Catfish collapse on road late at Jackson

In a game in which it scored six runs on 10 hits and limited the Jackson Rockabillys bats to just one earned run, most would believe that the Cape Catfish came away with a nice road win on Saturday in Jackson (Tenn.). However, the Catfish committed three defensive miscues and walked nine batters, and thus, fell 7-6 after holding a 6-2 lead in the ninth inning.

“It’s a really talented league,” first-year Catfish assistant coach Nolan Davenport said of his first impression of the Prospect League.

The teams in the Prospect League are talented enough that when a team has its opponent down for the count, it has to finish the job, which Cape (1-2) did not.

Holding a slim 3-2 advantage in the top of the ninth inning, former Jackson High School standout Steven Schneider singled home Camren Stratten for a 4-2 lead after Stratten and Drew Wedgeworth had singled and walked, respectively.

Alex Kowalski doubled home Wedgeworth for a 5-2 lead before another Jackson High product, Henley Parker scored Schneider with an RBI single.

Another Jackson High alum, pitcher Cameron Marchi, got a lead-off strikeout to start the final inning before he allowed a Rockabilly single and a walk, which sandwiched a Cape error to load the bases.

Marchi gave up a three-run double, which was followed by a wild pitch, which put the tying run at third base, and then a walk to the eventual winning run.

Jessee Komoroski replaced Marchi, who had gotten two strikeouts, and he immediately allowed an RBI double before intentionally walking a Rockabilly hitter.

Komoroski then gave up an RBI single to end the game.

The final inning erased a nice putting by three Catfish (1-2) pitchers up to that point.

Owen Clark started the game and worked three innings. He allowed just one hit, one earned run, three walks, and six strikeouts.

Bryce Kemper relieved Clark and was exemplary, in not allowing a hit or a run, walking one batter and striking out another.

Isaac Vedder threw 1 2/3 innings and did not give up a hit or a run while walking two and striking out four.

“Our pitchers really like to fill up the (strike) zone,” Davenport said. “That’s what I love about them. They’re not scared to throw it in there.”

At the plate, Kowalski paced the Catfish with two hits, an RBI and a walk while Parker (two hits, one run, one RBI), Crowden (one run), Henry Hayman (one hit, one RBI, two walks), Easton Moore (two hits), Carson McCaleb (two walks, one run), Stratten (one hit, one run, one RBI, one walk), Wedgeworth (one hit, one run, one walk), and Schneider (two RBI, one hit, one run) also contributed.

Kowalski had a double and a triple while Moore had a double, as well.

Parker stole his second base of the summer.

The Catfish will host the Rockabillys on Sunday at 4:05 p.m.