Capahas overcome sloppy defense in sweep

Blake Gaddis considers it an honor to be competing for the Plaza Tire Capahas. So far he has more than held up his end of the bargain.

Gaddis, a Notre Dame Regional High School graduate, is among several Plaza Tire rookies playing well through the early part of the season.

On a sweltering Saturday afternoon at Capaha Field, Gaddis had a hot performance at the plate to help Plaza Tire notch a sloppy doubleheader sweep of the St. Louis Golden Spikes.

The Capahas took both seven-inning, wood-bat games by one run, 10-9 and 11-10, as the teams combined for 16 errors, eight by each squad.

"It was sloppy, but a win's a win," said Capahas manager Jess Bolen, whose club improved to 6-1. "Come July or August, you won't even remember how you won these games."

Plaza Tire's Paul Johnson lays down a bunt during the third inning of Saturday's first game against the St. Louis Golden Spikes at Capaha Field. (KRISTIN EBERTS ~ kebertssemissourian.com)

Gaddis went 4 for 7 in the twin bill with a team-leading five runs batted in. He tripled, doubled and had two RBIs in the opener, then singled twice and had three RBIs in the finale.

"I felt good," Gaddis said. "I try not to do too much because we have hitters up and down the lineup."

Gaddis played the past two summers for the Charleston Senior Babe Ruth program. He attended the Capahas' open tryout before this season and impressed Bolen enough to earn a roster spot.

"It's awesome," Gaddis said. "It's an honor to play for a team with so much tradition."

Gaddis, who graduated from Notre Dame in 2008, attended Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo., as a freshman. He intended to play baseball for that NAIA program but a preseason injury foiled those plans.

Capahas starting pitcher Dustin Hunter delivers during the fifth inning of Saturday's first game.

Gaddis spent the past school year at Southeast Missouri State but did not play baseball.

"He's done a good job for us," Bolen said. "I don't know if surprised is the right word, but pleasant surprise if it's a kid you don't know that well."

Gaddis has played a variety of positions with the Capahas so far, including the outfield, second base and third base. He started both games Saturday at second base but later moved to third in both contests.

"I'm having a lot of fun," Gaddis said. "It's hard not to fit in. Everybody is great."

Asked if he has been surprised by his solid early season play, Gaddis said: "To be honest, I didn't really know what to expect. I figured I'd give it all I had. If it was good enough, it was good enough."

Sean Bard matched Gaddis' four hits Saturday as he went 2 for 4 in both games.

The Capahas were able to sweep despite being outhit in both contests, 12-10 in the opener and 9-7 in the nightcap.

Plaza Tire led 8-2 after two innings of the first game but had to hold on after the Golden Spikes (18-9) pulled within 8-7 in the sixth and 10-9 in the seventh.

Josh Parham recorded the final out with runners on second and third to earn a save for winner Dustin Hunter, who went five innings.

Hunter allowed six hits and three runs, two earned. He struck out two and walked three.

After giving the Golden Spikes five unearned runs in the opener, the Capahas were even more generous in the nightcap as the visitors scored only two earned runs.

But the Golden Spikes also helped out Plaza Tire in the finale by issuing a whopping 13 walks and allowing two unearned runs -- the tying and winning tallies.

"It wasn't pretty, but we'll take it," Bolen said.

The Capahas scored a run in the sixth inning without a hit to forge a 10-10 tie.

Bard led off the seventh inning with a single but was forced at second base on Brad LaBruyere's sacrifice attempt.

Drew Pixley was hit by a pitch and Greg Craft's ground ball to shortstop was thrown away as LaBruyere scored all the way from second with the winning run.

Stan Skakalski pitched two scoreless innings for the victory, allowing one hit with two strikeouts and one walk.

Kirk Boeller worked the first five innings. He allowed 10 runs but only two were earned. He gave up eight hits, walked four and struck out one.

Hunter belted a fifth-inning homer to make it 10-9. It was the day's only home run.

The second game was marred by Josh Eftink, among the Capahas' top hitters, being spiked around the hand on a fourth-inning steal attempt at third base as he applied the tag. Eftink had to leave the contest.

Plaza Tire closes out a five-game weekend homestand today with a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Springfield, Ill.

Game 1

Golden Spikes 110 104 2 -- 9 12 3

Capahas 260 002 x -- 10 10 4

WP --Dustin Hunter. LP -- Craig Floyd. S -- Josh Parham. 3B -- A.J. Mertz (GS), Blake Gaddis (C). 2B -- Mike Tallis (GS), Gaddis (C), Sean Bard (C). Multiple hits -- Golden Spikes: Tallis 4-4, Mertz 3-4. Capahas: Clint Cashen 2-3, Gaddis 2-4, Bard 2-4, Drew Pixley 2-4. Records -- Golden Spikes 18-8, Capahas 5-1.

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Game 2

Golden Spikes 100 630 0 -- 10 9 5

Capahas 113 311 1 -- 11 7 4

WP -- Stan Skakalski. LP -- Scott Sittel. HR -- Dustin Hunter (C). 3B -- Justin Lilly (GS). 2B -- Sittel (GS) 2, Daryl Graham (C), Garrett Stevens (C). Multiple hits -- Golden Spikes: Sittel 2-4, Lilly 2-4, Brandon Smith 2-4. Capahas: Blake Gaddis 2-3, Sean Bard 2-4. Records -- Golden Spikes 18-9, Capahas 6-1.