Capahas' offense starts season red hot

It didn't take long for the Plaza Tire Capahas to erase the sour taste from their season opener, even if they did win that game.

Roughly 15 hours after committing seven errors during Friday night's 11-10 victory over the visiting Valmeyer (Ill.) Lakers, the teams were back at Capaha Field on Saturday afternoon.

This time the Capahas played flawless defense and took advantage of five Valmeyer errors to post a 13-1 romp. The contest was stopped after 6 1/2 innings by the 10-run mercy rule.

"I liked this game a little better than last night," Plaza Tire manager Jess Bolen said. "We needed to have a game like this the way we stunk it up last night."

Said Daryl Graham: "We had to get all the errors out yesterday. Everybody looked good in the field. It was a good rebound."

Plaza Tire's Clint Cashen, left, Drew Pixley, center, and Jordan Kimball head back to the dugout after Pixely's home run during the second inning of Saturday's game at Capaha Field. (LAURA SIMON ~ lsimonsemissourian.com)

While Bolen said he expected some rough defense in the opener -- a majority of his players have been done with college ball for a few seasons so it was the first time they had been in a game for nearly a year -- he has been pleasantly surprised by the Capahas' offense so far.

The Capahas banged out 12 more hits Saturday in just six innings after they had 13 hits Friday.

Granted, aluminum bats were used in the first two games -- the Capahas swing wood most of the summer -- but Bolen still came away impressed.

"I know they [Valmeyer] didn't throw their top pitchers because they've got league games, and the aluminum helps, but I am kind of surprised we're hitting the ball as good as we are," Bolen said.

Drew Pixley acknowledged that he benefited from aluminum to belt his first home run as a member of the Capahas and the team's initial homer of the season.

Capahas starting pitcher Brad LaBruyere delivers during the fourth inning Saturday.

The left-handed hitting Pixley, in his second year with Plaza Tire, blasted a three-run shot over the right-field fence as part of an eight-run second inning. He did not homer for the Capahas last summer.

"Coming off the bat, I thought I flew out. I didn't think it was out," said Pixley, who hit .309 as a part-time starter at Murray State this year.

Pixley had two hits while Sean Bard paced the Capahas with three hits and three RBIs.

"We were sloppy last night but a win's a win," Pixley said. "We bounced back and played pretty good today."

The Capahas received strong pitching to go along with their heavy offense and errorless defense.

Brad LaBruyere notched the victory with five dominant innings. He allowed two hits and one run while striking out two and walking one.

"Brad kept the ball down good and threw well," Bolen said.

Justin Simpher and Josh Parham both allowed two hits during a scoreless inning apiece.

After Plaza Tire handed Valmeyer seven unearned runs Friday, the Lakers returned the favor Saturday with the same number of unearned runs allowed.

Three of Valmeyer's five errors came in the Capahas' eight-run second inning that broke open things. Only two of the runs were earned.

Winning the first two games of the season allowed Bolen to reach another notable accomplishment.

Bolen, who entered the year with a 1,358-360 record, has moved 1,000 games over .500 in his 44th season.

"I've just been around a long time," Bolen said with a laugh.

The Capahas will have their first road action of 2010 today with a 1 p.m. doubleheader against the St. Louis Printers.

Valmeyer 001 000 0 -- 1 6 5

Capahas 182 002 x -- 13 12 0

WP -- Brad LaBruyere, 1-0. LP -- Brode Thoma. HR -- Drew Pixley (C). 2B -- Scott Sittel (V), Chris Rohlfing (V), Greg Craft (C), Blake Gaddis (C). Multiple hits -- Capahas: Sean Bard 3-4, Pixley 2-4. Records -- Capahas 2-0.