Southeast Missouri State's Hayes leads Capahas to win in home opener

The only thing different about pitcher Travis Hayes' performance on the mound at Capaha Field Friday night was the name on the front of his jersey.

The Southeast Missouri State pitcher made his Plaza Tire Capahas debut and helped the Capahas secure a 7-1 win in their home-opener against Valmeyer.

"It's always awesome to get back out and play at the Cap," Hayes said. "The Capahas have a great tradition, so it's great to play for them and play for [manager] Jess [Bolen]. You see him all spring, but it's kind of a different look seeing him in a uniform as a coach. But it's awesome to be back here, especially having a couple weeks off. You get to where you're playing so much during the spring and then it's gone, so it's nice to be back out there again."

Hayes pitched six scoreless innings and allowed just two hits while striking out 10 batters.

Hayes' fellow Southeast pitchers, Riley Calvird and Perry Middleton, finished the final three innings in relief for the Capahas.

They combined to allow just three hits. The Lakers' lone run came on a base hit with two outs in the ninth.

Plaza Tire Capahas manager Jess Bolen speaks with fans during their home opener against Valmeyer, Friday, June 6, 2014, at Capaha Field. (Laura Simon)

"I wanted him to go five and he wanted to go six, so he bargained another inning," Bolen said. "I wanted Calvird to throw and Perry Middleton to throw an inning. My SEMO connection tonight was pretty good. ... Travis has just got good stuff. I mean, he's got a good curveball, good control and he's smart. You know, he thinks out there and that's what makes him a good pitcher."

Hayes, who is used to knowing what an opposing batter's strengths and weaknesses before facing him and was pitching to catcher Brandon Bennett for the first time, had to figure out the Lakers as he went but did not struggle to do so.

He retired the first six batters he faced before giving up a leadoff double in the third.

"You're always kind of apprehensive coming into a game with a new catcher just because they don't know you, but Brandon did a great job," Hayes said. "I had no complaints from him. He did a great job blocking balls and he called a great game, too, especially, which is really hard with somebody that throws four pitches and he'd never caught me before. He did a great job, and it was a great game all around."

The only other hit Hayes allowed was an infield single to lead off the fourth. Shortstop Kenton Parmley bare-handed a ball hit behind second base and nearly threw the runner out at first.

The Capahas' defense was much improved from their season-opener against Charleston on Sunday during which they committed six errors. They did not commit an error against Valmeyer.

"We looked so bad," Bolen said with a laugh. "I'm glad you didn't see that first game we played. ... I feel like, the second game last Sunday we only made maybe one error. Then tonight we didn't make any errors, so I think we're on the right path."

Plaza Tire Capahas batter on deck Sean Bard motions for baserunner Cody Heisserer to stay up as he scores against Valmeyer in the third inning, Friday, June 6, 2014, at Capaha Field. (Laura Simon)

The Capahas didn't struggle with the bats against the Lakers, either. They recorded nine hits in the game and jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first. After second baseman Cody Heisserer reached second when center fielder Mitch Meyer got to a fly ball before it bounced off his glove, a double by Jesse Schott drove him home. Schott scored on a single by first baseman Sean Bard.

The Capahas added four runs in the third inning and their final run in the seventh on an RBI double from Parmley, who went 3 for 4 with three doubles and two RBIs.

"You're not going to shut down Kenton Parmley," Bolen said. "He'll hit anybody. We saw that at SEMO as far as that 47-game hitting streak. He's just got a history of being a good hitter."

The Capahas, whose Saturday rematch with Valmeyer was rained out, improved to 2-1 with the win. Although it's still early in the season, Bolen likes the progress his team has made in the few games they've played.

"I think we've looked a little bit better in every game," Bolen said. "And what you want to do is get a ballclub, as you well know, late in the season hitting on all cylinders and kind of get it fine-tuned where at least you're going to get the best you've got out of their ability."

Valmeyer 000 000 001 -- 1 5 1

Capahas 204 100 00X -- 7 9 0

WP -- Travis Hayes. LP -- Adam Bieber. 2B -- Kenton Parmley 3 (C), Jesse Schott (C), Hunter Flippo (C), Zack Neff 2 (V). Multiple hits -- Capahas: Parmley 3-4. Valmeyer: Zach Schaub 2-4, Neff 2-3.