Former Kennett thrower picking up steam for Catfish

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect high school Kam Dohogne attended.

The Cape Catfish improved to 4-0 on Sunday with a 12-1 rout of the Thrillville (Marion, Ill.) Thrillbillies and it was the second consecutive game in which Cape has 10-runned an opponent, which is making the job of the pitching staff much easier than expected.

The Catfish are averaging over 11 runs per game, and third-year Catfish pitcher Marshall Brown, who made his second start of the young season on Sunday, is enjoying this summer, thus far.

“Guys are getting along,” Brown said of this year’s squad. “Everyone doesn’t even know each other’s names yet, but we’re getting along and playing baseball.

“Everyone is here to play ball and try to win, and we are doing that right now.”

The Kennett High School graduate emerged as Cape’s top starter a year ago after pitching in relief in his first season with the team. That history prompted first-year Catfish manager Scott Little to hand Brown the ball for the opening night start.

On that night, Brown worked 2 2/3 innings and allowed three hits and two earned runs from the 13 batters that he faced. He struck out three batters but gave up a pair of home runs.

“My first inning was a little shaky,” Brown said, “but in the second inning, I struck out the side. I felt good. My arm felt good. Everything was good.”

On Sunday, he was dominant, as he pitched five innings and didn’t allow a run while limiting Thrillville to seven hits. He walked two batters and struck out six.

He threw 40 strikes in 65 pitches.

“I want to work on my off-speed (pitches),” Brown said of this summer’s goals. “I’m always working on some mechanics, getting (the pitches) to the exact side of the plate that you want it, everything like that, whenever you want it.”

Brown just wrapped up his redshirt sophomore season at NCAA Division II Arkansas Tech, where he started three games in 12 appearances.

He threw nearly 50 innings this spring and allowed 13 walks and struck out 23batters.

Following the 2023 season, he put his name in the transfer portal and is currently in search of a new school to play for. However, for the Catfish, Brown has found a summer team that he seemingly can’t get enough of.

“This is a great atmosphere,” Brown said. “They do a great job here. They do everything right and this is just a great place to play.”

The ‘Thrill’ was gone

The Catfish smoked the Thrillbillies from the outset.

Cape scored 12 runs over the first five innings and was never threatened.

Brown kept the Thrillbillies (3-1) off the scoreboard, while former Notre Dame Regional High School pitcher, Kam Dohogne, was also very good in relief.

Dohogne threw two innings and allowed five hits and one earned run.

Offensively, Justin Carinci had three hits, including a double, in the win, as well as two runs and an RBI.

Cape lead-off hitter, Chris Hall, continued his great start to this season by connecting for two hits, including a triple, to go with his two runs, two RBI, and a walk, while Jeff Clark (one hit, one run, two RBI, one walk), Brody Chrisman (one hit, one run, one RBI), Kaden Jeffries (one hit, one run, two RBI, one walk), Dee Triplett (one hit, two runs, one walk), Curry Sutherland (two hits, one RBI), Kevin McCarthy (one hit, two runs, two RBI, one walk), and Landon Godsey (three hits, one run, one RBI) also produced.

The Catfish return to Capaha Field tonight at 6:35 p.m. against O’Fallon.