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Your Catfish Baseball News.

DANVILLE, IL (June 25) – For the first time this summer, the Cape Catfish have suffered back-to-back losses, falling Sunday night to the Danville Dans 13-5 on the road after losing 5-1 to the Alton River Dragons at home the night before.

Sunday’s loss was also the second time this season the Catfish have been defeated by the Dans.

But with a record of 19-4, the Fish still own a commanding lead in the 17-team Prospect League standings and remain in first place in the league’s Prairie Land Division. Meanwhile, the Dans, who had a slow start to their season, have now won eight straight games and now have a 13-10 record, good for first place in the Great River’s Division

The Dans scored an unearned run in the opening inning Sunday night when leadoff batter Justin Vossos from Texas A&M walked, took second on a passed ball, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a pitch that dribbled away from Catfish catcher and Arkansas Razorback Cal Kilgore.

Danville picked up another run in the 2nd on a two-out RBI single by second baseman Robert Castillo from Long Beach State that allowed J.T. Waldon, the Dans’ first baseman from Folsom Lake College, to score. Waldon had led off the inning with a one of the two walks issued by Catfish starter Caden Bogenpohl, a freshman at Missouri State from Jackson.

The Dans doubled their lead in the 4th when, with two outs, Vossos doubled to right center, scoring a pair of Nates – third baseman Nate Chester (Mississippi State) and catcher Nate Vargas (Folsom Lake College) – both of whom had singled earlier in the frame.

Danville took a 4-0 lead into the 5th, but with one out Danville starting pitcher Carter Heninger, also from Folsom Lake College, hit both Kilgore and the next batter, left fielder Jeff Clarke from Belmont. Catfish shortstop Creek Robertson from Southern Miss then singled off of Heninger’s leg to not only load the bases but also knock Heninger out of the game.

With the bases jammed, Catfish left fielder Justin Carinci from Mineral Area College hit relief pitcher Jake Inman’s first pitch into left, driving Kilgore home. Clarke then scored from third on a wild pitch which also allowed carinci and Robertson to advance to second and third, respectively. With two runners in scoring position, designated hitter and Purdue freshman Brody Chrisman came to the plate, looking drive in one or more Catfish runners…and that’s just what he did. Chrisman hit a sharp grounder to Waldon at first and not only beat out Waldon’s throw to Inman covering the base, but also advanced to second on Waldon’s throwing error. The hit drove in Robertson and the error allowed Carinci to score as well.

Cape took a 5-4 lead in the 6th when Catfish right fielder Dante Zamudio from Los Angeles Pierce College hit a one-out double and scored from second on a single by Clarke off shortstop Justin Vossos’ glove.

But the Dans took advantage of timely hitting, lucky bounces, walks and some Catfish misplays to score nine unaswered runs – two in the bottom of the 6th, four in the 7th and three more in the 8th – to take a 13-5 lead. Danville’s two runs in the 6th came on Vossos’ second two-RBI double of the game while two of the Dans’ 8th inning runs scored on a one-out double to the wall in right center by Vargas which made the score 13-5.

Robertson picked up a single for the Catfish in the 9th, giving him three hits in his five plate appearances, but Cape’s other three batters in the inning – Quinton Borders pinch hitting for Clarke, Kaden Jeffries pinch hitting for Carinci and Chrisman – all struck out. All told, Danville pitchers struck out 13 Catfish batters.

The final line score was five runs on 11 hits with one error for the Catfish while the Dans had 13 runs on 12 hits while also committing an error.

Inman, 1-0, got the win for Danville, allowing five Catfish hits and two runs while striking out four and walking none during his 2 2/3 innings. Catfish reliever Raymond Ochoa took the loss and is now 2-1. He went 3 1/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits while walking two and striking out three Dans.

The Catfish have an off-day Monday before taking on the Jackson, Tennessee, Rockabillys at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

Tickets are available online through the Catfish website, www.capecatfish.com.

GAME NOTES: Catfish shortstop Creek Robinson and right fielder Dante Zamudio had impressive catches in the 5th inning against the Dans that likely saved at least one run. Robinson’s was a running over-the-shoulder catch with his back to the infield for the first out of the inning while Zamudio’s was a in the right field corner as he ran into the wall near the foul pole.