Weber is Mound Master as Catfish Win Third Straight

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Catfish starting pitcher Colten Weber came into Thursday night's game against the Alton River Dragons with a record of 0-1 after appearing in four games in which he had allowed 20 runs on 20 hits.

But in his six innings of work against the Dragons the Oral Roberts University senior and Jackson High School graduate allowed just one run on two hits while striking out 10 Alton batters. At one point he fanned seven consecutive Dragons on his way to his first win of the season as the Catfish posted a 6-2 victory over the Dragons.

The win marked the first time Cape has won three straight games this year, improving their overall record to 14-19 and 2-0 in the second half of the Prospect League's 60-game season. Meanwhile, Alton fell to 18-16 and is on a four-game losing streak.

Cape took an early lead Thursday night when, in the second inning, designated hitter Ty Stauss (Southeast Missouri State) walked and advanced to third when a pickoff attempt sailed into foul territory along the right field line. One out later he scored when the University of Missouri's Cam Careswell lined a single into center field for his 22nd RBI on the season.

The Dragons answered in the top of the fourth when, with one out, Blake Burris (Lewis & Clark Community College) connected with Alton's first hit of the game, a triple deep to dead center field that was almost caught by a diving Chris Hall (Florida State College at Jacksonville). Burris scored one out later on a wild pitch.

The game remained tied until the bottom of the sixth when Alton relief pitcher Carson Richardson (Spoon River College) walked Hall, the leadoff batter. Hall promptly stole second base, his second of the night and team-leading 22nd of the year. He scored when J.D. Ortiz (SIU-Carbondale) singled him home. Stauss, the next batter, doubled to left field, putting Ortiz on third. A walk to catcher Blake Barton (Belmont University) loaded the bases. Careswell then collected RBI number 23, driving Ortiz home on an infield ground out.

And then, with two outs and Barton and Stauss on second and third respectively, Catfish third baseman Kolten Poorman (Three Rivers Community College) hit a routine fly ball into right field which Alton right fielder Eddie King Jr. (University of Louisville) never saw in the twilight sky. The ball bounced 10 feet in front of him allowing two runs to score, extending the Catfish lead to 5-1.

Both teams scored single runs in the 8th, making the score 6-2 in favor of the Fish. West Virginia State University's Dante Zamudio, who started the game in left field for the Catfish, took the mound in the ninth, allowing one hit and no runs while striking out two.

Overall, Cape pitchers struck out 13 Dragons while allowing just four hits and walking one batter.

Winning pitcher Weber improved his record to 1-1. Alton starter Houston High, a redshirt freshman from Volunteer State Community College, pitched five innings, allowing one run on three hits while walking one and striking out two Cape batters. Richardson was the losing pitcher, allowing all four Cape runs in the sixth inning, dropping his record to 2-1.

Both teams committed one error.

Cape's next two games are one the road. Friday they'll take on the Lucky Horseshoes in Springfield, Illinois, in a 6 p.m. game and Saturday they'll be in Burlington, Iowa, for a 6:30 p.m. game against the Bees. Their next home game will be Sunday when the Lucky Horseshoes come to Capaha Field for a 4:05 p.m. game.