Williams has been a "hit" with the Catfish this summer

Cape Catfish hitter JJ Williams connects with a pitch in a recent game against Jackson at Capaha Field.

Tony Capobianco ~ Tcapobianco@semoball.com

As the Cape Catfish summer has turned decidedly in the right direction over the past few weeks, there have been several factors that the Catfish coaching staff can point to as to why that has occurred.

“It has been the attitude that they have been bringing to the ballpark,” first-year Catfish assistant coach Nolan Davenport said following Wednesday’s 16-1 drubbing of Springfield at Capaha Field. “We have been coming out to get the job done and not messing around.”

One of those Catfish players who has never “messed around” since coming to Cape Girardeau in mid-June is JJ Williams.

“JJ has really good, professional at-bats,” Davenport said. “He really doesn’t swing at stuff outside of the (strike) zone.”

Williams, who had a triple in Wednesday’s Game 1 win of the doubleheader, leads Cape (25-24 overall, 11-9 second half) in hitting (.339), hits (42), and is tied for the team lead in doubles (five) and on-base percentage (.422) while ranking second in stolen bases (15) and runs (28).

Davenport explained that the Lee University sophomore has the impressive ability to withhold judgment on a pitch until the very last moment.

“Even on takes, where he doesn’t swing at pitches,” Davenport said, “he’s ready to go. He literally is winding up on his back leg and then can shut down.”

Williams has notched a hit in 13 of the past 15 games, as Cape has won five consecutive outings, and leads the Western Conference South Division by one game over O’Fallon.

“JJ isn’t doing a guessing game out there,” Davenport said.

As impressive as Williams’ bat has been, his defense hasn’t lagged, even though he has battled an “arm issue,” according to Davenport, and he is playing a somewhat unfamiliar position.

At Lee University, an NCAA Division II program in Tennessee, Williams played mostly “on the corners,” meaning left or right field, as well as serving as the designated hitter.

“He’s done well,” Davenport said. “He has said that he is going to go back to center field next year (at Lee), so we have put him out there. He has done a good job of catching fly balls. His arm needs some help, but as far as catching flyballs and tracking them, he’s fine.”

Cape will visit Alton (22-24, 9-11) today at 6:35 p.m.

The Catfish return to Capaha Field on Friday against Alton at 6:35 p.m.