Catfish finally beat the Rockabillys
Catfish score early and hang on
Cape Girardeau, MO (June 4, 2024) The Prospect League schedule makers had the Jackson Rockabillys and the Cape Catfish playing four times in the first six games. Through the first two meetings, Jackson had Capes number. Sunday afternoon, the Catfish flipped the script.
Jorge Romero, the Prospect Leagues ERA leader from 2023, picked up where he left off. He went four innings in his first start giving up no runs in four innings. Sunday, he was touched for four runs, three earned all in the second inning but he stuck around and completed five and got a no-decision. The Catfish bullpen went to work the last four innings making sure not another Rockabilly scored.
First out of the pen is was newcomer Drew Wedgeworth, who is committed to Missouri State in the fall. He got in a bit of a jam in the 6th but wiggled out and then pitched a flawless 7th. In the bottom of the 7th, the Catfish struck for two runs. Corbin Mallot (pronounced Ma-lot), just rolled in from Purdue University at game time. He put on his #6 jersey amd met his new teammates in the bottom of the 1st. In the 7th he went in to pinch hit and drew a walk. He quickly stole second. After Parker struck out swinging, Alex Kowalski, the Catfish’s leading hitter, laced a triple into the right field corner. After Crowden walked, the kid from down under, Harry Hayman, doubled off the wall for another rbi.
In the top of the 8th, coach Butler went to Walker Brodt, the freshman from Winthrop. Brodt who looked unhittable in his first outing, looked sharp again Sunday. With one out, Carter doubled in the gap for the Billys. Brodt buckled down and got the next two hitters to end the threat. The Fish tallied two more in the bottom of the 8th to take an 8-4 lead into the 9th. Brodt came out and induced Racherbau to ground into a double play to end the game.
Wedgeworth picked up his first Catfish win and Brodt picked up his first Catfish save. After the game, for the first time ever, there were duel Garber’s Best Dressed Players of the Game. Both Corbin Mallot and Lane Crowden received Green Jackets. Crowden because he hit his first bomb of the season and was on base three times and Mallot for driving 6+ hours, getting out of his car and contributing big.
The Catfish had a nice Sunday afternoon crowd of about 500 and finished week 1 of the season 3-2. They go back down to Jackson, TN for the 3rd time in a week to play the Rockabillys.