Capahas ride pitching to 7-0 victory over Printers

Jerry Hodges had no trouble bashing St. Louis Printers pitching.

Hodges went 4-for-5 to lead the Plaza Tire Capahas to a 7-0 win over the host St. Louis Printers on Wednesday.

The Capahas jumped on the Printers from the start. Omar Padilla doubled in the first and came in to score on Denver Stuckey's single.

Hodges stepped up and drilled a two-run homer to give the Capahas a 3-0 lead before the Printers ever stepped into the batter's box.

Plaza Tire picked up where it left off in the second. Tom Bolen doubled and came in to score on a wild pitch.

Hodges went back to work in the third. He singled then stole second. He went to third on a groundout before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Josh Eftink.

The Capahas capped the scoring in the fourth when Hodges and Eftink each drove in a run with singles. Plaza Tire finished with 11 hits in the game.

"We've been swinging the wood now for quite a while," Capahas manager Jess Bolen said. "We're starting to put up double digits in hits with wood."

Starting pitcher Asif Shah earned the win. He went four innings, striking out four and walking three. Jamie McAlister went two innings without allowing a hit.

Ryan Poole pitched an inning and struck out two of the batters he faced.

Cameron Heath pitched a scoreless inning before Josh Parham came on to throw a perfect ninth to close out the win.

The Capahas return to action Friday at Capaha Field. They face the Waterloo, Ill., Buds at 7:30 p.m., then host the Crestwood, Ill., Panthers on Saturday and Sunday. The Panthers are one of the premier amateur teams in the nation. Saturday's game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., while Sunday's doubleheader starts at 1 p.m.

-- From staff reports