Catfish win a wild one 15-13 to jump back into 1st Place in the South Division

Cape Girardeau, MO – Sunday, June 22nd

The temperatures were over 110 degress on the field and both teams offenses were hot as well. The Catfish needed a back to back come from behind thriller to take sole possession of the 1st half with four games left and that’s what they did.

Kam Dohogne (Columbia University), a familiar face and name to Catfish fans, signed a contract Saturday afternoon, hopped on the bus and headed to Jackson, Tennessee with his teammates and saw a 6-4 come from behind win. Then he was given the baseball by coach Mac (Gary McClure) Sunday afternoon to see if he could give the Catfish some help on the mound. “I was hoping to throw better and go deeper into the game,” said Dohogne. “I wasn’t sharp today but we won the game and that’s all that matters. I’ll be better in the next start!”

Dohogne was roughed up for nine runs, six earned, in three innings. He allowed 11 hits, struck out two and walked one. “We appreciate him stepping up after not pitching in over a month and giving us as much as he had,” said head coach Gary McClure. “He will be able to help us once he gets a few things worked out. Loved the way he goes about it.”

The Catfish struck for five runs in the first, the big bomb from Catfish first baseman, Brett VonDohlen (Middle Tennessee State), as he connected on a two run blast. The lead would be short lived as Jackson struck for six of their own in the second and would eventually take a 9-5 lead into the bottom of the 6th when the Catfish would send 12 batters to the plate, scoring seven runs. Caleb Champion (Southeast Missouri State) and Kade Smith (Harding Univeristy) would have key hits in the inning as the Catfish took a 12-9 lead into the 7th.

The Rockabillys wouldn’t go away, they plated two more in the 7th and we’d go to the 9th with the Catfish clinging to a 12-11 lead. Superman, Walker Brodt (Winthrop University) would be the arm the Catfish needed as he would eventually pick up the win in a four inning appearance as he was lights out.

“What can you say about the young man,” said McClure. “He gets the save last night in eleven pitches and comes back tonight and throws 4 innings and gets the win, he’s incredible”

Hayden Nazarenus (Western Kentucky University) would come into the game late and he hit a two run homer to walk it off for the Catfish in the bottom of the 11th inning. His teammates would douse him with water and gatorade as they celebrated but Walker Brodt stood there smiling for the second straight night as his right arm helped the Catfish to the two biggest wins of the summer thus far.

The Catfish have a much needed day off Monday and will be back at it Tuesday night at Capaha with a Double Header vs the O’Fallon Hoots. The Catfish are in first place by % points over the Rockabillys with four games left to play. The Thrillbillies and Hoots are 1.5 and 2 games back respectively so it’s anyones race to win. The winner of the first half is guaranteed a playoff spot and a first round home game.