Capahas' Smith hurls gem

~ The left-hander threw a shutout at the St. Louis Printers on Friday night

Zack Smith had his moments during an up-and-down first season for the Southeast Missouri State baseball team this year.

But Smith has been nothing but dominant so far during his rookie campaign with the Plaza Tire Capahas.

Smith, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound left-hander, struck out 17 without a walk while pitching all nine innings as the host Capahas beat the St. Louis Printers 6-0 on Friday night.

"I don't think I've pitched this long in probably two years," Smith said. "It was definitely something different."

The Capahas’ Mark Hagedorn makes contact during the first inning against the Printers. Hagedorn reached on an error that scored Jordan Kimball with the Capahas’ first run.

Smith's debut for the Capahas, last Sunday against the St. Louis Bulls, resulted in a no-decision. He struck out eight, walked four and allowed one hit over five shutout innings during a game the Capahas eventually won.

Smith was even stronger Friday. He scattered five singles, the first three never leaving the infield. The Printers got their only two hits to the outfield in the ninth inning.

"I felt great. I kept my pitch count down," Smith said. "I just kind of focused on throwing strikes. I mainly threw fastballs. I was able to throw it by a lot of people."

Smith was 2-8 with a 7.05 ERA for Southeast this year after transferring from junior college. He made 10 starts among his 15 appearances.

Smith said he had planned to play in a collegiate summer league in Ohio but opted for the Capahas because he needed to take summer classes at Southeast. He hopes to find a strong groove heading into the Redhawks' 2013 season.

Capahas first baseman Clayton Gibbons races to the bag to retire a Printers batter.

"I like it. It's real laid back, a nice change of pace from school ball," Smith said about playing for the Capahas. "If I can get some consistency and stay deep in games, hopefully that carries over into next year."

Smith was in control Friday. He struck out the side in the first, second and fifth innings. He failed to record a strikeout in just the fourth inning.

"It was amazing," said Capahas assistant coach Tom Bolen, directing the team after his father and longtime manager Jess Bolen had a medical procedure that forced him to watch the game from the Capaha Field press box. "Zack controlled his fastball and got ahead of hitters."

Printers starter Cameron Moss allowed seven hits and four earned runs over seven innings. He struck out 11 but was hurt by six walks and a hit batter

"He threw well for them," Tom Bolen said.

The Capahas broke on top in the first inning with an unearned run. Jordan Kimball drew a one-out walk, stole second and scored on a two-out error.

It became 2-0 in the third inning even though the Capahas didn't hit a ball out of the infield.

Joe Campbell and Kimball walked before Cole Bieser, trying to sacrifice, bunted for a single to load the bases with nobody out. Mark Hagedorn received an RBI when he was hit by a pitch to force home Campbell.

The Capahas made it 4-0 in the sixth inning when they got three of their seven hits. Logan Bartels delivered an RBI double for the only extra-base hit of the game.

"I think that was the big hit of the game," Tom Bolen said.

The Capahas added two runs in the seventh inning on just one hit, an RBI single by Clayton Gibbons.

"We did enough on offense, and Zack was tremendous," Tom Bolen said.

Printers 000 000 000 -- 0 5 2

Capahas 101 002 20x -- 6 7 1

WP -- Zack Smith. LP -- Cameron Moss 2B -- Logan Bartels (C). Multiple hits -- Printers: Jamie Graeser 3-4. Records -- Capahas 11-2.