Poorman Sparks Catfish Win in His 2023 Season Debut
CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (June 7) – Welcome back, Kolten Poorman!
In his first game since rejoining the Catfish roster, the Eastern Illinois infielder and Catfish veteran reached base three times Wednesday night at Capaha Park with a walk, a single and a two-run double that helped secure a 6-1 win over the Danville Dans. It was the seventh straight win for the Catfish who are now 7-0 to open their 2023 Prospect League season.
Poorman’s double highlighted a four-run sixth inning for the Catfish in a game that until that point had been a low-scoring affair.
As they’ve done in every game this season, the Catfish scored first Wednesday night when, in the first inning, Cape center fielder and lead-off batter Chris Hall (Lincoln Memorial University) hit the first pitch he saw into center field. He promptly stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error by Dans catcher Sammy Leis (Alabama) and scored on a one-out RBI single by shortstop Justin Carinci (Eastern Kentucky).
The Fish added another run in the third when Hall doubled home third baseman Quinton Borders (Crowder College) who had walked to lead off the inning.
Catfish starting pitcher Jordan Riley (University of Nevada) making his second mound appearance this season, allowed four hits and one run while striking out three and walking one in his four innings of work. The one run he allowed was scored in the fourth inning on a two-out double by Dans left fielder Blake Binderup (Texas A&M) that cut the Catfish lead to 2-1.
A pair of Catfish relief pitchers, Eddie White (Southeast Missouri State) and Curry Sutherland (Missouri State) pitched a combined five innings of shutout ball, allowing just one Danville hit in their five innings of work.
Danville starter Caleb Pittman (Auburn) took the loss, allowing six Catfish hits and three earned runs while walking four and striking out no one in five-and-a-third innings. The loss dropped the Dans record to 4-3.
So far this season, the Catfish are averaging nearly 11.5 runs a game (including four consecutive seven-inning games shortened due to the Prospect League’s mercy rule). The Fish have outscored their opponents by a combined score of 80-17 and lead the league in team batting average (.395) and earned run average (2.62).
Cape’s next game is Thursday night at Capaha Field against Rex Baseball from Terre Haute, Indiana. The game has been designated Window World Night with the first 500 general admission fans admitted free courtesy of Window World. The gates at Capaha Field will open one hour before the 6:35 p.m. game time.