CAPS REMAIN PERFECT; KOHLFELD SWEEPS EVANSVILLE

That well-oiled baseball machine otherwise known as the Kohlfeld Capahas continues to churn along on all cylinders.

The Capahas entered Saturday's doubleheader against the Evansville Outlaws expecting a tough challenge from the perennially strong Indiana squad.

Instead, the Capahas chalked up two more routs, posting 17-1 (in a five-inning, run-rule game) and 11-2 victories at Capaha Field. Those triumphs came on the heels of Friday night's 20-2 pasting of Ste. Genevieve.

The Capahas are now 13-0 on the season entering today's 1:30 p.m. doubleheader against visiting St. Louis O.B. Clark. Capahas' manager Jess Bolen will be shooting for his 1,000th career victory today.

"I keep saying this, but the guys are hitting the ball so well," said Bolen after seeing his squad pound out 27 hits, including five home runs, in Saturday's two games. "The guys are swinging the bats like you would think they would in the middle of July.

"Our team is about 90 percent guys not in college and you wouldn't expect them to be swinging like that already."

The Capahas' most experienced player, Darrick Smith -- who has been with the team off and on since the mid-1980s -- led the offensive assault Saturday.

Smith, the Capahas' second baseman, homered in each game and drove in seven runs, including six in the opener. He had four hits on the day and also scored five times.

"I'm feeling good right now," said Smith. "Hopefully I can keep it up."

Steve Kress, who had homered twice and driven in six runs Friday night, homered again Saturday to go along with five hits and five RBIs.

Also homering Saturday were Tom Breuer and Darin Kinsolving while Julio Vega drove in four runs. Breuer finished with four hits while Kinsolving had three. Getting two hits apiece were Vega, George White, Ryan Murphy and Cory Crosnoe.

Three Capaha pitchers combined to limit Evansville to 12 hits in the twinbill.

Troy Pehle hurled all five innings of the opener, allowing three hits. He struck out one and walked four.

Danny Simpher pitched the first four innings of the nightcap, giving up both runs and seven hits. He fanned one and walked one. Brandon West hurled the final three innings in two-hit fashion, fanning four and walking one.

The Capahas scored three runs in the first inning of the opener and later broke the game wide open with a 10-run third.

Things were more competitive in the second game -- at least for a while -- as Evansville broke on top 2-0 in the second.

The Capahas made it 2-1 in the third, then broke the contest open with an eight-run fourth as they chased Evansville's hard-throwing Brad Wilkerson.

"I was told that Wilkerson had 23 home runs and won nine games as a pitcher for Florida this year," said Bolen. "He's a good-looking pitcher, but he probably hasn't thrown much lately. And we're just hitting the ball so well right now."