LaBruyere improves to 2-0 on mound

Brad LaBruyere is young enough that he was eligible for one final summer of American Legion baseball.

Instead he opted to pitch for the Plaza Tire Capahas, where he is that team's youngest player.

Competing against older, more experienced athletes has not been a problem for the Cape Girardeau Central High School graduate so far.

LaBruyere continued his impressive work for the Capahas on Saturday as he was the winning pitcher during an 8-2 home victory over the visiting St. Louis Printers.

LaBruyere, who received considerable action as a freshman at Southeast Missouri State this year, improved to 2-0 for the Capahas.

In 14 innings, LaBruyere has allowed just three earned runs and eight hits. He has 16 strikeouts against six walks.

"Brad is pitching well. He's throwing strikes, that's what I like," Plaza Tire manager Jess Bolen said. "It doesn't surprise me at all. I liked him at SEMO this year.

"I thought he had some good outings at SEMO, and he's got a good history coming in."

LaBruyere said he considered playing for both the Cape Girardeau Legion team and the Capahas, but elected to stick solely with the older group.

"I just wanted to play up," he said. "Hopefully it will help me. I just have the same approach I had at school, throwing strikes and hitting my spots."

With several other players off this year's Southeast squad competing for the Capahas, LaBruyere is familiar with a number of his new teammates.

"I know quite a few of them," LaBruyere said. "I'm having fun. It's a great group of guys."

LaBruyere, who had allowed just one hit in nine previous innings this season, gave up seven hits and two runs in five innings Saturday. He struck out five and walked none.

Ryan Poole finished up with two scoreless innings, allowing one hit.

The Capahas supported their hurlers with a 13-hit attack that included a home run and two RBIs by Asif Shah.

Shah, Omar Padilla, Jerry Hodges and Kendal Deason all had two hits.

Plaza Tire scored four runs on five hits in the first inning and was in control the rest of the way as it tuned up for its game later in the evening against perennial national power Crestwood, Ill.

Printers 000 200 0 — 2 8 3

Capahas 401 111 X — 8 13 0

@z_agate_no tab_no indnt_bld ld:WP — Brad LaBruyere, 2-0. LP — Ryan Forschee. HR — Asif Shah (C). 2B — Linds Prestia (P), Matt Wagner (C). Multiple hits — Printers: Adam Smith 3-3, Prestia 2-3, John Bridges 2-3; Capahas: Shah 2-4, Kendal Deason 2-3, Omar Padilla 2-4, Jerry Hodges 2-4. Records — Capahas 11-3.