Cape Catfish

In the first game in franchise history, the Cape Catfish fell behind 9-2 by the sixth inning and eventually lost to the Quincy Gems 11-3 in front of a packed Capaha Field throng that enjoyed the atmosphere, if not the result.

A year ago, the Cape Catfish orchestrated a “dream season” through its inaugural year as a franchise. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 has been more of a nightmare than any dream.

The Prospect League announced Wednesday that it was delaying the start of its 2020 season from May 28 to July 1, with the season culminating on August 15.

Three Rivers College infielder Zane Wallace didn’t pass up an opportunity to make a good first impression when he played a double header at Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, last fall. “Our very last game in the fall we played Itawamba College and East Mississippi Community College at Delta State’s home field,” said Wallace, who is a 2018 Kennett graduate. ...

The St. Louis Cardinals were to have spent Sunday evening wrapping up a three-game road series against Central Division foe Cincinnati Sunday, but as every baseball fan knows all too well at this point, there is no crying IN baseball, but there is crying ABOUT no baseball due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has engulfed the world.

Southeast Missouri loves its baseball. Cardinal Nation is well represented in Cape Girardeau, as 520 fans gave evidence in Monday’s Cardinals Caravan event at Osage Center. Capaha Field is perhaps busier than it has ever been – hosting the Capahas, the Catfish, Legion and SEMO Conference ball – and of course, the university’s Southeast Missouri Redhawks...

Kerry Robinson bounded into a media room at Cape Girardeau’s Osage Center and went directly to a mother with two small boys in tow. Wearing a St. Louis jersey top with uniform number “0” and sporting a grey tam on his head, the now-team scout worked the room at Cardinals Caravan Monday – making sure every child there got what he or she came for – whether it be an autograph, a handshake or a brief conversation with men who may be future Redbird stars...

The Cape Catfish fell one game shy of winning the 2019 Prospect League championship earlier this week, as they fell to Chillicothe in the final series 2-1 Tuesday at Capaha Field. However, the first-year club was certainly a dominant winner Friday when the Prospect League handed out its annual postseason awards.

Emotions were riding high following the Cape Catfish falling to Chillicothe in Game 3 of the Prospect League Championship Series Tuesday at Capaha Field including those of manager Steve Larkin. “It’s over for now,” Larkin said. “It hurts right now. But after a week, I’ll be ready to be back in that dugout.”

For the thousands of baseball fans that sauntered into Capaha Field this summer to catch a Cape Catfish game (and maybe a foul ball, as well), the specialness of this team existing was in its providing a fun, family-friendly and cost-effective activity for all in southeast Missouri to enjoy without driving a long distance or spending a small fortune.

In some regards, Cape Catfish pitcher Bryan McNeely had a typically solid outing in Tuesday’s Prospect League Championship Series Game 3 against Chillicothe at Capaha Field.

If the Cape Catfish don’t win the 2019 Prospect League championship, they will have no one to blame but themselves. That is because the first-year club has a lot going for it in tonight’s winner-take-all title game.