Caps sweep up at home

If Jamie McAlister could have just fielded his position better, he might have given himself an A-plus grade Saturday.

But McAlister wasn't far off a perfect mark as he helped lead the Plaza Tire Capahas to a doubleheader sweep of visiting Southern Illinois.

McAlister had three hits in the Capahas' 10-6 first-game victory, then pitched a two-hitter during the 6-2 nightcap. About the only flaw in McAlister's performance were his two errors in the second game.

"I got a little clueless with my fielding," said a smiling McAlister. "That's not like me."

Capahas manager Jess Bolen, whose squad improved to 12-3 with its third straight victory, no doubt will forgive McAlister's miscues.

"Jamie had a heck of a day," Bolen said. "He does swing the bat well, especially for a pitcher."

McAlister, a Clearwater High School graduate, recently completed a stellar pitching career at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Mo. He said he had not hit regularly in about three years, dating back to his final summer of eligibility for Poplar Bluff's American Legion team.

But with the Capahas' still searching on offense, McAlister has recently been performing in the designated hitter role when he's not on the mound.

"I hadn't swung in a a while," McAlister said. "But it's nice to do that. I like to play all aspects, and it makes you appreciate every part of the game."

A precarious start

The day did not begin all that well for the Capahas as Southern Illinois scored five runs in the top of the second inning during the opener. Plaza Tire starter Jason Chavez was touched for six hits in the rally -- all singles --but a key error caused all but one run to be unearned.

"The way they started out that first game, I thought they might run us out of the arena," Bolen said.

But the Capahas came back with four runs in the bottom of the second, then took the lead for good with a six-run fourth. They were rarely threatened the rest of the day.

Chavez settled down and went the seven-inning distance, allowing 10 hits and two earned runs. He struck out nine and walked three.

The Capahas had 11 hits, led by McAlister's three. Wade Walter and Levi Olson both added two hits.

McAlister, a right-hander who is being recruited by a number of Division I schools -- including Southeast Missouri State University -- then dominated the nightcap with his arm as he carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning. Both runs he gave up were unearned, and he struck out five to go along with two walks.

"I was a little wild early, but I settled down," McAlister said.

Plaza Tire had 13 second-game hits, getting a 3-for-3 performance from Bryan Kurt, who homered and drove in two runs. Josh Eftink doubled twice, while Robbie Moore and Tom Bolen both added two hits.

Walter, Olson, Eftink and Bolen all joined McAlister in getting three hits on the day.

Chad McCann had one of the offensive highlights for Southern Illinois as he homered in the first game.

"It's always good to sweep a doubleheader," Jess Bolen said. "We're not world beaters, but we're a pretty decent team with good pitching. If you get good pitching, that will keep you in a lot of games."