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DANVILLE, IL (July 26th) – The Danville Dans are the only team to truly manhandle the Catfish this season. The last time the Catfish faced the Dans was at their place on June 25th and the Dans spanked the Catfish 13-5. The Catfish had a little revenge on their minds as they traveled their longest bus trip of the season back to Danville.

The Catfish had plenty of chances against the Dans starter Jack Pottieger a freshman at Eastern Illinois, the 6’6″ LHP worked around traffic every inning but held the Catfish scoreless through five. The big lefty hadn’t fared well this summer in six starts he was 0-2 with a 7.40 era but those are the pitchers the Catfish have struggled with recently.

A one out walk to Kevin McCarthy (University of Tennessee Southern) was erased when Pottieger got the red hot Justin Carinci to ground into an inning ending double play. A one out walk in the top of the 2nd to Kolten Poorman (Eastern Illinois) didn’t produce a run as Tucker Stockman (Southern Mississippi) grounded out and Curry Sutherland (Mo State) getting his first start at first base popped up.

Quinton Borders (Crowder) who has been very good this season in limited playing time, led off the 3rd inning with a double. Jeff Clarke (Belmont) had a productive out, grounding out to second, moving Borders to 3rd. Chris Hall (Lincoln Memorial University) lined out to second and McCarthy grounded out to second ending that threat.

Top of the 4th a lead off single by Carinci was erased in a double play ball from Lane Crowden (University of Southern Indiana). Poorman walked, Stockman singled but both runners were stranded when Sutherland struck out swinging.

In the top of the 5th, a two out walk to Chris Hall who immediately stole second base, his 35th steal in 39 attempts. Hall was stranded at second when McCarthy flew out to right field.

Meanwhile, Catfish starting pitcher, Dante Zamudio (UC Irvine) who has been the offensive hero as of late, was on the bump starting his 3rd game of the season. Other than the 1st inning when he gave up a run on two hits, he was matching zero’s with the big lefty from Danville as the game entered the bottom of the 5th with the Dans holding a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the 5th, the Dans would tack on an insurance run for Pottieger when Blake Binderup who is a two way guy from Texas A&M led off the inning with a triple to right center. He scored on a sacrifice fly and the Dans were up 2-0 heading into the 6th. That’s when the Catfish bats made a little noise.

A one out double from Lane Crowden off the left field wall, he later scored on a two out double into the left field corner from Stockman who has been one of the Catfish hottest bats. He came home when Curry Sutherland hit an rbi single to right and just like that the Fish were tied at two heading into the bottom of the 6th. That’s when Scott Little went to his bullpen and brought in a well rested local Chaffee pitcher, Breven Yarbro (William Jewel) who had a good outing his last time out.

Yarbro had a great start of the season for the Catfish but the Dans wouldn’t be kind to Yarbro. Trenton Pallas (High Point) singled to lead off the inning, followed by a single from Chase Vinson (Morehead State) that sent Pallas to 3rd. Pallas scored on a wild pitch making it 3-2 Dans. The next batter, Cole Tremain (Baylor) singled sending Vinson to 3rd. Nate Vargas (Folsom State College) doubled to center scoring Vinson and leaving runners at 2nd and 3rd with no outs. Yarbro was pulled giving up two runs on four hits and never recording an out.

Cameron Marchi (St. Charles CC) who joined the Catfish a few weeks ago came into a 2nd and 3rd with no one out situation and got the first two batters to fly out, scoring another run for the Dans, run charged to Yarbro. He then got a strikeout to end the rally. A very nice job by Marchi to keep the Catfish in the game but a 5-2 lead for the Dans.

The Catfish didn’t lay down. Connor Nation (Louisiana Tech) came in the game for the Dans relieving Pottieger who went six only giving up two runs. Clarke quickly greeted him with a leadoff double. Hall and McCarthy both recorded outs but just as the Catfish had done in the 6th, they did their damage with two outs. Carinci hit a little bleeder into CF scoring Clarke making it 5-3. Lane Crowden who is catching fire as of late hit his 2nd double of the game into the left centerfield gap scoring Carinci making it 5-4. Poorman flew out to end the inning but the Fish were back in it only down 5-4.

Marchi marched back out for the 7th and set the Dans down in order 1-2-3 and the game moved into the 8th with the Catfish down 5-4. Cole Tremain from Baylor came in from the DH role to close this one out for the Dans. It was his 7th appearance with two saves so far this season. The Baylor hurler looked overpowering as he struck out Stockman looking and got Curry Sutherland swinging. Borders grounded out to short and the Dans headed to the bottom of the 8th still up one.

Little sent Marchi out there for his 3rd inning of relief, his longest stint thus far and Cole Tremain from Baylor who already had a couple hits, hit a bomb to right center and gave himself an insurance run as he was the DH and closer. Turns out he wouldn’t need it though as he set down the Catfish in the 9th and made it look easy as he struck out Clarke swinging, Hall and McCarthy flew out and the player of the game with three hits a home run and a six out save from Baylor University is Cole Tremain.

The Catfish finish 1-3 vs Danville and drop to 34-16 on the season, tied again for the best record as the Chillecothe Paints beat the Rockabillies and they moved to 34-16 as well. The fight for the best record in the league will come down to the last eight games of the season. The Catfish have a losing record vs the Eastern Division Wabash group, 4-7 with tonights loss.

The Catfish will get back late tonight and have the day off Thursday before they play all three days this weekend. Friday night will be “Throwback” jersey night as the team will wear the Green jerseys from the Championship team of 2021. Fans can purchase the green jersey the players are wearing or the gold jersey from the championship squad for $75.

GAME NOTES:

Friday’s “Throwback jersey night game is vs the Quincy Gems and WAT’S KNOTS pretzels will be back at the ballpark.

Saturday’s game has the Rockabillies in town and it is FIRST RESPONDERS night. All First Responders get in free with their ID. The Cheesecake Ninja is at the park. Gunnar Knudtson will be doing a free concert at 5:30am when the gate opens up until about 6:15pm.

Sunday’s game has the only team the Catfish hasn’t beaten this season coming in. The Springfield Lucky Horseshoes who are 3-0 vs the Catfish are at the pond. One of best giveaways of the season happens Sunday as Cap America and First State Community Bank team up to give the first 300 fans a very cool Catfish Trucker hat away.

As always tickets are available on capecatfish.com.