Eftink's three-run homer powers Capahas

Pitching duels are not that common when summer baseball teams use aluminum bats.

But that's what the Plaza Tire Capahas and Waterloo (Ill.) Millers engaged in Friday night.

With Plaza Tire's Brad LaBruyere and Waterloo's Andy Galle both on top of their games, the contest went to the bottom of the eighth inning tied 1-1.

"It's not what you usually expect with aluminum," Plaza Tire's Josh Eftink said.

Eftink made sure the matchup at Capaha Field would swing in Plaza Tire's favor once Galle departed.

The Capahas' Brad LaBruyere pitches during the fourth inning of a game against the Waterloo Millers at Capaha Park in Cape Girardeau on Friday, June 11, 2010. (Kristin Eberts)

Eftink belted a no-doubt three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning off reliever Brian Unger, paving the way for the Capahas' 4-1 victory.

"That one felt really good," Eftink said.

After retiring the first batter in the eighth, Galle walked Daryl Graham. That brought on Unger, who promptly hit Sean Bard to bring up Eftink.

"He [Galle] kind of kept us off balance. He had a good slider and fastball," Eftink said. "We weren't getting a lot off him. It's always good to get into the bullpen."

Eftink said the left-handed Unger threw him "a couple of changeups first. I was sitting dead red fastball. I was hoping he'd throw me one."

Capahas base runner Drew Pixley slides into third base for a triple during the second inning Friday.

Unger did and the right-handed hitting Eftink blasted it well beyond the left-field fence.

"That ball would have been out of any park," said Capahas manager Jess Bolen, whose squad swings wood bats much of the summer.

Eftink, a Notre Dame Regional High School graduate and former standout at Division II power Central Missouri State, started playing for the Capahas in 2001.

Now that Tom Bolen, the manager's son, only will play if absolutely needed as he assumes a coaching role with the club, Eftink is the Capahas' elder statesman among full-time players.

"I still enjoy it," said Eftink, who has been coaching and teaching at Woodland High School but will be the boys basketball coach and baseball coach at Kelly High School this year.

And Eftink, who can play a variety of positions but primarily has been at third base so far this year, still plays well.

"Josh has been a very good ballplayer and he still is," Jess Bolen said.

The Capahas only had four hits off Galle, the tough-luck loser who was charged with two runs in 7 1/3 innings. He struck out six and walked three.

LaBruyere also worked 7 1/3 innings. He gave up eight hits and one run while striking out eight and walking none.

"Brad and their guy both threw great. Both pitched about the same game," Bolen said. "It was a great game."

Josh Parham notched the victory with 1 2/3 scoreless innings. He allowed one hit, struck out three and walked none.

Parham escaped a big jam in his first inning of work as the Millers threatened to take the lead.

With one out in the top of the eighth, Sam Wahlig singled to mark the end of LaBruyere's night.

Mark Degener, the first batter to face Parham, doubled when his ground ball bounced off the third-base bag and rolled into short left field, putting runners on second and third.

Parham struck out Jeff Schwierjohn and got Craig Ohlau on a fly ball to right field.

After the Capahas went ahead in the bottom of the eighth, Parham retired the side in order in the ninth.

"Josh did a heck of a job," Bolen said.

The Capahas played errorless defense and turned two double plays.

Center fielder Paul Johnson, a Plaza Tire rookie, turned in the defensive gem of the season so far when he tracked down a third-inning fly ball to deep right-center that looked like a certain extra-base hit.

Johnson again showed off his speed later in the game with a nice running catch of a ball hit to left-center.

"He made a couple of great catches," Bolen said. "He had a lot to do with this win."

Drew Pixley tripled in the second inning and scored on Clint Cashen's single for an early 1-0 lead before Waterloo tied it in the seventh.

Sean Bard had two of Plaza Tire's six hits. Waterloo finished with nine hits.

Waterloo 000 000 100 -- 1 9 1

Capahas 010 000 03x -- 4 6 0

WP -- Josh Parham. LP -- Andy Galle. HR -- Josh Eftink (C). 3B -- Drew Pixley (C). 2B -- Mark Degener (W). Multiple hits -- Waterloo: Craig Ohlau 2-4, Brad Dunnigan 2-4, Pat Miesner 2-4. Capahas: Sean Bard 2-3. Records -- Capahas 4-1.