Capahas rally in final inning to avoid sweep

~ Plaza Tire scored the winning run on a walk in the second game

The Plaza Tire Capahas needed a last-inning rally to avoid a rare doubleheader sweep at home.

Things didn't look good for the Capahas on Sunday as they trailed the visiting Springfield (Ill.) Pally's by a run entering the bottom of the seventh inning of the nightcap.

Capahas first baseman Sean Bard scoops up a Springfield, Ill. Pally's ground ball in the third inning of the first game Sunday at Capaha Field. Bard threw the ball to pitcher Dustin Hunter at first base for the out. (Fred Lynch)

Making the task even more difficult was that the Capahas had been limited to just eight hits through the first 13 innings of the twin bill.

"We weren't exactly pounding the ball," Plaza Tire manager Jess Bolen said.

But the Capahas came up with three hits and two runs in their final at-bat to beat the Pally's 4-3. Springfield won the opener 9-6.

The Capahas are 16-9 while the Pally's are 19-17.

"That's what we were saying in the dugout, we don't get swept at home," Plaza Tire's Josh Eftink said.

Eftink was responsible for ending the nightcap without swinging the bat as he drew a four-pitch walk from reliever Kevin Bryant with two outs and the bases loaded in a 3-3 tie.

"None of the pitches were very close," Eftink said. "I didn't have much choice but to not swing."

The bottom of the seventh, which started with Plaza Tire trailing 3-2, featured a leadoff double by John Amschler that sailed over the left fielder's head. It was the Capahas' only extra-base hit of the day.

"It's so important in a one-run game to get that leadoff man on," Bolen said. "John really hit that ball well."

Drew Pixley delivered an RBI single to tie things. After Garrett Stevens sacrificed Pixley to second, Kendal Deason was hit by a pitch.

With two outs, Matt Wagner reached on an infield single to load the bases. Eftink followed with his walk-off walk.

"It's nice to pull out a game like that," Bolen said.

Until the seventh inning, the Capahas had been limited to a pair of hits -- one a bunt single by Pixley -- by Springfield hurler Ross Hager.

"They had good pitching," Bolen said. "I'm glad they did. It's only going to help us."

Eftink said the Capahas expected strong pitching from the Pally's after the teams also split a doubleheader earlier this season in Springfield, Ill.

"They have a good pitching staff. We knew that," Eftink said. "We battled through it. We know we have it in us to come back."

While Springfield's pitching was strong in both games, the Capahas got their usual stellar performance from Brad LaBruyere in the nightcap.

LaBruyere, who has become the staff ace in his second season on the squad, allowed two runs and four hits in the first inning.

But Springfield managed just two hits and an unearned run the rest of the way as LaBruyere improved to 6-1. He struck out seven and did not issue a walk.

"Brad got off to a shaky start, but he really settled down and pitched like Brad is capable of pitching," Bolen said. "He's having a very good season for us."

The first game saw Springfield knock out Dustin Hunter in just three-plus innings as he allowed seven runs, six earned, and seven hits.

The Pally's got two more runs off Kirk Boeller then Matt Carter, Drew Graham and Josh Parham each pitched a scoreless inning to give Plaza Tire a chance to rally.

But the Capahas could not overcome a 9-3 deficit through 3 1/2 frames.

Springfield finished the day with 15 hits compared to 11 for Plaza Tire. Eftink had two hits in the opener and Pixley had two hits in the nightcap.

Bolen thought the Capahas might have been a bit rusty after having three scheduled road games canceled during the week, but he offered no excuses.

"I'm sure the layoff didn't help," said Bolen, whose squad had not played since winning the National Baseball Congress Mid-South Regional on July 12. "But Springfield has got a good team and I thought we'd have tough games with them."

The Capahas play at the St. Louis Golden Spikes on Wednesday night.

Game 1

Pally's 220 500 0 -- 9 9 3

Capahas 300 300 0 -- 6 6 1

WP -- Frank Stefano. LP -- Dustin Hunter. HR -- Jimmy Smith (P). 2B -- Mike Maziorz (P). Multiple hits -- Pally's, Smith 2-3, Maziorz 2-3; Capahas, Josh Eftink 2-3. Records -- Pally's 19-16, Capahas 15-9.

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Game 2

Pally's 200 001 0 -- 3 6 1

Capahas 000 200 2 -- 4 5 3

WP -- Brad LaBruyere. LP -- Ross Hager. 2B -- John Amschler (C). Multiple hits -- Pally's, Frank Stefano 2-3, Steve Morrow 2-3; Capahas, Drew Pixley 2-3. Records -- Pally's 19-17, Capahas 16-9.