Catfish arms tiring as skid reaches four games

Cape Catfish pitcher Blake Kincaid throws in a recent game against Danville at Capaha Field. Kincaid worked six innings against Alton on Saturday.

Tony Capobianco ~ Tcapobianco@semoball.com

Throughout the recent four-game losing skid by the Cape Catfish, there have been some overriding themes.

The defense has been shaky – at times – but the biggest culprit has been a tired pitching staff, according to first-year Catfish manager Phil Butler.

“Those guys,” Butler said of his team’s arms, “are getting a little tired.”

That showed on Saturday, as the Catfish fell to Alton 9-2 at Capaha Field.

The loss was the fourth consecutive for Cape (15-19 overall, 1-4 second half), as it committed three errors and allowed six earned runs.

“The last four or five days,” Butler continued, “we haven’t been playing very good defense behind (the pitchers), and that is a big part of it.”

During the streak, the Catfish have allowed 43 runs, 36 of which were earned, and committed eight combined errors in two of the contests.

Against the River Dragons (14-15, 1-2), the Catfish fell behind 3-0 by the third inning before scoring twice in the seventh inning, as recent signee Owen Henne connected for a two-run double that scored former Cooter High standout Hayden Nazerenus and JJ Williams.

However, Alton, which was actually the home team on Saturday due to a massive sinkhole collapsing near their stadium recently, answered with two runs in the bottom of that inning and was never threatened again.

“A couple of our top guys have not been here for the last week,” Butler said, “and that taxes your bullpen.”

Butler said relievers Korey Bunselmeyer and Arlon Butts, who have combined for nearly 27 innings this summer, will return to the club this week, as will infielders Lane Crowden (a team-high 24 hits) and Brooks Kettering, who is hitting .295.

“We’re getting those guys back (today),” Butler said. “Our plan is that this week is the week that we roll.”

Henne continued his great start to his Catfish career on Saturday. In five games, he has hit .300 and had three hits and a couple of RBI to pace the offense against the River Dragons.

Moises Rosario added two hits while Williams (one hit, one run), and Nazerenus (one run, one walk) also contributed.

Cape starter Blake Kincaid worked six innings and allowed seven hits and four earned runs while walking one and striking out two.

Catfish reliever Walker Brodt closed the game by giving up two hits in one inning and four runs, but just one was earned.

Cape will open a three-game homestand on Monday against the Thrillville Thrillbillies (22-11, 1-5) at Capaha Field at 6:35 p.m.