CAPAHAS REMAIN PERFECT WITH WIN OVER VALMEYER

The Kohlfeld Capahas opened up a big five-game weekend homestand by rallying for an 11-5 victory over the Valmeyer (Ill.) Lakers Friday night at Capaha Field.

The Capahas, who improved their record to 4-0, will take on two-time defending National Baseball Congress state champion St. Louis O.B. Clark in doubleheaders today (2:30 p.m. and Sunday (1 p.m.).

"It was a good ballgame tonight and we're looking forward to playing O.B. Clark," said Capahas manager Jess Bolen. "They're undefeated so far, of course, and they're going to bring a heck of a ballclub into town. It should be a good four-game series."

Friday's game was extremely well-played, with neither team committing an error. The Lakers touched Capahas' starter Garrett Dunning for three runs and four hits in the opening inning, but Dunning pitched well the rest of the way to notch the victory.

Dunning, a Delta High product who pitched this year for Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, allowed seven hits and four runs in 7 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked eight.

"They got three runs real quick but Garrett settled down and really kept his composure," said Bolen. "It was his first start for the Capahas and he hasn't pitched much in three weeks.

"Really, none of our pitchers have gotten much action yet with all the rainouts. But it seems like all the rainouts haven't bothered our hitters."

The Capahas banged out 13 hits and two home runs off of three Valmeyer hurlers.

Starter and loser Mike Vogt (10 hits and 10 runs in 5 1/3 innings) blanked the Capahas through three innings but they exploded with five runs in the fourth to take the lead for good.

Jackson High product George White, like Dunning a first-year Capaha, had the big blow of the fourth-inning uprising, a three-run homer over the left-field fence that put the Capahas ahead 5-3.

"It felt good," said White of his first home run for the Capahas.

Said Bolen, "George had a big hit for us. He also had some big hits in St. Louis (against the Sox) the other night."

Cory Crosnoe belted a two-run homer to left in the sixth that made it 10-3.

Crosnoe and Shawn Pemberton both had three hits while Julio Vega added two.

Brandon West gave up one hit and one run as he pitched the last 1 2/3 innings for the Capahas.

Chris Landgraf and Jeremiah Bergheyer both had two of the Lakers' eight hits.

The Lakers hit Dunning hard in the first inning as they went ahead 3-0. Bergheyer had an RBI triple while Craig Hoffman delivered and RBI single and Dunning balked home another run.

After taking the lead for good in the fourth, the Capahas got three in the fifth to go ahead 8-3 as Darin Kinsolving and Pemberton had RBI singles. Crosnoe's homer in the sixth broke the game open.

Valmeyer got two in the eighth and the Capahas rounded out the scoring in the bottom of the frame.