The Catfish Reel.
Your Catfish Baseball News.

Cape Girardeau, MO (July 19th) It was all smiles Wednesday afternoon at Capaha field. The Catfish pitching staff is heads a tails above the rest of the prospect league, Wednesday afternoon they showed again why they own the best ERA (3.56), WHIP (1.37) and best over all record (31-12). The Fish are 9-6 in the second half, winners of three straight and they own a two game lead for best overall record over the Chillicothe Paints of the Eastern Division.

For the 6th time this season, the Catfish pitched a shutout, this time Ochoa led the charge as he got his 4th win against one loss on the season. Ochoa who recently signed to play at Cumberland College, has shined all summer for the Catfish. 10 appearances, 34.1 innings pitched and he’s given up only eight earned runs and an ERA of 2.10 and a WHIP of 1.11 (best on the team). Wednesday afternoon, after an hour rain delay, Ochoa took the mound and took command from the start. He ended the day after five innings, getting the win and giving up only two hits, one walk and striking out four.

Meanwhile, the catfish offense went to town on the River Dragons who are struggling this season under new manager Scotty Scott. The Catfish pounded out nine runs on 12 hits and drew four walks and had three players hit by pitches. Caden Bogenpohl (MO State) got the offense started as he got a rare start in RF. He singled to start the second inning, Poorman (Eastern Illinois) singled and then Danneman (Hanover College) followed with an rbi single scoring Bogey. Chris hall (Lincoln Memorial University) bounced an infield single and scored Kilgore (Arkansas) who reached on a fielders choice making it 2-0 Fish.

In the bottom of the 3rd, Jeffries was hit by a pitch, Bogenpohl singled again and Zamudio walked loading the bases. With two outs, Killgore and Danneman were hit by pitches giving each an rbi and making it 4-0 Catfish after three innings.

The Catfish would tack on four more in the bottom of the 5th, the big blow coming off the bat of local star Quinton Borders (Crowder) one of the three Jackson high school players starting for the Catfish on Wednesday. Bogenpohl was in RF, Lane Crowden was at SS and Borders got the start at 3B. Borders three run shot over the left center field fence gave the Fish an 8-0 lead and it also made Borders the Garbers Best Dressed Player of the Game.

Cam Dohogne (Columbia College) who is also a local boy from Oran, Mo. who attended Notre Dame HS came in and pitched three scoreless innings lowering his era to 4.91 on the season. Dohogne who has battled back from numerous injuries through his college career has really done a nice job for the Fish. He’s appeared in 12 games, pitching 24 innings and holds a 2-0 record.

With a 9-0 lead in the top of the 9th, skipper Scott Little gave in and let Jeff Clarke (Belmont) who usually mans RF but had the day off, come out of the bullpen and close out the 9th. “He’s been bugging me all year and his college coach said he could pitch so we let him have a shot”, said Catfish Skipper Scott Little. Clarke got the first Alton batter Bloomer (SIU-E) to ground out to second. Broekemei then reached on a throwing error by Borders. Evola (Webster) reached on a fielders choice making it two outs setting up the final out. With his nasty 68mph curveball, Clarke ended the game by striking out Zupan (Kentucky Wesleyan).

The dugout emptied, the Power-ade cooler of water was dumped on Borders as he put on his first green jacket and kids lined up for autographs from their Catfish hero’s. On a day when Cape Girardeau saw some massive flooding and storms, it ended as it should with the sun shining, everyone smiling and another Catfish victory.

GAME NOTES:

The Catfish are on the road at O’Fallon as they play a scheduled DH vs the Hoots. The Fish are 5-1 vs the Hoots, winning every game played there. The Catfish are back home for three games this weekend. Alton comes to town Friday night as its River Radio Rally Towel night. First 300 fans in attendance receive a catfish rally towel. Saturday and Sunday the Normal Cornbelters are at the pond for the only time this season. Saturday Kelly the Clown will be at the park making balloon animals for the kids and Sugar Chic will be at the game as well. Sunday is FCA night at the ballpark and the first 200 grade school and high school students get in free and get a very cool Catfish/FCA tee shirt courtesy of Edge Realty of Cape.