Semoball

Doyle Rules! Catfish walk-off in extras on error from bunt; Beat Hannibal

The Cape Catfish were back on the field Saturday as the newest team in the Prospect League continued its solid start to the season with an extra-innings win.

Andrew Keck scored the game-winning bunt following an error on a Dalton Doyle bunt, and the Catfish beat the Hannibal Hoots) 5-4 in 10 innings Saturday night at Capaha Field. The win by Cape (11-6) also brought back a familiar tune in the air.

Manager Steve Larkin sang Earth, Wind and Fire’s “September” as the celebration ensued.

Mother Nature had already postponed two home games earlier in the week, and even Saturday’s game was in doubt. Friday’s game was pushed back to a later date due to strong winds that knocked out power throughout much of Cape Girardeau, including at Capaha Field. In the end, the lights came back on at Capaha in time for the game against the Hoots (6-12).

Doyle came to bat in the bottom of the 10th with runners on first and second. The power hitter avoided the ball, which nearly hit him in the face, and put down a sacrifice bunt. Hoots pitcher Antonio Santiago’s throw to third base was off line and went into left field, allowing Keck to trot home for the win.

“It was a bang-bang play,” Keck said. “Once I slid, the ball flew by me and I just made sure to get across the plate.”

Larkin was just as excited about the encounter, even when the game was almost not played.

“It was great to get out there and play,” Larkin said. “We didn’t know if we were going to play because of the rain, but our guys just battled. Our guys were aggressive and just needed to wake up from the delay.”

Hannibal scored on the first at-bat of the game as leadoff batter Jared Wegner homered off Aaron Hubbell to put the Hoots up 1-0. The visitors came into the game batting .238 as a team, the worst in the Prospect League.

Hubbell bounced back to strike out the side.

Cape (11-6) couldn’t get anything going at the plate against Hannibal starter Dylan Chisholm, who struck out the side in the first. The Catfish didn’t get a hit until the sixth inning.

Hubbell had six strikeouts through 2 2/3 innings before Hannibal put together a two-out rally in the third. Benjamin Swords’ two-run double scored Joe Riscetti and Wegner, giving the Hoots a 3-0 lead.

Wegner’s second homer of the game pushed the Hoots lead to 4-0 in the fifth inning and ended Hubbell’s night.

The Belmont University right-hander went four innings, allowed three runs on four hits, walked two and struck out six.

“He pitched a good game,” Larkin said. “Sometimes you may not have your best stuff, but he battled.”

Cape finally got a jolt of electricity during the sixth inning from Keck and Tyler Pridgen. After Jackson Campbell got the Catfish’s first hit of the game, Keck crushed a fastball to left for a two-run home run that cut the Hoots lead to 4-2 and chased Chisholm from the game.

“We didn’t get down,” Keck said. “We didn’t have many hits, but we know what we’re capable of and glad about the win.”

Chisholm went five innings and allowed two hits, two runs, walked three and struck out six. Pridgen drove in the third run of the frame with a single to center that scored Ellison Hanna II and cut the deficit to 4-3.

The Catfish tied it in the seventh when John Behrends drew a leadoff walk and came around to score on a Keck single. The Hoots had a chance to take the lead in the ninth, loading the bases with two outs, but Ryan Vogt struck out Brant Vanaman to end the threat.

Then, the Catfish struck again in the 10th.

This time it was Keck’s turn to draw the leadoff walk. After a walk to Hanna, Doyle came up to the plate with no outs. His bunt, and Santiago’s throwing error, resulted in Keck scoring. Keck finished with three RBIs and four steals.

Santiago took the loss for the Hoots. Gabe Smart got the win for Cape. He was one of four relievers that combined to toss six scoreless innings.

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WP — Gage Smart (1-0). LP — Adrian Santiago (0-1). HR — Andrew Keck (CC); Jared Wegner (HH) 2. 2B: Benjamin Swords (HH); Multiple hits — Hannibal: Wegner 2-3, Benjamin Swords 2-3.; Cape Catfish: Andrew Keck 2-3

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