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Catfish manager: No reason to panic following string of narrow losses
Sunday, June 9, 2024
First-year Cape Catfish manager Phil Butler watches his team compete against O'Fallon on Saturday at Capaha Field.
Tony Capobianco ~ Tcapobianco@semoball.com
If something happens a couple of times, it is unusual. But if it occurs five times, then you can safely call it a trend.
The Cape Catfish lost a one-run decision on Saturday at Capaha Field, this time to O’Fallon 6-5, which was the fifth one-run loss of the young season for the team.
“Water finds its level,” first-year Catfish manager Phil Butler said following a 4-3 loss to The Rex on Friday at Capaha Field. “We know these guys can hit. It is just a matter of settling in and getting used to playing here and in summer baseball.”
The offense wasn’t the problem against the Hoots (8-3), and it hasn’t been the issue in most of those narrow defeats.
The Catfish (3-7) led 5-3 in the ninth inning but committed a pair of errors and allowed a stolen base by former Jackson High standout Braden Hackworth, who had two hits, scored once and had an RBI in the O’Fallon win.
Catfish reliever Arlon Butts also threw a wild pitch in the critical inning, as well as gave up the eventual game-winning hit, a home run.
“We’re going to be just fine,” Butler said.
In the other defeats, the Catfish led 6-2 against Jackson before allowing the Rockabillys to score five runs in the bottom of the ninth inning and winning 7-6.
Cape later led the Rockabillys 4-1 before eventually losing 5-4, and on Friday, Cape had two outs in the final inning before allowing a walk and committing its fourth error of the game which contributed to the defeat.
“I’m not worried at all,” Butler said. “These guys play hard. If we play a little bit cleaner defense (against The Rex), we probably win.
“I’m not worried. There is no reason to panic.”
The Catfish had led 3-0 and 5-1 before the Hoots rallied to score in each of their final four innings.
Cape utilized five pitchers, including getting a solid outing from starter Ty Allen (two innings, one hit allowed, no runs).
Alex Kowalski paced the Catfish offense with three hits, one run, and an RBI while Corbin Mallott (one hit, one run, one walk), Bryce Cannon (one hit), Breck Nowick (two hits, one run, one RBI, one walk), Trace Harrington (one hit, one RBI, one walk), Lane Crowden (one run), Hayden Nazerenus (two hits, one run, one RBI, one walk), Carson McCaleb (one walk), and Henley Parker (one hit) also contributed.
Nowick notched a double while Cape stole six bases with Mallott, Kowalski, Crowden, Nazerenus, McCaleb, and Parker each getting a theft.
The game between the two Missouri-based franchises is part of the MRV Banks Show Me Slugfest, a seven-game series throughout this summer between the Prospect League's only two Missouri teams.
The two teams play again today at 6:35 p.m. in O'Fallon. The first team to four at the end of the season will win a trophy.