Catfish start second half with an 8-7 loss at home to the Thrillbillies
CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO – SATURDAY JUNE 28th, 2025. Reagan Howe
The Catfish are able to go into the second half knowing they have earned a playooff spot and a home playoff game August 1st at Capaha Field. They started the 2nd half just like they did the first half with a home game vs Thrillville. Caden Bogenpohl was playing his last game in a Catfish uniform and the home crowd was ready for a win. In the end, the Fish would come up short but not without some laate inning excitement.
Former Chaffee baseball standout Levi McKinnie (Jefferson College) started for the 1st time on the mound for the Fish and pitched 4.1 innings, allowing seven runs, five earned while striking out one batter and walking none. Joe Metcalf (University of the Pacific), Luis Pezzotti (Oakland City College) and Zach Herb (Seton Hill University) were masterful in 4.2 innings of relief. Allowing only one run on two hits allowing the Catfish offense to mount a comeback.
Catfish took an early lead in the bottom of the 3rd as Cooper Newsom (Harding University) doubled with the bases loaded to bring home 3 batters giving the Fish their only lead of the game at 3-1. The Thrillbillies answered it in the top of the fourth with a 2 run homer to tie the game at three. After that the Catfish committed three errors that led to a six run 4th for the Thrill.
Caden Bogenpohl (Missouri State) was able to get on base and score on a sacrifice fly by Sam Richardson (Jacksonville State) to keep the Fish in the game with a score of 7-4 after four innings.
The Thrillbillies scored a run in the top of the 8th to make it 8-4 but the Catfish answered with three of their own. Local hero, Caden Bogenpohl stepped into the batter’s box with two on and two out and in his last at bat as a Catfish, launched a three run home run to right center making the score 8-7 after eight innings.
That’s all the closer the Catfish would get as Thrillville closer, Jake Gothrup would set the side down in order in the bottom of the 9th to preserve the Thrillville win.