Former SEMO arm throwing well of late for 'Fish

The dog days of summer are here for the Cape Catfish, as the team will play seven games over the next week, starting with a rare 2:05 p.m. game on Wednesday at Capaha Field against O’Fallon (21-20 overall, 6-8 second-half).

With so many games crammed into the final weeks of the season (compounded by makeup games), the squad is going to need as much quality pitching as possible down the stretch.

“They bring it every game,” Catfish pitching coach Jason Chavez said of his staff. “Sometimes you fall into having some guys with a lack of confidence, but most of these guys, they are competitive.”

Alex Esker fits that description.

After not throwing all spring at Southeast Missouri State due to having Tommy John surgery, Esker has found his rhythm of late and has strung together several positive outings.

“Alex is definitely competing,” Chavez said. “He is getting after it a little bit more.”

Esker rebounded from a rough outing recently against O’Fallon with a nice performance on Sunday against Thrillville and has put together four outings in six appearances, in which he hasn’t allowed an earned run.

“I’m starting to feel a lot better,” Esker said. “I’m starting to get back in the groove of things.”

On Sunday, the left-hander started the game and worked just one inning, but did not allow a run or a hit, while walking two batters and striking out one.

He threw 20 strikes in 34 pitches.

“I have been using my slider a lot more often,” Esker said of his post-surgery adjustments. “The changeup and fastball are still there.

“I have still struggled with my command a little bit.”

After graduating from Christian Brothers College High School, Esker had a solid start to his collegiate career with the Redhawks.

He appeared in eight games with a couple of starts, while working 12 1/3 innings and striking out seven batters.

Esker’s initial career start was against 2021 NCAA champion Ole Miss and he threw a pair of scoreless innings. However, after being injured and missing this past spring, Esker is seeking a new start at Mineral Area Community College, where he hopes “to get a lot more innings.”

In the meantime, he has been a nice arm to utilize for Caper, as he has thrown over 17 innings and struck out 21 batters.

“We are in the part of the season,” Chavez said, “where we have to get everybody really getting after it on the mound. As (the season) goes, we are only going to face tougher teams.”