The Catfish Reel.
Your Catfish Baseball News.

ALTON, IL (July 17) – There’s nothing like a weekend off in the middle of a grueling 58 game Prospect League season. The Catfish have led the league from the first crack of the bat, winning 12 straight on their way to a 22-6 first half. They did exactly what they wanted to do, win the first half and they will host a playoff game Sunday August 6th. But at 6-6 for the second half, you could tell they needed a breather and that’s just what they got. It wasn’t good news for a struggling Alton team who was the recipient of a beat down at home. An 18 hit, 13 run barrage was way overdue for the Catfish. The Catfish were 3-1 going into the game at Alton tonight, all three wins at Alton. Make it 4 straight wins at Alton. Alton travels to Cape for games Wednesday and Friday this week.

It was a pitchers duel early as Gadberry (MAC) for the Catfish making his 3rd start matched zeros with Jackson Parrill (Lewis and Clark CC) . Gadberry looking very sharp for the second straight outing gave up nothing on 3 hits and a walk. Parrill dodged traffic all night but Alton has given up a lot of big innings and the first big inning was the 6th when the Catfish put up a 7 piece nugget.

The inning began with Carinci (Eastern Kentucky) singling, followed by an infield single from Chrisman (Purdue) and a walk to Landon Godsey (Belmont) to load the bases with no outs. In stepped Lane Crowden (University of Southern Indiana) who hit a hard ground ball that took a crazy hop over the head of the River Dragon third basemen for a 1-0 Catfish lead. Jeff Clarke (Belmont) who has batted in the two hole most of the season was moved back into the seven hole. He took the second pitch of the at bat deep over the right centerfield wall. He stood and watched and did a bat flip and this game was 5-0 just like that. After a pitching change to Gasser ( ), Sutherland (MO State) walked and Tucker Stockman (Southern Miss) put his second homer of the season deep into the left centerfield night, making it 7-0 Catfish.

Dante Zamudio (Los Angeles Pierce College) relieved Gadberry in the 5th and kept putting up zeros for the Fish. In the 8th, the Catfish struck for six more runs. Stockman led of with a double off the left centerfield wall, Chris Hall (Lincoln Memorial University) walked. MacCarthy (University of Tenn Southern) doubled to right center scoring both runners and making it 9-0 Catfish. Carinci singled but MacCarthy was hosed at home for out number one. Chrisman singled making it first and third with one out. Godsey got into the action by singling in Carinci for an rbi and a 10-0 lead. Lane Crowden then hit a 3-run no doubter to left centerfield for the 3rd Catfish home run of the night and a 13-0 lead.

Just when you thought it would be a run rule game after 8 innings, the left for dead River Dragons came to life off Bryce Morgan (MAC). Morgan was sailing along with two outs and one on and a strike away until the wheels fell off and two home runs and five runs later we were headed to the 9th with the Catfish comfortably ahead 13-5. The Catfish put up one more run in the top of the 9th making it 14-5.

With eight games this week, five at home and a double header in O’Fallon on Thursday, Scott Little turned to Kolten Poorman (Eastern Illinois) to finish the game off. It was KP’s 3rd appearance of the season and he’s yet to be touched for a run. Poorman closed it out with 2 strikeouts and just like that the Fish start this week off with a win.

GAME NOTES:

The Catfish are in a battle with Clinton who are in town for the only time tomorrow night. The Catfish are now 29-12, best record in the league and Clinton is 25-15, 3.5 games behind the Fish who are trying to assure home games all the way till the end. Chillicothe is 28-13 in the East, 1 game behind the Catfish for the best record over. That would only come into play if these two teams met in the championship series.

The Catfish have eight games this week, five at the pond and three on the road including tonight and a scheduled DH at O’Fallon Thursday. Tomorrow night is a special themed jersey night as the Catfish support the Alzheimer’s awareness program here locally. Players will wear a purple jersey and hat courtesy of Ozarc gas who is helping sponsor the evening. Buy your favorite players jersey of their back and get a picture and autograph after the game. Proceeds going to Alzheimer’s awareness. It’s also Bark in the Park Tuesday night.

Wednesday is Matinee as the SEMO football team and coach Tuke enjoy the Southeast Health Home Run deck. Cape Parks & Rec Day at the park, all kids wearing their parks & rec tee-shirt get free admission to the game. There will be a free movie played in the outfield, open to anyone around 9pm. The blockbuster Maverick Top Gun will be the feature. Various food trucks will be on hand as well.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday are all home games for the Fish as well. It’s Catfish family fun weekend. Kelli the Clown will be making balloon animals and Sugar Chic will be in the park as well as WAT’S KNOTS pretzels. The weekend finishes with FCA night at the park Sunday evening. The first 200 grade school/high school students get in free and get a free tee shirt courtesy of the Catfish, FCA and Edge Realty. A great week of baseball at Capaha, come on out!!