Hodges becomes Plaza Tire's everyday player

Jerry Hodges said he had so much fun playing for the Plaza Tire Capahas in the past two National Baseball Congress World Series, he figured he might as well join the Cape Girardeau team for the entire summer.

Neither Hodges nor the Capahas have regretted the move.

"I'm having a really good time," Hodges said.

Hodges has played a major role in the Capahas' 18-4 start that includes their fourth straight NBC Mid-South Regional title.

That championship, nailed down Sunday, assured the Capahas of a 27th consecutive NBC World Series appearance.

"Jerry has been doing a great job for us," said Plaza Tire manager Jess Bolen, whose squad returns to action Friday night at home against the Charleston Riverdogs. "He's been a really good addition."

Hodges, who primarily has played right field for the Capahas, is a former NAIA All-American at Harris-Stowe State College in St. Louis.

AARON EISENHAUER ~ aeisenhauer@semissourian.com Jerry Hodges sports a .423 batting average for the Plaza Tire Capahas this season.

In recent summers, Hodges played for the Fairview Heights (Ill.) Redbirds in the St. Louis area, a team on the Capahas' schedule each season.

Bolen became familiar with Hodges and added him to the Capahas' roster for the 2006 and 2007 NBC World Series.

Hodges made his presence felt in a big way last year in Wichita, Kan., delivering a two-run walk-off single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Capahas past Nevada, Mo., in an elimination game.

The Capahas went on to finish seventh in the prestigious event, but they would not have made the top 10 without Hodges' heroics.

KIT DOYLE ~ kdoyle@semissourian.com Jerry Hodges batted earlier this season for the Plaza Tire Capahas at Capaha Field.

"That was one of the biggest hits we've had out there," Bolen said. "He's a clutch hitter, just a good all-around ballplayer."

Hodges smiled when recalling his crucial hit in Wichita last summer.

"It's one of the biggest hits I've had," Hodges said. "It kept us alive in the tournament."

Hodges said he had fun playing for Fairview Heights, but particularly enjoyed his stints with the Capahas.

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.com Jerry Hodges rounded third base earlier this season for the Plaza Tire Capahas.

"He told me he enjoyed playing with us so much that he wanted to play with us all the time," Bolen said.

Hodges also said he wanted to start using wood bats on a regular basis, which helped sway him to join the Capahas.

Plaza Tire swings wood bats all season, while Fairview Heights competes in an aluminum-bat league.

"It's just a really good group of guys," Hodges said. "Nothing against Fairview Heights, but I had a lot of fun playing with them [the Capahas] last year.

"I also wanted to swing wood all summer."

Hodges figures using wood bats regularly will help prepare him if another shot at professional baseball arises.

Hodges thought he had a solid pro opportunity earlier this year when he signed with an independent team in Long Beach, Calif., but he was released before getting a chance to show what he could do.

"After I got released, I called skip [Bolen] and said I wanted to come play for him," Hodges said.

Hodges, the only Plaza Tire player to appear in all 22 games, is second on the team with a .423 batting average.

Hodges leads the Capahas with four home runs, 24 RBIs and 27 runs scored, while tying for the lead with six doubles.

"Not only is he a very good ballplayer, but he's a good guy," Bolen said. "The guys on the team really like him."

Hodges, a native of Michigan City, Ind., moved to Cape Girardeau from St. Louis to join the Capahas. He is working at Cape Electrical Supply.

The 24-year-old Hodges would love another crack at pro baseball — "I hope to get a shot. You always have that hope." — but in the meantime he's content with his new home and new team.

"I'm enjoying myself," he said.