Bogenpohl Gets 9 Ks in 4 Frames For His 1st Win
CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (July 7) – The Catfish became the first team in the Prospect League to record 25 wins this season with an 10-3 victory over the O’Fallon Hoots at Capaha Field Friday night.
The game was close through the first six innings, but the Fish broke it open with five in the 7th and a pair of insurance runs in the 8th. With the win, the Catfish improved to 25-8 and 3-2 in the league’s second half. The Hoots, on the other hand, fell to 16-14 and now have a second-half record of 1-2.
The Hoots scored first Friday night, taking advantage of a leadoff walk in the top of the 1st followed by an RBI double down the left field line by shortstop Tyson Ludwig from Lindenwood University. Ludwig scored moments later thanks to a wild pitch and a passed ball, giving O’Fallon a 2-0 lead after the first half inning.
O’Fallon added an unearned run in the 3rd when designated hitter Michael Long, a freshman at Maryville University, picked up a two-out RBI single to left to make the score 3-0.
The Catfish answered with three runs in their half of the 3rd, the first two on a double to right center by Cape left fielder Brody Chrisman (Purdue) and the third on a sacrifice fly to right by Catfish shortstop Lane Crowden (Southern Indiana).
Catfish starting pitcher Alex Esker, a SEMO State University Redhawk during the school year, lasted three innings, allowing three hits and three runs (two earned) while walking four and striking out three Hoots. He was replaced in the 4th by Caden Bogenpohl, a Missouri State Bear from Jackson, Missouri. He held the Hoots scoreless over the next four innings, striking out nine batters in the process.
Hoots starter, Columbia College junior Pierce Hartmann, lasted five innings, allowing three hits and three earned runs while walking four Catfish and striking out two. He was relieved by Braden Barnard from Maryville University who retired the Fish in order in the 6th. But in the bottom of the 7th, Barnard walked Catfish catcher Cal Kilgore (Arkansas) and right fielder Jeff Clarke (Belmont) to put runners on first and second with no outs.
Barnard was relieved by Caiden Otte from Drury University who struck out the first batter he faced, but then the Catfish “hit parade” began. Center fielder Justin Carinci (Mineral Area College) singled to score Kilgore, Chrisman hit a bloop double down the left field line – his second double of the game – to drive in Clarke, and Crowden tripled to deep center, scoring Carnici and Chrisman. Catfish designated hitter Kolten Poorman from Eastern Illinois University picked up an RBI when he reached base on an infield single that pushed Crowden to the plate.
When the dust had settled, the Fish had sent 10 batters to the plate and scored five runs on four hits and four walks to take an 8-3 lead.
The Fish added two more runs in the 8th without the benefit of a hit when they were issued four walks and a fifth batter was hit by a pitch.
Cameron Marchi, a freshman at St. Charles Community College from Jackson, Missouri, pitched the 9th for the Catfish after being added to the team roster earlier in the day. He recorded a strikeout, allowed one Hoot hit and walked a batter, but also induced fly ball outs to left and right fields to end the game.
The Hoots outhit the Catfish 8 to 7 and both teams committed a fielding error.
Bogenpohl was the winning pitcher, allowing three hits and no runs while walking one and striking out nine Hoots in his four innings on the mound. His record is now 1-0. “It felt really good out there tonight,” he said in a post-game interview. “My slider was sharp and kept them guessing.”
In his six relief appearances for the Catfish, Bogenpohl has allowed just two runs and five hits while striking out 24 batters in his 15 innings of work. His ERA is a microscopic 0.60 and opponents are batting just .102 against him.
In addition to pitching, Bogenpohl has also been in the Catfish lineup as a first baseman and designated hitter. He’s hopeful of hearing his name called in this year’s Major League Baseball draft that begins Sunday. “Possibly on day two or three (of the draft),” he said.
Losing pitcher for the Hoots Friday night was Barnard who was responsible for Cape’s fourth and fifth runs in the 7th inning.
The Catfish have the day off Saturday before hosting the Lucky Horseshoes from Springfield, Illinois, at Capaha Field in a 4:35 p.m. game Sunday. Tickets for that game, and all Catfish home games, can be purchased online through the Catfish website, www.capecatfish.com.
GAME NOTE: Chris Hall from Lincoln Memorial University, who typically plays center field for the Catfish, was inserted as a pinch hitter in the 8th inning Friday night. He drew a walk and has now reached base safely at least once in all 28 games in which he has played either as a starter or as a late-inning pinch hitter.