Catfish shutout REX for their 27th win
CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (July 12th) – The Catfish got back to their winning ways with a 6-0 shutout over the REX at Capaha Field Wednesday night, their second shutout this week. The story of the night was pitching as two of each teams best went at it. C.J O’Dell (Lake Michigan College) was on the bump for the REX and Raymond Ochoa (Mineral Area College) was on the hill for the Catfish. Ray, as his teammates call him, made his 9th appearance and 3rd start and it was his most impressive yet and that’s saying something. He pitched 5 2/3 for his 3rd win against 1 loss and gave up 0 runs, 4 hits and 4 walks. There was some traffic on the bases but he was always in control.
A two out double in the top of the first was quickly erased with a strikeout, called 3rd strike of the REX cleanup hitter Karczewsk. The Catfish quickly got on the board with the only run they would need on the night. With one out in the first, Clarke(Belmont University) walked. He stole second on the first pitch to Godsey(Belmont University) and advanced to 3b on an error. After a fly out by Godsey, Justin Carinci(Eastern Kentucky University), who is 3rd in the league with a .394 batting average, drove home his 33rd run of the season to make it 1-0 Catfish.
Both pitchers threw up zeros in the 2nd and 3rd innings but the REX only real threat to score came in the 4th. A one out walk to Karcewski(Purdue Ft. Wayne), a single by Bailey(Chowan) had runners at 1st and 2nd with one out. Wright (Indian River State College) sent a deep fly ball to CF that was almost caught by Catfish CF Chris Hall(Lincoln Memorial University) and all runners had to hold so no runs scored but bases were loaded with only one out. No problem for Ochoa, strike out, ground ball and the score remained 1-0 Fish.
Equally as impressive, with a much different style was REX starter, C.J O’Dell, a Terre Haute native. O’Dell is the ace of the staff but at 5’8″ and 160lbs, looks are deceiving. He never threw a fastball above 74 and his curveball was many times clocked in the mid 50’s as he baffled Catfish hitters for 4 2/3 innings only allowing the one first inning run, on four hits, walking four and striking out none. On the season he leads the REX in appearances(10), innings pitched(26.1) and a very impressive 2.39 era. When I say their styles contrast, here’s what I mean. O’Dell has struck out 8 batters in 26.1 innings while Ochoa has struck out 37 in 29.1 innings. Regardless of what it looks like this was a fun pitchers duel.
The Catfish were able to run O’Dell out of the game in the 5th and then were able to break things open in the 7th off lefty reliever Damon Cox(IU Southeast). Cox gave up a lead off triple to Zamudio(LA Pierce College) in the 7th and then allowed him to score on a wild pitch strikeout making it 2-0 Catfish. Creek Robertson(Southern Miss) who hit two home runs last night walked, advanced to second and third on consecutive wild pitches and came home on a sac fly by Jeff Clarke(Belmont). Hall who had walked tagged from second and advanced to third on the sac fly but was called out for leaving the bag early and it ended the Catfish threat but with a 3-0 lead.
Breven Yarbro (William Jewel College) did a great job in relief as well. He was making his 7th appearance as he helped the Fish out of a two on two out jam in the 6th and then pitched a scoreless 7th for his third hold of the season.
The Catfish would tack on three more runs in the bottom of the eighth when Landon Godsey, one of the teams and leagues most consistent bats, led off with a single, followed by a one out single by Lane Crowden(University of Southern Indiana). Dee Triplett(Cumberland University and Malden native) who had hit the ball hard all night with nothing to show for it hit a laser into right field and loaded the bases. After Zamudio struck out, in stepped incoming freshman for Missouri State, Catfish 3B Curry Sutherland. A wild pitch scored Godsey to make it 4-0 then Sutherland laced a two out, two rbi double to right center scoring Crowden and Triplett making it 6-0 Catfish.
Jordan Riley (Crowder College) relived Yarbro in the 8th and pitched perfect as he didn’t allow any of the six men he faced to reach base and he struck out three.
With the win, the Catfish climb to 27-10, (14-4) home, (13-6) road and still hold the leagues best record. The loss dropped the REX to 12-22 overall and 2-8 in the second half.
The Catfish return to Capaha Field Friday where they play a rare double header. The Catfish were rained out at Thrillville July 1st and because the Fish no longer play over there this season, league rules dictate the next time they face each other the makeup game has to be played. That happens to be this Friday in Cape. The first game will be Thrillville’s home game and will start at 3pm and it will be a 7th inning contest. The regularly scheduled game will stay at 6:35pm and will also be a 7 inning contest. The Thrillbillies come in as the hottest team in the league with an 8-1 second half record and winners of seven straight. The Catfish hope to cool them off.
Tickets for Friday night’s game will get you into both games. Come out early and catch an entire day of Catfish baseball. The park will NOT be cleared after the first game and fans can then stick around for the scheduled nightcap which will feature 3 EAGLES six pack cooler giveaway to the first 350 fans. T-Ravs will also be on hand for the evening. Tickets for Friday’s games and all Catfish home games, can be purchased through the team’s website, www.capecatfish.com.