Capahas' timely hitting key to sweep

Mark Hagedorn is developing quite a reputation as a clutch player for the Plaza Tire Capahas.

Hagedorn delivered his second game-winning hit in a span of three games, a two-run walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh inning Saturday.

That blow lifted the Capahas to a thrilling 6-5 victory over the St. Louis Raging Bulls in the opener of an afternoon doubleheader at Capaha Field.

"Any time you win a game like that it's a good win," Capahas manager Jess Bolen said.

The Capahas romped 10-1 in the nightcap as they swept the three-game series that began with Friday night's 4-0 triumph.

Plaza Tire, which avenged its only loss of the season on June 14, improved to 4-1 against the Bulls this year and 13-1 overall.

The Capahas also extended their impressive home victory streak to 39 games. Their last defeat at Capaha Field was June 11 of 2011.

"I don't care who you're playing, it's not easy to put that type of streak together," said Bolen, whose squad went 20-0 at home last year and is 8-0 at home so far this summer.

Hagedorn, a 2010 Notre Dame Regional High School graduate who recently completed his junior season at Division II Kentucky Wesleyan, had a big offensive performance Saturday as he went 5 for 8 with a triple, two doubles and six RBIs in the two games.

"I felt good today," Hagedorn said.

Hagedorn saved his best for last in Saturday's opener after the Bulls scored two unearned runs in the top of the seventh inning to grab a 5-4 lead.

Jordan Kimball was hit by a pitch leading off the bottom of the seventh and went to third on a single by Christian Cavaness, who stole second. Hagedorn then lofted a drive over the center fielder's head as the tying and winning runs scored easily.

"I was just trying to get it in the air and score at least one run," said Hagedorn, who caught in the opener and played first base in the nightcap.

Hagedorn also delivered a game-winning RBI single in the top of the 14th inning during Wednesday's 2-1 victory at the Charleston Riverdogs.

"That last game, I was kind of ready to get it over with because it was a long night," said a smiling Hagedorn, who caught all 14 innings of the contest.

Asked about his growing reputation as a clutch player, Hagedorn said: "I don't know. I had some guys telling me that. I just try to help the team any way I can."

The Capahas were able to beat a major nemesis as Ryan Willis took the loss. He allowed six runs, four earned, and 11 hits. He struck out seven, walked three and hit one.

Willis struck out 13 while going the nine-inning distance during the Bulls' 3-2 win over the Capahas on June 14. He also beat the Capahas 7-1 in a nine-inning performance last year and was strong during a 2-1, seven-inning loss that same season.

"That guy's a good pitcher. You've always got your hands full trying to beat him," Bolen said.

Andrew Williams had another solid mound performance for the Capahas in the opener but did not figure into the decision after the Bulls rallied. Williams allowed five runs, three earned, and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked one.

"He pitched well, especially after going six [shutout] innings Wednesday [at Charleston]," Bolen said.

Logan Bartels notched the victory. He allowed two hits in the seventh inning and recorded one out.

The Capahas outhit the Bulls 11-10. Hagedorn went 3 for 4. Brandon Bennett went 2 for 2 with a triple and two RBIs. Kimball added two hits.

As tight as the opener was, the nightcap was just as lopsided.

Plaza Tire outhit the Bulls 12-5. Hagedorn had two more hits -- a double and a triple, good for four RBIs -- but the hitting star was Bennett, who also had a big day overall by going 5 for 6 with six RBIs.

"I was seeing the ball pretty good," Bennett said.

Bennett, from Risco, Mo. -- he recently completed his junior season at NAIA Hannibal-LaGrange in Hannibal, Mo. -- went 3 for 4 with four RBIs in the nightcap.

"They both hit the ball very well today and got some big hits," Bolen said of Hagedorn and Bennett, who played third base in the opener and was behind the plate for the finale. "I was real happy with our catchers."

Bennett had the second-game offensive highlight, a two-run homer in the fourth inning that marked the squad's first home run at spacious Capaha Field this year -- and it came using wood. Bennett has two of Plaza Tire's three homers on the season.

"It felt good, especially being a small guy like I am," said the 6-foot, 170-pound Bennett.

John Logan Zink added two second-game hits for the Capahas.

The Capahas, by design, used three pitchers in the finale. Kimball, normally an infielder, started and notched the victory with three shutout innings. He gave up one hit, struck out three and walked one.

Jason Flores allowed one run and four hits over two innings. He struck out one and walked two.

Caleb Guilliams, a 2008 Jackson High School graduate who joined the team in the past week, made his Plaza Tire debut. He finished up on the mound with two hitless innings, fanning one and walking one.

"I thought he looked good for his first time out," Bolen said.

By far the Bulls' star on the day was massive slugger Logan Springer, who put on a power display rarely seen with wood bats at Capaha Field.

Springer, a former all-conference player at NAIA St. Ambrose in Iowa -- he completed his eligibility in 2003 -- went 5 for 7 with two homers, a double and five RBIs.

Springer rocketed a ball high off the scoreboard beyond the left-field wall in the opener, then ripped another no-doubt home run to left field in the nightcap. He also missed a homer to right field by a few feet as it was caught near the wall.

"He ain't bad, is he," marveled Bolen, who estimated that Springer is about 6-5 and 300 pounds.

The Capahas are back in action today with a 2 p.m. doubleheader at Charleston.

Bulls 201 000 2 -- 5 10 1

Capahas 200 110 2 -- 6 11 2

WP -- Logan Bartels. LP -- Ryan Willis. HR -- Logan Springer (B). 3B -- Brandon Bennett (C). 2B -- Springer (B), Jeremy Faust (B), Mark Hagedorn (C), Jesse Schott (C). Multiple hits -- Bulls: Springer 3-4, Ryan Brown 3-4. Capahas: Hagedorn 3-4, Bennett 2-2, Jordan Kimball 2-3. Records -- Capahas 12-1.

Bulls 000 100 0 -- 1 5 4

Capahas 240 400 x -- 10 12 1

WP -- Jordan Kimball. LP -- Will Rogers. HR -- Logan Springer (B), Brandon Bennett (C). 3B -- Mark Hagedorn (C). 2B -- Hagedorn (C), Christian Cavaness (C), Jesse Schott (C). Multiple hits -- Bulls: Springer 2-3. Capahas: Bennett 3-4, Hagedorn 2-4, John Logan Zink 2-4. Records -- Capahas 13-1.