Pecaut starts slow, finishes strong in Capahas' victory

Ricky Pecaut didn't dominate the St. Louis Golden Spikes like earlier in the week.

But Pecaut, despite a shaky start, was good enough to beat the Spikes for the second time in six days in the Cape Girardeau Craftsman Union Capahas' 10-5 victory Saturday at Capaha Field.

On Monday night, Pecaut fired a two-hitter in the Capahas' 16-0 win in St. Louis.

In Saturday's win, Pecaut gave up seven hits and four runs over the first two innings, then settled down and limited the Spikes to just three hits and one run over the next five. Craig Ringwald finished up with two hitless innings.

"I was a little tight early and they weren't hitting the ball real well, but they were finding holes," Pecaut said. "I didn't have my best stuff early, but I was glad to settle down."

Pecaut, a crafty if not overpowering right-hander, is the veteran of the Capahas' squad at age 34. The Notre Dame High School graduate, who pitched at Southeast Missouri State University in the late 1980s, struck out five and walked three.

"Rick's a ground ball pitcher and you have to be able to play defense for him," Capahas manager Jess Bolen said. "He's always been effective even though he's never thrown that hard."

The Capahas (10-4) overcame an early 4-0 deficit with a 12-hit attack that featured solo home runs from Brad Simmons and Steve Kress, both in the eighth inning to complete the scoring.

Simmons, who also doubled, went 3-for-4 with two runs batted in and three runs scored.

"They got off to a good lead today, but after we went through the lineup once we were all right," Simmons said. "We just had to see the ball. I was really seeing the ball well."

Josh Eftink also went 3-for-4, with two RBIs. Zach Borowiak added two hits and Tom Cigno had two RBIs.

The Spikes (15-16) were led by Jeff Dunbar with three hits, including a triple and double. Ryan Toben and Carter Ruthridge both added two hits. Jay Davis pitched all eight innings and took the loss.

Trailing 4-0, the Capahas got on the board with three in the third inning, the key blow being Borowiak's two-run single.

The Capahas took the lead for good with a two-run fourth, getting an RBI double from Simmons and an RBI single from Borowiak.

A two-run double by Cigno in the fifth made it 7-4 and the Capahas were never seriously threatened the rest of the way.

Bolen expects his team to get tougher competition today when a squad from Springfield, Mo., visits Capaha Field for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.

"They've got some players from Southwest Missouri State and they should be a good ballclub," Bolen said.

mmishow@semissourian.com

(573) 335-6611, extension 132