While Lane Crowden chases record, Catfish chase playoffs

Catfish infielder Lane Crowden, right, leaps in celebration with Jorge Romero after hitting a home run against the Rockabillys on Sunday, July 21, at Capaha Field.

Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

Lane Crowden stole eight bases this past college baseball season at Southern Indiana.

However, with the Catfish this summer, he leads the Prospect League with 37 stolen bases and is 15 bags away from the league record set by Slater Schield of Rex Baseball (52).

If Crowden, who recently announced his decision to transfer to SIUE, were to steal two bases in each of the nine remaining games this season (five at home), the record would be his.

Even as he chases the record with every dash from first base, 53, is not the real number Crowden is chasing.

"I haven't really been chasing anything, honestly," Crowden said. "Some people have reminded me of my stolen bases and stuff like that, but really, I'm just trying to help my team win."

Crowden is not too far from 43 stolen bases, a number set by Chris Hall last year.

"If I just kept going and helping my team then that would mean the world to me," Crowden said.

2024 was his first (and only) full season with the Screaming Eagles. In 50 games, he amassed 164 at-bats and slashed .238/.333/.329 with 39 total hits and 19 walks.

34 games into his third summer with the Catfish, Crowden has 35 hits, 23 walks, and in 123 at-bats, has stolen more bases than his previous two summers combined (35).

"A big difference is I'm on base a lot more this year compared to my college year," Crowden said. "So just more opportunities to do it, just being a lot more aggressive and trying to carry that into my next season."

This past weekend has resulted in the two biggest wins of the season. Down 9-1 after five innings against the Jackson Rockabillys, the Catfish came back to win 13-9 on Sunday, July 21, in front of the Capaha faithful. The comeback was highlighted by Crowden's two-run homer in the sixth inning.

"It feels great," Crowden said, "especially some of these fans, they've been here, they've been fans for a while since the organization started. You can hear them when you go up to bat. They really want you to do well and so when you do well it's a special moment for them and myself as well."

That support means more to Crowden, who grew up in Jackson and has been with the Catfish since 2022.

"I have my family here so it really never gets old coming through for your team and for your family and your friends here," Crowden said.

The Catfish took the lead on a five-run eighth inning and their bullpen held it down to secure the win. The night before, the Catfish rallied to defeat the O'Fallon Hoots 6-3 after a six-run seventh inning.

Saturday's game felt like a Disney movie. After scoring two runs on bases-loaded walks, Brooks Kettering hit a pop-up that should've been a routine out. Instead, it was dropped and the error resulted in three runs. Kettering was also able to score on a throwing error.

At 9-9 in the second half, the Catfish are now only a half-game behind the Hoots for first place in the West Division in the second-half standings. Should they win first place, the Catfish will return to the playoffs to take on the Thrillville Thrillbillies in a rematch from last year.

The Catfish started poorly and the roster eventually changed over the course of the summer. But now they have found their stride and have won seven of their last 10 games.

"We've proven that we're capable of turning games around," Crowden said. "We can come back into games and rally behind each other and stay motivated."

The Thrillbillies won the first-half division title with a league-best 21-6 record. They have since fallen off during the second half by going 7-13 at a time when some pitchers start to become more unavailable due to inning limits and changing schools.

The Catfish are a .500 team through and through but have become the potential wild-card team that could shock the league.

Cape will visit the Full Count Rhythm (23-24, 11-8) on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. They will then return to Capaha Field on Wednesday at 5 p.m. for a doubleheader against Springfield (18-27, 10-9).