Pitching carries Capahas baseball team past Perryville

Jason Chavez jokes that he's "29 going on 40."

But Chavez still has a youthful right arm, which he displayed during Sunday's opener of a doubleheader between the host Plaza Tire Capahas and Perryville Longhorns.

Chavez pitched a one-hit shutout to help the Capahas roll 8-0. They completed the sweep with an 11-1 romp. Both games were scheduled for seven innings, but the nightcap was stopped in the bottom of the sixth because of the 10-run rule.

The Capahas (4-0) outscored the opposition 55-10 during their season-opening four-game weekend homestand.

"It's a good start for us," 46th-year Capahas manager Jess Bolen said.

Capahas baserunner Cole Bieser slides safely into second as Perryville's Spencer Sander fields the throw during the sixth inning of Sunday's first game at Capaha Field. (Laura Simon)

Chavez was pleasantly surprised by his first start since the 2011 season, which was his 10th with the squad. He's served as the team's ace for many of those seasons, but he said he hadn't planned on making it to year No. 11.

"Up until about a week ago I wasn't going to play," said Chavez, a Cape Girardeau resident who works in sales for AT&T and is married with children ages 6 and 3. "I have too much stuff going on. We just bought a house."

Chavez, a 2001 Central High School graduate who completed a solid baseball career at SIU Carbondale in 2005, said his summer plans changed when he attended a recent Capahas tryout session.

"I really just came out to see Jess and [his wife] Mary. I hadn't seen them in a while," said Chavez, who added with a smile: "That was my first mistake. I can't say no to them."

Said Jess Bolen: "I wouldn't let him quit. We needed pitching this year, and he's still a really good pitcher."

Perryville's Dusty Thomason tags out Capahas baserunner Joe Campbell during the fourth inning of their first game Sunday.

Chavez said he's glad to be back with the Capahas, who feature a new-look, youthful roster with just eight returning players. He's the oldest at 29.

"My family enjoys it. They come out and we all have a good time," he said. "It's always nice to come back and see the guys. It keeps me young. There are so many new players. ... I came out here Friday [for the season opener] and didn't hardly recognize anybody."

Perryville's only hit off Chavez came in the third inning. Dusty Thomason led off with a looping line drive that went off the glove of a leaping third baseman Kody Campbell.

Chavez struck out three, an unusually low total for him, and walked three. He didn't seem upset at missing out on a no-hitter since he already has a few with the Capahas.

"The first couple of innings I was more or less trying to find my rhythm," Chavez said. "Once I got my timing back, I started to feel pretty good."

Perryville's Spencer Day leaps to record the final out in the bottom of the fifth inning of Sunday's first game.

Chavez admitted he's probably not in prime baseball shape.

"I've been throwing since January but not a baseball," said a laughing Chavez, who has been playing in an adult softball league. "I'm just trying to get my stamina."

The Capahas, who used wood bats for the first time this year, supported Chavez with 12 hits, all singles. They broke open a fairly tight game with five runs in the sixth inning.

Veteran Sean Bard, a 2004 Central High School graduate, went 3 for 3 with two RBIs.

Veteran Dustin Hunter went 3 for 4, while veteran Jordan Kimball added two hits.

Capahas second baseman Dylan Drury throws to first for an out during the sixth inning of Sunday's first game.

Cody Kennedy, a Meadow Heights High School graduate, took the loss.

The Capahas displayed more power in the nightcap with a home run, four triples and two doubles among its 10 hits.

Cole Bieser, who recently completed his sophomore season at Southeast Missouri State, was the second-game offensive star for the Capahas.

Bieser had an inside-the-park homer and two triples. He delivered three RBIs.

The speedy Bieser, a Capahas rookie, circled the bases in the fifth inning on a fly ball that got by the center fielder and rolled near the wall.

"I knew I had the speed for it," Bieser said. "When it got by him, as soon as I hit first base, I said I'm going for it."

Kimball added two hits and three RBIs.

The Capahas used three rookie pitchers in the second game.

Colton Young, a 2010 Notre Dame Regional High School graduate, went the first three innings for the win. He allowed one run and five hits while striking out four and walking three.

Young, who helped lead the Bulldogs to the 2009 Class 3 state title as a junior, pitched for Tennessee-Martin in 2011 but did not play college baseball this past season while attending Southeast.

Young, who said he plans on playing for Southeast in 2013, admitted he was rusty.

"It's the first time I've been on a mound in a while. I've been throwing since February, but it's a lot different," Young said. "I threw all right, not too bad, but I have a lot to work on."

Trey Bazzell fired two perfect innings, and Kyle Marshall struck out the side in a sixth inning that also saw him issue two walks and allow a hit.

"We had a good weekend," said Bolen, whose team did not commit an error Sunday. "A lot of guys played really well."

Paul Ferguson suffered the loss for Perryville (0-4) in the second game. Thomason had two of Perryville's six hits.

The Capahas play their first road game Wednesday when they visit the St. Louis Golden Spikes for a 7:30 p.m. contest.

CAPAHAS 8, PERRYVILLE 0

Perryville 000 000 0 -- 0 1 1

Capahas 002 105 x -- 8 12 0

WP -- Jason Chavez. LP -- Cody Kennedy. Multiple hits -- Capahas: Sean Bard 3-3, Dustin Hunter 3-4, Jordan Kimball 2-4. Records -- Capahas 3-0, Perryville 0-3.

------

CAPAHAS 11, PERRYVILLE 1

Perryville 100 000 -- 1 6 2

Capahas 124 121 -- 11 10 0

WP -- Colton Young. LP -- Paul Ferguson. HR -- Cole Bieser (C). 3B -- Bieser (C) 2, Brandon Bennett (C), Logan Bartels (C). 2B -- Tom Hutchison (P), Jordan Kimball (C), Clayton Gibbons (C). Multiple hits -- Perryville: Dusty Thomason 2-4. Capahas: Bieser 3-4, Kimball 2-4. Records -- Capahas 4-0, Perryville 0-4.