ERROR-PRONE CAPS SPLIT TWIN BILL WITH VALMEYER

The way the Craftsman Union Capahas played baseball Saturday afternoon, manager Jess Bolen figures they were fortunate to come away with a doubleheader split.

Bolen's team committed a whopping 10 errors but still managed to win a game against the visiting Valmeyer (Ill.) Lakers. The Capahas overcame four errors in the opener to rally for a 6-5 victory, then had six errors in the nightcap and were blanked 4-0.

"We played today like I thought we'd play last night," said Bolen, referring to Friday's season-opening 12-3 triumph over the Lakers. "Last night was a little too good for this early in the year.

"We could have lost both today. We were lucky to win the first one. We just haven't played enough innings yet. I hate to lose ballgames on account of shaky defense, but I'm not worried."

Added Bolen, "The way we hit in the second game, we weren't going to win anyway."

The Capahas (2-1) needed a big-time comeback to win the opener. They trailed 5-0 after five innings as their batters were kept totally off-balance by Valmeyer's Chuck Schmidt, who had allowed just three hits to that point.

But the Capahas finally solved Schmidt in the sixth, touching him for five runs on six hits, with all of the runs scoring after two were out. An error also proved costly as the tying tally was unearned.

After Josh Eftink drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and Denver Stuckey had an RBI double, Kevin Meyer's two-run single pulled the Capahas to within 5-4. A throwing error on a routine ground ball to third by Chris Sledge kept the inning alive, then Tristen McDonald singled to score Meyer and tie things.

The Capahas then won it with a run in the bottom of the seventh. Dan Berry led off with a double, Tom Bolen reached on an infield single to deep short and Eftink was intentionally walked to load the bases.

With Scott Reinagel at the plate, the Lakers decided to have their left fielder play as an extra infielder. Reinagel, a switch-hitter batting from the left side against Schmidt, lofted the first pitch on a fly to medium left that fell for a game-winning single as Berry trotted home.

"I just took it where they pitched it to me," said Reinagel. "They moved the left fielder in and pitched it outside."

Reinagel and Bolen each had three of the Capahas' 12 hits. Stuckey added two.

Starting pitcher Craig Ringwald allowed seven hits and five runs (four earned) in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out two and walked three.

Kyle Perry earned the victory in relief as he was impressive for the second straight game. Perry tossed 2 2/3 shutout innings, allowing one hit while fanning two and walking one.

"Perry has really thrown the ball well," said Jess Bolen. "He kept us in the game."

Brett Haake went 4-for-4 to pace the Lakers' eight-hit attack. Justin Rohlfing drove in three runs.

In the second game, the Capahas managed just four singles off Chris Kohnz and Bryan Delunnes. Kohnz allowed two hits over the first four innings while Delunnes gave up two hits over the final three frames.

All four of the runs for Valmeyer (6-3) were unearned as three Capaha hurlers also allowed just four hits.

Richie Phillips, trying to bounce back from arm problems that have forced him to miss virtually all of the past two seasons, allowed just one hit and an unearned run in three innings, although he took the loss. Phillips struck out three and walked none.

"It wasn't too bad for the first time since 1998," said Phillips.

Jake Alley gave up three hits and three unearned runs in three innings. He fanned three and walked one. James Beever fanned two and walked one in a hitless seventh.

Valmeyer scored the only run it would need in the first on Brett Crawford's RBI single. Tim Welch had a two-run single in the fourth and the Lakers added their finally tally in the sixth.

"I thought we accomplished a lot this weekend," Bolen said. "We played different people and our pitchers got a lot of work. And we won two out of three."

The Capahas will close out their busy opening weekend today with a 1:30 p.m. home doubleheader against a team from Memphis, Tenn., that Bolen said has a 17-0 record.