Rally kills shot at Capahas sweep

Shortstop Denver Stuckey fails to fully block third base while trying to tag out Waterloo's Chas Wigger Saturday, June 13, 2009, at Capaha Field. (Kit Doyle) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

The Plaza Tire Capahas survived a crushing first-game loss and a rain delay to salvage a split of Saturday's doubleheader against the visiting Waterloo (Ill.) Millers.

Waterloo stunned the Capahas with a seven-run rally in the top of the seventh inning -- both contests were seven-inning affairs -- to wipe out a three-run deficit and take the opener 10-7.

Plaza Tire bounced back 9-4 in a nightcap that was delayed about 30 minutes with the Capahas one out from making it an official game.

"I was worried we weren't going to get that one in," Plaza Tire's Sean Bard said. "The first game was a heartbreaker, but it was good to come back and get the win."

Capahas starting pitcher Brad LaBruyere delivers against Waterloo during the first game of a doubleheader Saturday at Capaha Field. (Kit Doyle) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

The Capahas are 5-3 while the Millers -- a perennial summer baseball power that ranks among Plaza Tire's toughest annual opponents -- are 10-2.

"They're a very good team," Capahas manager Jess Bolen said. "We blew that first one, but I can't fault the moves we made.

"Sometimes you just have to give the other team credit."

The Capahas led 6-3 after six innings as starting pitcher Brad LaBruyere had been impressive in holding down Waterloo's explosive offense.

"That's the best I've seen Brad throw all year, at SEMO or with us," said Bolen of the hurler who recently completed his sophomore season at Southeast Missouri State. "He was throwing harder than I've seen him throw."

Capahas third baseman Josh Eftink watches a grounder into his glove Saturday. [Click to enlarge]

LaBruyere retired the leadoff batter in the seventh, allowed a single and struck out the next batter as he was one out away from a complete-game victory.

LaBruyere hit the next batter, which brought up Waterloo cleanup man Craig Ohlau, a former minor leaguer and among the top hitters Plaza Tire will see all year.

Bolen didn't hesitate in turning to left-handed relief ace Josh Parham to face the left-handed-hitting Ohlau.

"That's the matchup I wanted," Bolen said. "I don't second-guess that at all."

Ohlau ripped a two-run double to make it 6-5.

Capahas center fielder Garrett Stevens lines up under a fly ball during Plaza Tire's first game Saturday at Capaha Field. (Kit Doyle) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"You just have to give him credit," said Bolen of a player who would finish the day 7-for-8 -- including seven straight hits after being retired in his first at-bat -- with five RBIs. "He's a great hitter."

Bolen also didn't hesitate in calling upon right-hander Kirk Boeller to face Pat Miesner, who hits from the right side.

"That's also the matchup I wanted," Bolen said.

Like Ohlau, Miesner made the Capahas pay. Down to his last strike, Miesner drilled a 2-2 pitch well beyond the left-field fence. The two-run homer put Waterloo ahead 7-6.

The Millers capped their huge inning on Jordan Thompson's three-run homer -- also off Boeller -- that made it 10-6. Waterloo allowed a run in the bottom of the seventh, but held on.

"They hit the ball that last inning. There wasn't anything cheap about it," Bolen said.

LaBruyere allowed eight hits and was charged with five runs in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out seven and did not issue a walk, although he hit two batters.

"He threw great," Bolen said.

Plaza Tire got another strong start in the nightcap as Ryan Poole allowed two earned runs and nine hits in six innings. He struck out three and walked two.

"Ryan also threw really well against a bunch of good hitters," Bolen said.

The Capahas broke a 3-3 tie with a four-run third inning, and this time didn't let Waterloo rally.

It was 8-3 with two outs and a 2-2 count on Ohlau in the top of the fifth inning when heavy rain began to fall and play was halted.

Fortunately for the Capahas, who needed to get in 4 1/2 innings with the lead for an official game, the thunderstorm was brief.

After some work on the field, play resumed and the entire contest was finished without further delay.

The teams will square off again today, in a nine-inning game set for a 1:30 p.m. start in Waterloo, Ill.

Game 1

WP -- Brandon Woeltz. LP -- Kirk Boeller. HR -- Jordan Thompson (W), Pat Miesner (W), Sean Bard (C). 3B -- Drew Pixley (C). 2B -- Craig Ohlau (W), Bard (C), Jamie McAlister (C), Denver Stuckey (C), Matt Wagner (C). Multiple hits -- Waterloo, Ohlau 3-4, Thompson 2-4, Chas Wigger 2-3, Jake Fridrich 2-4, Scott Amann 2-4; Capahas, McAlister 3-4, Pixley 2-3, John Amschler 2-3, Bard 2-4, Kendal Deason 2-4. Records -- Waterloo 10-1, Capahas 4-3.

Game 2

WP -- Ryan Poole. LP -- Cory Blackwell. HR -- Andrew Thigpen (W), Sean Bard (C). 2B -- Zack Elliott (W), Chas Wigger (W), Josh Eftink (C) 3, Bard (C), Kendal Deason (C), Jamie McAlister (C). Multiple hits -- Waterloo, Craig Ohlau 4-4, Elliott 3-4, Scott Amann 2-4; Capahas, Eftink 3-3, Bard 3-4, Deason 2-3, McAlister 2-4, Drew Pixley 2-4, Denver Stuckey 2-4. Records -- Waterloo 10-2, Capahas 5-3.