Plaza Tire posts 2nd straight shutout

~ Four Capahas pitchers blanked Valmeyer, Ill., in a 7-0 victory.

Plaza Tire Capahas manager Jess Bolen said before the season that he believes pitching will be the strength of his team this summer.

If the first two games are any indication, Bolen's assessment will be accurate.

The Capahas recorded their second shutout in as many days Saturday, rolling past the visiting Valmeyer (Ill.) Lakers 7-0 at Capaha Field.

After Anthony Maupin (six innings) and Chad Bogenpohl (one inning) combined on a three-hit shutout during Friday's 10-0 run-rule rout of the Lakers, four Plaza Tire hurlers combined on Saturday's two-hitter.

"I think pitching will be the strength of our team," Bolen said. "As long as you have guys who can throw strikes, that will keep you in a lot of games.

"To open the season with two shutouts ... it's hard to shut people out, I don't care who you're playing."

Jason Chavez pitched the first three innings for the victory, allowing just one baserunner, that coming when he hit the second batter of the game.

Chavez, who completed his eligibility at Southern Illinois-Carbondale in 2005 and is in his fifth season with the Capahas, struck out four.

"I felt good," he said. "I pretty much had the year off, so I had plenty of time to rest."

Matt Stroup allowed a single in two innings. He struck out two and hit a batter.

Shayn Mabury, a first-year Capahas player, made his debut with three innings. He also allowed a single while striking out five and walking one.

Josh Parham finished up in the ninth, fanning one and walking one.

"I thought they all threw pretty well," Bolen said.

The Capahas did not exactly blister the Lakers (3-5) offensively. Plaza Tire had eight hits -- only three after the third inning -- and grounded into four double plays.

Chris Gibson, a first-year Capahas player, went 2-for-4 and had the game's lone extra-base hit, a first-inning triple that helped ignite a three-run frame.

Bryan Kurt had just one hit but drove in three runs.

While Valmeyer did not offer much resistance the past two days, Bolen anticipates much tougher competition today when the Capahas face their first road tests of the season with a 1:30 p.m. doubleheader at Tradewater, Ky.

"Valmeyer has a doubleheader in their league [today] so they didn't have much pitching to throw against us," Bolen said. "Tradewater usually has a good team so I expect two tough ballgames."

CAPAHAS 7, VALMEYER 0

Valmeyer 000 000 000 -- 0 2 3

Capahas 301 020 10X -- 7 8 1

WP -- Jason Chavez, 1-0. LP -- Aaron McNeil. 3B -- Chris Gibson (C). Multiple hits -- Capahas, Gibson 2-4. Records -- Capahas 2-0, Valmeyer 3-5.