Home Runs Power Catfish to 9-3 Win Over Bees
BURLINGTON, IA (June 16) – A trio of Catfish – Lane Crowden, Landon Godsey and Curry Sutherland – hit their first home runs of the season and starting pitcher Dylan Peck picked up his third win as Cape defeated the Burlington Bees 9-3 Friday night.
With the win, Cape’s record improved to 13-1, good for first place in the Prospect League’s Prairie Land Division, while Burlington dropped to 4-9 in the league’s Great Rivers Division.
The Catfish got on the scoreboard first Friday night when center fielder Chris Hall, who has been on base in every game this season, hit a two-out infield single in the top of the 3rd and scored when the next batter, right fielder Jeff Clarke, singled to center.
The Bees answered in the bottom of the 3rd with a two-out RBI double to center by first baseman Mason Schwalbach that drove second baseman Jaden Hackbarth who had reached base on one of two walks Peck issued in his five innings on the mound. That would be the only run Peck would surrender.
The 4th inning started quietly for the Catfish with two of their best hitters, shortstop Justin Carinci and left fielder Brody Chrisman, flying out to right and grounding out to second respectively, but a walk to Godsey and a single by second baseman Kevin McCarthy set the table for third baseman Lane Crowden who sent a pitch from Bees Starter Jacob Zahner over the left field wall, giving the Fish a 4-1 lead.
Cape added three more runs in the 5th when Clarke led off with an infield single, advanced to second when Chrisman walked, and then scored on a fielding error by Bees shortstop Kooper Schulte. The next batter, Godsey, then homered to left, making the score 7-1 after 5.
Sutherland joined the home run parade when he led off the 6th inning with a solo shot over the center field fence to increase Cape’s leade to 8-1. It was the second time in less than a week Cape has hit three home runs in a game. Last Sunday, June 10, the Fish had three round-trippers, all hit by Brody Chrisman.
Burlington cut into Cape’s lead with a run in their half of the 6th when Schulte scored on a sacrifice fly hit by catcher Jackson Fisher. They added one more run in the 7th when Hackbarth doubled to left then scored when Schulte, with two outs, singled to center. Both runs were scored off Catfish reliever Kam Dohogne
The Catfish scored their ninth run in the top of the 8th when Chrisman crossed the plate on McCarthy’s sacrifice fly.
In addition to their home runs, Godsey and Sutherland also hit doubles for the Catfish. McCarthy, Crowden and catcher Cal Kilgore each had a stolen base for the Catfish while Hall added two more steals to his league-leading 17 stolen base total.
Peck, Cape’s starting pitcher, is tied for the league lead in wins with a 3-0 record. In his four appearances so far this season, two as a starter, he has given up nine hits over 15 innings and allowed just two runs for an ERA of 1.20.
Zahner was tagged with the loss for the Bees, giving up eight hits and seven runs (six earned) in four-and-a-third innings. His record is now 0-1.
The Catfish continue their weekend roadtrip with games Saturday and Sunday against the Quincy Gems in Quincy, Illinois. They return to Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau to take on the Thrillville Thrillbillies from Marion, Illinois, on Monday.
Tickets for the Monday’s 6:35 p.m. game are available through the Catfish website, www.capecatfish.com.