Capahas thankful to have ace back

~ Plaza Tire won its opener 11-10 on a walk-off single

Anthony Maupin took last summer off from pitching to travel around the world.

Maupin displayed little rust Friday night as the Plaza Tire Capahas opened their season with a wild 11-10 win over the visiting Valmeyer (Ill.) Lakers.

Although Maupin didn't figure into the decision, primarily due to shaky defense, he was impressive in his first mound appearance in nearly two years.

"It's great to be back," Maupin said.

Maupin, a 6-foot-7 right-hander who pitched for Southeast Missouri State, allowed five hits and two earned runs in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out five, walked two and hit a batter.

"I felt good," Maupin said. "I ran out of gas toward the end, but I couldn't ask for a better outing."

Maupin went 10-0 as the Capahas' ace in 2008. Last season he was busy on a trip he had mapped out for some time.

"I went on a trip around the world with a friend and visited 14 countries in 2 1/2 months," Maupin said. "It had been planned for about two years and I was glad to finally make it a reality."

Maupin, a Florida native, is happy not only to be back with the Capahas but also back in Cape Girardeau. He recently moved back after living and working in Jefferson City, Mo.

"I enjoy the town and my fiancee's here," said Maupin, who has two degrees from Southeast and is scheduled to be married in the next few weeks.

Maupin had a strong college career, leading Southeast in wins as a junior in 2004 (8-7) following his transfer from an Alabama junior college. He missed 2005 with an injury but again led Southeast in wins as a senior in 2006 (7-5).

Maupin then was stellar in several seasons with the Capahas before sitting out last summer. Plaza Tire manager Jess Bolen is glad to have his ace back.

"I thought he threw great," Bolen said. "It's good to have him with us again. He's a very good pitcher."

Maupin left Friday's game in the seventh inning with a 6-2 lead, but Valmeyer scored five unearned runs in the frame to go ahead 7-6. Three of those runs were charged to Maupin.

The Capahas allowed an unearned run in the ninth inning -- set up when right fielder Clint Cashen misjudged a fly ball that went for an error -- as the Lakers forged a 10-10 tie.

Cashen made up for his miscue with a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth.

Jordan Kimball led off with a walk, Paul Johnson sacrificed and Garrett Stevens was walked intentionally to set up a force situation.

Cashen then lined a shot to right-center that scored Kimball.

"I had to come through after I misjudged that fly ball that let them tie it," Cashen said.

Cashen, a first-year Plaza Tire player who recently finished his junior college career at Mineral Area College, went 4 for 5 and drove in three runs.

"He hit the ball very good," Bolen said.

Cashen, among several first-year Capahas, is excited to be part of the squad.

"It's a fun team. Everybody is really nice," Cashen said. "It's hard not to fit in."

Matt Wagner went 3 for 5 with two doubles and three runs scored.

Daryl Graham added two of Plaza Tire's 13 hits, Kimball tripled and had three RBIs and Stevens added two RBIs.

Bolen didn't like his squad's seven errors -- all coming during the final three innings as only three of Valmeyer's 10 runs were earned -- but he anticipated the opener not being very smooth.

"The first game out, you expect errors," Bolen said. "We played good defense the first part of the game, then the last three innings was more what I expected."

Jason Chavez, Plaza Tire's third and final pitcher, notched the win. He allowed an unearned run and no hits in 1 1/3 innings.

Valmeyer 000 011 521 -- 10 9 2

Capahas 000 240 401 -- 11 13 7

WP -- Jason Chavez. LP -- Nick Fannon. 3B -- Jordan Kimball (C). 2B -- Jake Degener (V), Ben Thoma (V), Matt Wagner (C) 2, Daryl Graham (C). Multiple hits -- Valmeyer: Degener 2-3, Sheldon Johns 2-4, Jeremiah Bergheger 2-5, Capahas: Clint Cashen 4-5, Wagner 3-5, Graham 2-4 Records -- Capahas 1-0.