Newest Catfish IF bursts onto the scene and adds to deep talent pool

Cape Catfish shortstop Owen Henne makes a throw in a recent game at Capaha Field.

Tony Capobianco ~ Tcapobianco@semoball.com

Owen Henne has been with the Cape Catfish for just a brief period, but the Pennsylvania native has wasted no time in making a positive impact with his new club this summer.

“He handles the bat well,” first-year Catfish manager Phil Butler said recently of Henne. “He is kind of a line drive, gap-to-gap guy.”

What Henne has done since coming to Cape Girardeau on July 1 is hit the ball.

In five games and 20 at-bats, Henne is pacing Cape (15-19 overall, 1-4 second half) in hitting with a .400 average.

“He has provided a little bit of a different element than we have had before July 1,” Butler continued, “which is good.”

In two of his five outings, Henne has connected for three hits, including his most recent game, a 9-2 loss on Saturday against Alton at Capaha Field.

In total, Henne has amassed eight hits, including a pair of doubles, scored five times, and driven in six runs.

This success shouldn’t be surprising after seeing how Henne transitioned quickly to college baseball this past season.

At NCAA Division II Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Henne started 38 games for one of the best programs in the country at that level.

The Griffins won 41 games this spring and advanced to the NCAA Division II Super Regional.

Henne, a freshman this past season, hit .259, tallied 13 stolen bases, and walked 25 times.

He has played shortstop for the Catfish and hit second, which provides Butler with a bit of a luxury moving forward.

Former Jackson High standout Lane Crowden has also played shortstop this season and leads the team in hits (24), walks (21), and stolen bases (31).

In addition, another Jackson High alum, Henley Parker is second on the team in hits (23) and has played second base this summer while Southeast Missouri State sophomore-to-be Brooks Kettering is hitting .295 this season and has played both middle infield positions.

Crowden and Kettering have been out of the lineup for the past week. Butler will have an abundance of athleticism and talent to figure out how to utilize beginning with today’s game at Capaha Field against Springfield (11-22, 3-4) at 6:35 p.m.

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

Monday’s game against Thrillville at Capaha Field was rained out while the Catfish will complete its three-game homestand on Wednesday against Danville (20-15, 3-2) at 6:35 p.m.