Capahas rout Riverdogs again, improve to 5-0

The Caps used a 10-run rule victory to prepare for today's game against St. Joseph.

The Plaza Tire Capahas tuned up for their biggest series of the young season by extending their lopsided all-time advantage against their Cape Girardeau rivals.

Plaza Tire again had no trouble with the Riverdogs, rolling to a 10-0 victory Friday night that kicked off a four-game weekend homestand. The contest was stopped in the bottom of the seventh inning by the 10-run rule.

The Capahas, who remained undefeated at 5-0 -- and beat the Riverdogs for the 16th straight time since that team was formed seven years ago, including a 10-0, eight-inning romp last Sunday -- host the tough St. Joseph (Mo.) Saints at 7 p.m. tonight.

St. Joseph (9-3 prior to a game Friday) and the Capahas will square off again at 1 p.m. Sunday, followed by a 5:30 p.m. contest between the Capahas and Riverdogs (1-5).

"We're playing really well and I think we've got a good team," said Capahas manager Jess Bolen, whose squad has outscored the opposition 52-6 through five games. "But we'll find out a lot more these next two games against the Saints.

"They've got a really good team every year and these should be some good tests for us. I'm looking forward to seeing us in a really close game, which these very well could be."

Said center fielder Bryan Kurt: "I'm not really surprised we're doing what we've done so far. We have a solid team. But we'll see how we do against St. Joseph, because they'll be good."

The Capahas reached Riverdogs starter Austin McDowell for four first-inning runs -- on four hits -- and were well on their way to another lopsided victory.

In 14 innings against Plaza Tire pitching this year, the Riverdogs have managed just four hits, all singles. After being held to one hit in the earlier meeting, the Riverdogs had three hits Friday.

"They [the Riverdogs] play hard and they don't give up," Bolen said. "But we're just playing really well right now, and hopefully we can keep it going."

Plaza Tire used three pitchers Friday, by design. Matt Stroup was the winner as he worked the first four innings, allowing two hits, while striking out five and walking two.

Lanson Debrock pitched the next two innings, allowing no hits. He fanned two, walked one and hit a batter. Jamie McAlister hurled the seventh, allowing one hit and fanning one.

"All three pitchers looked good," Bolen said. "Matt and Lanson don't play college ball any more, so we're just trying to build their innings up slowly."

Kurt, Eric Horstman and Robby Moore all had two of the Capahas' 12 hits. Josh Eftink doubled and drove in two runs, while Levi Olson added two RBIs. Moore had the game's other extra-base hit, also a double.

Chris Conrad, Billy Palmer and Ben Arbeiter had the Riverdogs' hits. McDowell took the loss, allowing eight hits and six runs in six innings. He fanned four and walked two. Wayne Essner gave up four runs and four hits in the seventh.

Eftink had the big blow of the first inning, a two-run double. Kurt added an RBI single and Bryan Ingram had a sacrifice fly as the Capahas jumped on top 4-0.

Olson's RBI single in the fourth made it 5-0, and Moore's RBI double in the sixth made it 6-0. The Capahas then ended things with a four-run seventh.