Plaza Tire pitches two more gems, beats Pally's

~ The Capahas allowed just one run in Sunday's twinbill after losing both ends of Saturday's well-pitched doubleheader.

The Plaza Tire Capahas received two strong pitching performances but had nothing to show for it during Saturday's doubleheader loss against the host St. Louis Printers.

Plaza Tire hurlers again sparkled Sunday afternoon, and this time the results were much more favorable.

The Capahas came within two outs of a double shutout against the visiting Springfield (Ill.) Pally's, sweeping the doubleheader at Capaha Field 5-0 and 5-1. Both games were seven innings.

"There's never been any doubt we have good pitching," said Plaza Tire manager Jess Bolen, whose squad improved its record to 16-8. "We've got a lot of good arms, a lot of guys that can throw well.

"We lost some really good hitters from last year and we've had some injuries, so our lineup isn't what it's been in the past, otherwise we'd have probably won some more games."

Happy to finally win a game at all again was Jamie McAlister, who pitched six shutout innings of the nightcap. He allowed two hits, struck out seven and walked none.

McAlister has played third base most of the summer season so far, partly because of the Capahas' injury situation and partly because his arm needed the rest after a heavy workload for Southeast Missouri State this year.

"My arm has been a little dead after the SEMO season, and we've got a lot of pitchers, so I've been playing a lot of third base," McAlister said.

The good-natured McAlister revealed that Sunday's victory broke a personal nine-game losing streak.

Despite having a respectable 4.36 earned-run average over a team-high 109 1/3 innings for Southeast during his senior season -- the ERA led all Redhawks' starters -- McAlister ran into tough luck and lost his last eight decisions to finish 4-12.

"And I lost my only start for the Capahas before today," McAlister said. "It feels great to win again. I forgot what it felt like."

Matt Stroup was the first-game winner, allowing five hits in six innings, with six strikeouts and one walk.

Josh Parham finished off the shutout with a scoreless inning and he also worked the final frame of the nightcap, when the Pally's (12-5) finally got on the scoreboard.

The Capahas did not exactly tear the cover off the ball, as they finished the doubleheader with 11 hits.

Scott Hubbard and Zach Johnson each had two of the Capahas' five first-game hits, while Levi Olson had two of their six second-game hits.

Hubbard was the only Plaza Tire player to end the day with three hits. He and Bryan Kurt drove in runs in each game.

The Pally's -- comprised mainly of players from Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, Ill. -- had 10 hits in the doubleheader.

"We got good pitching again and just enough hitting," Bolen said.

Plaza Tire plated three runs in the first inning of the opener to take control, then broke open a scoreless nightcap with a five-run fourth inning.

The Capahas play at Fairview Heights (Ill.) on Wednesday night before hosting the National Baseball Congress Mid-South Regional this weekend.