Capahas complete perfect weekend

~ Plaza Tire capped a 5-0 opening weekend with a pair of road victories.

After opening the season with three home victories on Friday and Saturday, the Plaza Tire Capahas capped a perfect weekend with two resounding road victories Sunday in Evansville, Ind.

In a pair of seven-inning games, the Capahas first defeated the Evansville Outlaws 12-2, then pounded Columbia, Tenn. 12-0.

Despite using wood bats for the first time this season, Plaza Tire (5-0) showed no letup Sunday after scoring 32 runs in its three home victories over the Valmeyer (Ill.) Lakers.

"We used wood bats in today's games and pounded out double-digit hits," Capahas manager Jess Bolen said. "Any time you do that, you've got to feel pretty good. I'm satisfied with the way the guys have swung, but we've got a pretty good ball team."

The Capahas struck for 14 hits against Evansville, then banged out 17 more against Columbia.

Daryl Graham led the way with seven hits on the day, including a 5-for-5 performance in the second game.

"I don't know when the last time I had someone get seven hits in a doubleheader," Bolen said. "That's getting it done."

Asif Shah, who recently completed his senior season at Southeast Missouri State with all-Ohio Valley Conference first-team honors, added five hits, including a two-run home run in the first inning against Evansville. Plaza Tire scored four runs in the first inning and proceeded to score in every inning but the fifth.

Shah went 3-for-3, while John Amschler, Omar Padilla and Zach Blemker each added three hits. Amschler, who had a double, finished the game with four RBIs.

Starting pitcher Jason Chavez was the beneficiary of the offense. He pitched five innings, struck out four, walked four and allowed three hits and no runs. Shayn Mabury followed with two innings of two-hit relief, allowing both Evansville runs.

Against Columbia, Jamie McAlister and Shah combined for a two-hit shutout. McAlister struck out nine over the first five innings, allowing the two hits and walking two. Shah struck out three in two innings of perfect relief.

"What I've been impressed with is some of the guys who didn't pitch in college this year," Bolen said. "Jamie McAlister, Jason Chavez, Chad Bogenpohl and Shayn Mabury are all guys that didn't pitch this year, and they're throwing hard. That's been kind of a pleasant surprise. I expected that from Asif and Phillip Riley, but the guys that haven't pitched since last August have been impressing me."

Riley, who also pitched for Southeast this season, was the starting pitcher in Friday's season opener.

McAlister kept Columbia throttled until the offense could get on track. Tom Bolen pushed home the winning run with a suicide-squeeze bunt to score Graham from third in the fourth inning.

Leading 1-0, Plaza Tire broke thee game open with seven runs in the sixth and four more in the seventh.

Jordan Payne went 3-for-5, including a double, with two RBIs. Padilla and Shah each added two hits.

The Capahas are back in action Thursday with a 7 p.m. road game against the Charleston Riverdogs, then return home Friday to Capaha Field for a 7:30 p.m. game against Waterloo, Ill.