O,FALLON, MO- A relentless Hoots offense was backed by solid pitching on Friday night as the Hoots took down the Cape Catfish 9-2 at Carshield Field. Nick Bonczkowski wasn’t able to break the Prospect League RBI record, but he did tie it with two RBIs on the night. He now has 68 on the season.
Top Performers:
Nick Bonczkowski- 3-4, 2 2Bs, 1 HR, 2 Rs, 2 RBIs
Tyler Macon- 3-4, 1 HR, 3 Rs, 1 RBI
Austin Sverra- 4.0 IP, 3 BBs, 2 Ks
How It Happened:
It started out as a back and forth affair in the final game of the Show-Me Rivalry between the O’Fallon Hoots and the Cape Catfish. The Hoots struck first in the bottom of the second on a solo shot by John Connors. Cape responded quickly though, using three singles and a wild pitch to go ahead 2-1 in the top of the third.
However, that was all the Catfish would muster on the game, as the Hoots offense then took over. Solo shots by Tyler Macon in the third and Nick Bonczkowski in the fourth put the Hoots up 3-2.
The knockout blow came in the fifth. The Hoots sent nine men up to the plate and scored four total times. After a Macon single, Steurer would knock him in on an RBI single. After a Connors single, Nick Bonczkowski came to the plate needing two RBIs to set a new Prospect League record. He would have to settle for just one, as the ball bounced over the center field wall for a ground-rule double, making the score 5-2. After a wild pitch scored another run, William Zareh drove in Bonc on a double to make the score 7-2.
Austin Sverra was solid in his outing, with four no-hit innings to steady the pitching for the Hoots. He was credited with the win. Nick Steurer added on a two-run home run in the sixth to bring the score to its final of 9-2.
The Hoots are now 13-9 in the second half, still a half game up on the Jackson Rockabillys for a spot in the playoffs. O’Fallon will play in Quincy on Saturday night, before a doubleheader against Thrillville at home on Tuesday.
