The Gary SouthShore RailCats activated left-handed pitcher Seth Hougesen from the 7-Day Disabled List with a fatigued left arm retroactive to July 9th before Sunday’s game and signed rookie right-handed pitcher Nile Ball before Saturday’s series opener against the Milwaukee Milkmen. In order to make room for Ball and Hougesen on the 23-man active roster, Gary placed right-handed pitcher Frank Moscatiello on the 7-Day Disabled List retroactive to Saturday and placed right-handed pitcher Colby Morris on irrevocable waivers on Saturday.
Hougesen signed his first professional baseball contract with Gary on June 30th following his senior season at Delta State University and is 1-1 with a 6.65 ERA in six games (five starts). In 23 innings, the southpaw has allowed 18 runs (17 earned) on 30 hits and nine walks while striking out nine.
Hougesen (1-1) was activated from the Disabled List before Sunday’s game and recorded his first professional win in Sunday’s 14-9 victory over Milwaukee after allowing four runs in a career-high five innings pitched. The left-hander from Indianapolis retired the last 10 batters he faced and 12 of the final 13 he saw while yielding just five hits a walk.
Hougesen didn’t allow a run in his first 9.1 innings pitched to begin his professional baseball career. Hougesen tossed four shutout innings in his professional baseball debut on June 30th vs. Kansas City and didn’t allow a run over three innings in his only relief appearance on July 5th against the Cleburne Railroaders.
Hougesen recently completed his senior season at Delta State University and went 9-0 with three complete games (one shutout) in 14 appearances (10 starts). In 59 innings pitched, the southpaw allowed 20 runs (16 earned) on 51 hits and 14 walks while striking out 55.
A native of Indianapolis, Ind., Hougesen transferred to Delta State as a junior in 2018, and went 2-1 with a 5.60 ERA in 12 games (eight starts). In 35.1 innings, Hougesen allowed 26 runs (22 earned) on 40 hits and 22 walks while striking out 39.
In 2017, Hougesen was named National Junior College (NJCAA) National Pitcher of the Year at Dyersburg State Community College after going 14-1 with a 1.49 ERA. In 92.1 innings pitched, the southpaw struck out 107 batters and allowed just 74 hits and 35 walks.
Prior to attending Dyersburg State Community College, Hougesen attended Concordia University—Wisconsin for his freshman year in 2016. Hougesen was named to the Honorable Mention All-Northern Athletics Conference Team and the NACC All-Freshman Team after going 3-3 with one complete game and a 3.35 ERA in nine games (eight starts). In 40. 1 innings pitched, the left-hander allowed 19 runs (15 earned) on 42 hits and nine walks while striking out 38.
Ball made his RailCats debut on Saturday against Milwaukee and allowed one run on two hits in one inning of relief. Ball pitched out of the bullpen again for the ‘Cats on Sunday and allowed one run on two this in one inning. Ball signed his first professional baseball contract with the Sioux City Explorers on July 3rd following his senior season at University of North Carolina—Pembroke. In six relief appearances with the X’s, Ball finished without a record and a 6.00 ERA. In nine innings pitched, Ball allowed six runs on 11 hits and 10 walks while striking out six.
As a senior at UNC—Pembroke, Ball went 8-4 with two complete games and a 4.20 ERA in 14 games (13 starts). A native of Decatur, Ga., Ball led the BraveHawks pitching staff in wins (eight), starts (13), innings pitched (83.2), and strikeouts (82).
Prior to attending UNC—Pembroke, Ball pitched collegiately at the University of Missouri in 2018. As a junior, Ball finished 2-1 with a 3.52 ERA and a team-best six saves in a team-leading 21 relief appearances.
Prior to attending Missouri in 2018, Ball pitched collegiately as a freshman and sophomore at Walters State Community College from 2016-17. As freshman in 2016, Ball went 4-1 with three saves and a 3.82 ERA in 23 games (one start). As a sophomore in 2017, Ball finished the year 0-1 with six saves and a 2.19 ERA in 12 relief appearances.
Moscatiello signed his first American Association contract with Gary back on June 3rd and is 0-2 with three holds and a 6.89 ERA in 14 games (three starts). A native of Rocky Point, N.Y., Moscatiello made his first 11 appearances of the season before moving into the starting rotation on July 15th.
The 23-year-old threw three scoreless innings of relief in his American Association debut on June 4th vs. Chicago and recorded his first American Association hold on June 22nd against St. Paul with more scoreless innings. Moscatiello recorded the first ever hold at Routine Field on June 24th and struck out a season-high six batters over three scoreless innings out of the bullpen in his most recent relief appearance in game two of a doubleheader on July 10th against Chicago. Moscatiello made his first American Association start on July 15th vs. Fargo-Moorhead and yielded just an infield single and a walk over four shutout innings.
Moscatiello began the year with the Rockland Boulders of the Can-Am League and made one relief appearance with the club before signing with Gary. Moscatiello signed his first professional baseball contract with Rockland in 2018 and went 4-3 with five games finished, one save and a 2.79 ERA in 25 games (four starts). In two postseason appearances with Rockland, Moscatiello finished without a record and allowed one run on four hits and two walks while striking out six batters over 4.2 innings.
In 61.1 innings, the right-hander allowed 25 runs (19 earned) on 58 hits and 33 walks while striking out 64 batters. Moscatiello made his professional baseball debut on June 15, 2018, vs. the Dominican Republic National Team and struck out all three hitters he faced. Two days later, Moscatiello recorded his first professional win against the D.R. National Team after allowing just one run on four hits and two walks while striking out four over five innings.
Prior to beginning his professional baseball career, Moscatiello pitched collegiately at St. Thomas Aquinas from 2015-18. Over his four-year collegiate career, Moscatiello went 20-7 with two saves, three complete games and a 2.32 ERA in 53 games (36 starts). A native of Rocky Point, N.Y., Moscatiello struck out 225 batters over 232.1 innings.
As a freshman in 2015, Moscatiello finished without a record, one save and a 2.28 ERA in 10 games. In 27.2 innings, the right-hander yielded 10 runs (seven earned) on 16 hits and 16 walks while striking out 24.
As a sophomore in 2016, Moscatiello finished with a 2-2 record and a 3.67 ERA in 11 games (six starts). In 34.1 innings, Moscatiello allowed 19 runs (14 earned) on 23 hits and 27 walks while striking out 29 hitters.
As a junior in 2017, Moscatiello helped guide St. Thomas Aquinas College to the Division II College World Series and was named the East Coast Conference (ECC) Pitcher of the Year, the All-East Region Pitcher of the Year, First Team All-ECC, First Team All-Region and an All-American by ABCA/Rawlings, NCBWA and D2CCA. Moscatiello went 9-2 with one complete game and a 2.00 ERA. In 90 innings pitched, Moscatiello allowed 26 runs (20 earned) on 67 hits and 39 walks while striking out 94 batters.
As a senior in 2018, Moscatiello was named First Team All-ECC and Second Team All-Region after going 9-3 with two saves, two complete game shutouts and a 2.69 ERA in 15 games (13 starts). In 80.1 innings pitched, Moscatiello allowed 28 runs (24 earned) on 47 hits and 46 walks while striking out 78 batters.
Morris signed his second professional baseball contract with Gary July 14th and was 0-1 with one hold and a 6.00 ERA in four relief appearances. Morris logged 3.2 scoreless innings of relief in his last appearance on Thursday against Sioux City and recorded his first professional hold in his second American Association appearance on July 18th vs. Fargo-Moorhead after allowing one run on two hits and two walks over 1.2 innings.
Morris signed his first professional baseball contract with the Trois-Rivieres Aigles of the Can-Am League on June 14th following his senior season at Middlebury College. In three games (two starts) with Trois-Rivieres, Morris went 2-0 with a 5.40 ERA. In 11.2 innings, the right-hander allowed seven runs on 14 hits and four walks while striking out six.
Morris recorded the win in his professional baseball debut on June 19th against the Sussex County Miners. Morris went five innings in the start, allowing just one run on three hits and a walk while striking out three. Morris recorded his second pro win in his final appearance with Trois-Rivieres vs. the Ottawa Champions. Morris went five innings again, allowing five runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out two.
Over his four-year career at Middlebury College, Morris ranks first all-time in career wins (18), games started (39), innings pitched (256) and appearances (49). Morris also set the school record for most starts in a single-season with 12 back as a sophomore back in 2017.
As a senior at Middlebury, Morris garnered Second Team All-New England Small College Athlete Conference (NESCAC) honors after going 5-3 with three complete games, a save and a 3.25 ERA in 14 games (10 starts). A native of Del Mar, Calif., also led the Panthers pitching staff in games (14), starts (10), wins (five), complete games (three), innings (72) and strikeouts (56).
As a junior in 2018, Morris was named First Team All-NESCAC, the NESCAC Pitcher of the Year and a d3baseball.com All-New England Region Third Team selection after going 5-4 with a with four complete games, a save and a 1.68 ERA in 12 games (nine starts). Morris also led the Panthers pitching staff in games (12), starts (nine), wins (five), complete games (four), innings (64.1) and strikeouts (53).
In the summer of 2018 Morris played both the Green Bay Bullfrogs of the Northwoods Summer Baseball League and Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Summer Baseball League. Morris began the summer with Green Bay and finished 1-2 with a 2.57 ERA in seven games (four starts). In 28 innings, Morris allowed nine runs (eight earned) on 27 hits and nine walks while striking out 21. Morris appeared in one game with Chatham and allowed one run on four hits.
As a sophomore in 2017 at Middlebury, Morris went 6-4 with four complete games and a 4.46 ERA in 13 games (12 starts). Morris also led the team in starts (12), wins (six), complete games (four) and innings (68.2).
During the summer of 2017, Morris played for the Seacoast Mavericks of the Futures Summer Collegiate Baseball League. In 14 games (two starts), Morris went 1-3 with an 8.01 ERA.
As a freshman at Middlebury in 2016, Morris posted a 2-4 record with three complete games and a 6.18 ERA in 10 games (eight starts). Morris also led the Panthers pitching staff in starts (eight) and innings pitched (51).
Gary concludes their six-game road trip and three-game series against the Milwaukee Milkmen at Routine Field on Monday at 7:05 p.m. The RailCats have yet to announce their starter while the Milkmen send right-hander Kurt Heyer (3-7, 5.72) to the mound in the series finale.
Gary returns home to U.S. Steel Yard on Tuesday for a nine-game, 10-day homestand vs. the Winnipeg Goldeyes at 7:10 p.m. Tuesday’s game is Crown Point Community Library Night and features a food drive, supporting Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. Tuesday’s game is also another Community HealthNet Health Centers Tuesday and Taco Tuesday. Visit any Northwest Indiana CHN for complimentary tickets to Tuesday’s game and enjoy our beef tacos and margaritas for $2 and $5, respectively.
Ticket packages for the 2019 Gary SouthShore RailCats season are available online at railcatsbaseball.com and can also be purchased by calling the RailCats ticket line at (219) 882-BALL. The RailCats box office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.