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Kettering comes home, dominates Prospect League debut in dramatic home victory
Friday, June 14, 2024
Cape's Brooks Kettering fires a throw across the infield during a Thursday, June 13, 2024 game between the Cape Catfish and the Dansville Dans at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Cape defeated Dansville, 7-5.
Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com
The final piece of the puzzle arrived for the Cape Catfish on Thursday, and he didn’t waste any time making his presence known.
Following a brilliant showing at the Fayetteville Regional for Southeast Missouri State earlier this month, Brooks Kettering made his way back to Cape Girardeau, and he put his stamp on his debut.
In a Thursday battle with the Dansville Dans, looking to snap a two-game losing streak, Kettering absolutely dominated Dans pitching to help push the Catfish back into the win column in a 7-5 victory.
Kettering finished his day with an unreal line: A single, two doubles and a home run plus a base on balls to top it all off.
After such a wonderful debut in green and gold, in front of a familiar Capaha Field and a bountiful home crowd ready to see his debut, he was all smiles after the big win.
“It's great,” Kettering said “I love playing in front of these fans and Cape, and this team is very fun to be around, even just being with them today.
“Hopefully, we can turn it around here.”
With such an unbelievable performance in just his first game in a Catfish uniform, coach Phil Butler was also surprised by the immediate success.
A native of Springfield, Missouri, Kettering had a phenomenal first season at Southeast Missouri State, leading the team in hits with 76 with a .308 batting average and nine homers in 2024.
Making the trek back across the state’s border ahead of his Prospect League debut on Thursday, he had immediate success as he carried Cape up and over the Central Division-leading Dans.
For that performance, Butler gave him some major props.
“The kid is unbelievable,” Butler said. “Nobody drives and goes 4-for-4 with a walk, gets on base five times with three extra-base hits.
“I mean, he's probably about five feet away from that last ball tripling and hitting for the cycle in his first game.”
Not only did Butler praise his skill on the diamond, but he’s also gone on the record as a huge fan of Kettering’s personality.
“The kid is an amazing talent, but he's also an incredibly classy guy,” Butler said. “He does everything the right way.
“I've never seen him do anything untoward. It's all class and all talent.”
With such a phenomenal freshman year, Kettering undoubtedly had options when it came to where he’d play summer ball at.
But he was straightforward with his decision, electing to spend the summer playing games at the same stadium he played over the spring.
“I kind of just wanted to stay in Cape, and the Catfish play here,” Kettering said.
“There wasn't a better situation for me. I can just play on my home field, and it's nice.”
Bringing some serious talent back to Cape Girardeau, Kettering enters a highly talented Catfish order that’s shown it has the mettle to compete in the box.
Though the record right now doesn’t reflect that of a championship program, the vibes are still high as ever in the dugout, looking to right the ship.
After his first-ever game as a Catfish, Kettering furthered that sentiment.
“I'm hoping to get more reps and better myself, personally,” Kettering said.
“But for the Catfish, obviously we want to get back on track and hopefully get this thing going and get a championship.”
