Catfish rally back to down Rockabillys

In what was a back-and-forth affair, the Cape Catfish came out on top with an 8-7 win over the Jackson Rockabillys on Wednesday night at Capaha Field.

With the Catfish trailing 7-6 in the bottom of the 8th, Belmont’s Landon Godsey ripped a solo home run to tie the game at 7 and keep the Catfish alive.

In the bottom of the 9th, Caden Bogenpohl would pinch hit with one out and he would deliver with a 1-out double to right field.

Creek Robertson would pinch run for Bogenpohl and after an intentional walk to Chris Hall and a strikeout by Jeff Clarke, the Prospect League leader in hits, Justin Carinci stepped to the plate with a chance to win the game in the bottom of the 9th.

After Carinci got into a 1-1 count, Rockabillys pitcher Colton Brumley suffered an injury that forced him to exit the game in what was an emotional moment for both sides.

“It was tough,” Carinci said. “There was a lot of emotion out there. Everybody is praying for him and we’re all wishing him the best.”

Carinci would deliver with a base hit to left field to drive home Robertson and give the Catfish an 8-7 win.

“You just have to step back in and try to act like nothing happened,” Carinci said. “(Facing Dalton Rudd) is tough after seeing two pitches from (Brumley). It was something I haven’t experienced before.”

After taking a strike from Rudd, Carinci said he went into defense mode to try and get the job done.

“I had two strikes so I was in my two-strike approach,” Carinci said. “I was trying to gain more ground and it was an inside fastball and I just felt like I got my hands in well to it and squared it up.”

The way the evening started it appeared the Catfish would control the game as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead behind a two-run double from Kevin McCarthy.

Dylan Peck got the start for the Catfish on the mound as he lasted 4.2 innings allowing 5 runs on 8 hits in the no-decision.

Jordan Riley got credit for the win pitching in relief as he tossed 2 scoreless innings allowing just 1 hit while striking out 3.

Offensively, Carinci reached base 4 times with 2 base hits and 2 walks in the win for the Catfish.

“I just want to be a good all-around player,” Carinci said. “That’s definitely something I think about and I just go up every time looking to hit a ball hard.”

The Catfish (23-8) are back in action at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 6, when they travel to take on the Jackson Rockabillys in Jackson, Tennessee.

The Catfish will return to Capaha Field at 6:35 p.m. on Friday, July 7, when they host the O’Fallon Hoots.