Plaza Tire splits two at Valmeyer

The Plaza Tire Capahas flashed some offense Saturday, putting up 11 hits in each half of a doubleheader in Valmeyer, Ill.

But the Capahas came back with a split of the seven-inning contests with the Lakers.

After winning the opener 9-1, Plaza Tire dropped the nightcap 6-5, leaving the tying run on second base in the top of the last inning.

Bryan Kurt had five hits in the two games for the Capahas (20-9).

Kurt had a solo home run in the seventh inning of the opening game, in which Chris Gibson had two hits and an RBI.

The Caps scored four runs in the second to break open a 1-1 game and added four more in the seventh. They were helped by three Lakers errors.

Anthony Maupin pitched five innings for the win. He allowed six hits, two walks and one earned run. He struck out five.

Jason Chavez and Josh Parham closed out the game with one inning each.

In the nightcap, Valmeyer scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 4-2 lead and they never trailed after that. The Lakers led 6-3 after five innings before the Capahas scored one in the sixth on Dustin Pritchett's home run. The Caps added one in the seventh and had a runner on second when Levi Olson smashed a line drive that was caught by the center fielder.

"It was a really good ballgame," Capahas manager Jess Bolen said.

Kurt and Robby Moore were 2-for-4, while Pritchett was 2-for-3. Kurt, Gibson and Moore each had doubles.

Matt Stroup took the loss, allowing four runs -- three earned -- in four innings. He surrendered seven hits.

Parham allowed two runs -- one earned -- in two innings of relief. He gave up three hits.

The Capahas play a doubleheader 1 p.m. today in Springfield, Ill.