Nourie's no-hitter lifts Capahas

Jon Nourie has had several no-hitters during his baseball career but he said the thrill of pitching one never diminishes.

Nourie added to his list of no-hit gems Sunday as the Cape Girardeau Craftsman Union Capahas swept a hard-fought doubleheader from the Cape Girardeau Riverdogs at Capaha Field, winning 2-1 in the opener and 2-0 behind Nourie in the second game. Both contests were seven innings.

"I've had a few before, but I'll take one any time," Nourie said with a smile.

Nourie, a left-hander, was a touted junior-college transfer for Southeast Missouri State University this year who had his moments but generally experienced an up-and-down rookie season with the Indians.

Although Nourie led the Ohio Valley Conference in strikeouts per nine innings, wildness hurt him much of the year as he went 2-3 with a 5.90 earned-run average. While striking out an impressive 65 in 50 1/3 innings and allowing just 46 hits, he also issued an alarming 41 walks, hit 11 batters and fired 10 wild pitches.

But Nourie, who has two seasons of college eligibility remaining, is intent on ironing out some mechanical flaws this summer. So far, so good as he improved to 3-0 with the Capahas. Sunday, he struck out 12 and walked just two .

"It's good to be throwing like I used to," Nourie said. "I've been working with my mechanics and I'm really encouraged so far."

Nourie, who said he threw a no-hitter in junior college last year and also a few in high school and summer ball, has been a welcome addition for manager Jess Bolen's squad.

"Jon has got a great arm, a professional type arm. He's working some things out but he's got so much potential," Bolen said. "I don't care who you're playing, it's special when you pitch a no-hitter. So many things can go wrong."

Nourie faced few close calls, although two came in the final inning. Adam Friga led off with a line drive but it was right to third baseman Jon Payne, who knocked it down and threw for the out. Then Andrew DePeder hit a ground ball behind the first-base bag but Ricky Pecaut -- normally a pitcher -- made a nice play and flipped to Nourie covering for the second out. Nourie then finished things off with a strikeout.

Nourie's outing overshadowed three other strong pitching performances as all four starters went the distance and pretty much dominated the opposition. The Capahas remained undefeated at 11-0 while the Riverdogs fell to 4-6 -- but Bolen was impressed by the upstart Cape Girardeau squad, which is in just its fifth season of play.

"They have a good team and it's a lot of fun playing them," Bolen said. "It's nice to have another team in town to play."

Nourie and Bobby Landers were hooked up in a scoreless duel in the finale before the Capahas used the long ball to break through in the bottom of the sixth inning. With two outs, Josh Eftink homered over the left-field fence and Tom Bolen followed with a home run to virtually the same spot.

"All the pitching was really good today by both teams," Tom Bolen said.

Landers allowed five hits while striking out six and walking one. Bolen added a double to his homer while Justin Welker, making his Craftsman Union debut, doubled and went 2-for-2.

Welker, who recently joined the Capahas, also had a hit in the opener and the left fielder made a potential game-saving, diving catch in the seventh inning that turned into a double play.

"I think he'll be a good addition for us," Jess Bolen said.

Jason Chavez improved to 3-0 by hurling a four-hitter in the opener. He struck out seven and walked one.

Tatum Kitchen, a former Southeast Missouri State University football player, pretty much matched Chavez by allowing five hits and just one earned run.

Welker's RBI single in the fourth put the Capahas ahead 1-0 and the Riverdogs tied it in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Chris Bradshaw.

But the Capahas went ahead for good in the bottom of the sixth with an unearned run. With one out, Payne got an infield single and Nathan Baker reached on an error, putting runners on second and third. Wade Hansford drove in Payne with a ground ball.

Bolen joined Welker in finishing the day with three hits.