Hoots Walk It Off to Keep Playoff Hopes Alive

As the 2022 Prospect season comes to an end, the second playoff spot in the Prairie Land Division remains up for grabs. The O’Fallon Hoots (26-29) kept themselves in the conversation for that spot with a 9-8 walk-off win over the Cape Catfish (24-31).

O’Fallon got the scoring started with a Logan Mantz (UMSL) sacrifice fly in the first, followed next inning by a two-run single from Gavin Bennett (Illinois). After a Catfish run in the top of the third, Ole Arntson (SIUE) got the run back by hitting his third home run of the year, a solo blast in the bottom of the third. 

Three innings later, with the game knotted at 4, Patrick Clohisy (SLU) hit one off the top of the  CarShield wall in right field for a single, scoring Jacob Hager (Arkansas St). The lead would grow back to three following Jack Dunn (Mineral Area CC) scoring on a wild pitch in the seventh and Connor Milton (Illinois) singling him home. It was one of Milton’s three hits to go along with a stolen base.

The Catfish would tie the game in the eighth with two home runs, but the Hoots would not go down quietly. Mantz would score on a Blane Besse (MoBAP) sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game. 

In the ninth, the Hoots drew four walks, one intentional. The final walk of the game came to Clohisy, which pushed across Milton to win the game. 

On the mound, Trent Anderson (UMSL) impressed in his Hoots debut. He threw three scoreless innings, surrendering one hit and striking out three. The win was credited to another player making his debut in Ryker Walton (Mineral Area CC). He pitched a scoreless ninth, striking out two. 

The Hoots are now 9-14 in the second half and the Catfish are 12-12. Cape and O’Fallon meet four more times this season, all in a row after Wednesday. The Hoots play the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes for the final time when they return to action on Wednesday. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m. and CarShield Field gates open at 5:35 p.m.