only three runs," Bolen noted with a slight laugh.

Not only did the Capahas rack up the hits, they were able to get some into the gaps that led to extra bases. They totaled seven extra-base hits, including two triples from Gilbert, one each from Heisserer and Heuring, and a pair of doubles by Adam Connor.

Heisserer, Gilbert and James each drove in a pair of runs, while Gilbert scored three times. Connor and Heisserer each scored twice.

Bolen was able to use four pitchers on a hot, steamy night that took its toll on both ballclubs. Ross James started and went the first four innings, allowing one run on three hits while walking two and striking out five. Avery Whiteside and Calvin Lovig hurled two innings each, and Brady Wright pitched a scoreless ninth.

Whiteside got the win despite allowing three runs in his two innings of work. Lovig didn't allow a hit in his two frames.

"These guys were scheduled to get innings tonight," Bolen said. "We were going to bust up the game with them, so each guy got two or three innings, or whatever. Ross James started, and he was throwing well, and he needed innings, too, so that's why we extended him to four [innings]."

Kevin Anderson paced the Raging Bulls, going 2 for 5 with two runs batted in. Starter Shaheed Shaboru took the loss, allowing eight runs on 19 hits over seven innings.