Leigh enjoys successful return to mound for Capahas

The Plaza Tire Capahas finished a two-game season-opening series sweep of the Valmeyer (Ill.) Lakers thanks in large part to a birthday boy who was itching to get back on the mound.

James Leigh, who missed all of last season with health problems, pitched four shutout inning Saturday for the victory in the host Capahas' 8-2 win.

That came after Friday night's 14-7 triumph, giving the Capahas a 2-0 start to manager Jess Bolen's 45th season. The Lakers fell to 5-4.

"These were two good days for us," said Bolen, whose team has its first road action today with a 12:30 p.m. doubleheader against the St. Louis Raging Bulls. "I saw a lot of good things. I like this ballclub."

Bolen likes having Leigh back after the left-hander was a key hurler for the squad in 2008 and 2009.

Capahas baserunner Kenton Parmley slides safely into third under Valmeyer's Chris Rohlfing during the second inning Saturday at Capaha Field. (Kristin Eberts)

Leigh, who was Southeast Missouri State's ace as a senior in 2009, was out all last summer after he said he suffered from blood clots in his lungs.

That led to several hospital stays, time on blood thinners and some anxious moments before Leigh was given a clean bill of health.

"It wasn't any fun," he said.

Leigh was determined to make a comeback this year, which led to him delaying a move back to his hometown of Bryant, Ark.

"I was going to move back home, but I stayed around to play," he said.

Leigh celebrated his 25th birthday Saturday with an impressive relief performance. He struck out four, walked one and allowed just two hits while working the fifth through eighth innings.

"I felt great. It feels great to be back out here," Leigh said as he distributed birthday cake to teammates and Capahas supporters. "It's kind of surreal getting back out there against live hitters for the first time.

"I was really looking forward to playing this year. I'm still not where I need to be."

He's not too far off as far as Bolen is concerned.

"It's great to have James back with us, especially after what he went through last year," Bolen said. "I thought he looked great."

Leigh was one of four hurlers Bolen used Saturday. All are Southeast products and three were on pitch counts because they have not played collegiately for more than a year.

"I like our staff," said Bolen, whose club features 13 quality hurlers, almost all with Division I experience.

Anthony Maupin, among the Capahas' aces for several years and a former Southeast ace who completed his eligibility in 2006, started Saturday.

Maupin allowed two hits and one run in 2 1/3 innings. He struck out two.

Kyle Gumieny, a Capahas rookie who last pitched for Southeast in 2010, gave up two hits and one run in 1 2/3 innings.

Leigh then came on and Jacob Wente finished with a perfect ninth inning.

Wente, a returning hurler who also worked a scoreless ninth inning Friday, completed his Southeast career this year.

The Capahas outhit Valmeyer 11-6, getting five of those hits in the eighth inning when they scored three insurance runs. The Capahas used wood bats in the two games while the Lakers swung aluminum.

"We're going to use wood all year no matter what the other team swings," Bolen said.

Rookie center fielder Blake Slattery, a Central graduate who completed his Southeast career this year, had the Capahas' first home run of the season.

Slattery's two-run fifth-inning shot over the left-field fence gave the Capahas a 5-2 lead.

"I guess I picked a good bat," Slattery said. "It jumped off there pretty well."

Returning player Kody Campbell, at third base although he'll also see plenty of action at first base, went 3 for 5 with two RBIs.

Campbell, an Oran product who finished his junior season at Southeast this year, led the Capahas in the two-game series by going 5 for 11.

"Kody's just a good hitter," Bolen said.

Rookie Ky Burgess, a catcher who has been at DH the first two contests, added two hits. Burgess completed his Southeast career this year.

Campbell's two-RBI single highlighted a three-run second inning to help the Capahas erase an early 1-0 deficit.

The Capahas benefited from five Valmeyer errors for the second straight game. Only three of Saturday's runs for the Capahas were earned.

Derek Gibson, who took the loss despite not allowing an earned run in two innings, had two hits for the Lakers.

Gibson, a backup quarterback on the Southeast football team who had only one at-bat as a redshirt freshman for the Redhawks this season, had three doubles among his four hits in the series.

Valmeyer 010 100 000 -- 2 6 5

Capahas 030 020 03X -- 8 11 2

WP -- James Leigh. LP -- Derek Gibson. HR -- Blake Slattery (C). 2B -- Gibson (V), Aaron Floarke (V). Multiple hits -- Valmeyer: Gibson 2-4. Capahas: Kody Campbell 3-5, Slattery 2-4, Ky Burgess 2-4. Records -- Valmeyer 5-4, Capahas 2-0.