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11-run inning sparks Bat Cats
bat cats logo

BY JIM MISUNAS

jmisunas@gbtribune.com

AUGUSTA — It was the craziest inning in Great Bend Bat Cat history.

The Kansas Cannons led the Bat Cats 4-1 in Wednesday's battle for first place in the Sunflower Collegiate Baseball League.

Eleven runs later, the Bat Cats (13-2) smoked the Cannons 12-4 to move two games ahead of the Cannons (10-3). The Cannons visit Great Bend Friday and Saturday for two more showdowns.

"That was an incredible inning," said Bat Cats coach Jonathan Mariani. "It was cool to find a way to keep passing the bat. With our lineup, we feel we've always got a chance."

Down 4-1, Robby Bolin delivered a 2-run, two out single that ended a zero-for-9 Bat Cat drought with runners in scoring position.

Twelve consecutive batters reached base by the time the 11-run inning ended. The Bat Cats benefited from 12 walks and four hit-batters. 

Armani Raygoza's walk forced Connor Chavez home. Raygoza, whose new nickname is the Roadrunner, beat a throw to second base on Jase Woita's groundball that was misplayed as a fourth run scored.

Peyton Roberson delivered a 2-run single. Woita scored on an error. Roberson scored on a wild pitch. Chavez forced home a run on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch. Bolin's bases-loaded walk scored a 10th run. Jake Tatom capped the 11-run inning with an RBI single.

"I give credit to their starter," Mariani said. "He worked quickly and kept us uncomfortable."

Bat Cats starter Matthew Howell gift wrapped a 4-run first inning with four walks compounded by an error. Great Bend natives Chase Gruber and Paco Hernandez combined for eight shutout innings after Howell struggled. Bat Cat relievers have strung together 16 consecutive shutout innings.

"That's three nights in a row that our bullpen guys have pitched great baseball," Mariani said.

GB Bat Cats 001 0(11)0 000 — 12 9 1

Cannons 400 000 000 — 4 3 2

Howell, Gruber (2), Hernandez (7) and Hale. Ewing, Willey (5), Pouch (5), Fahnenstock (6) and Gordon. W—Gruber, 2-0. L—Willey. 2B—GB—Woita, Hale.

KANSAS COLLEGIATE

Great Bend Bat Cats 13-2

Kansas Cannons 10-3

Derby Twins 7-6 

Haysville Aviators 5-5 

Hutchinson Monarchs 4-8

Newton Rebels 2-7

Kingman Islanders 2-12

6-30—Colorado Springs at Bat Cats; Dodge City at Derby

6-29—Colorado Springs at Bat Cats; Hays Larks at Cannons

6-28—Bat Cats at Liberal; Aviators at Cannons; Islanders at Monarchs' Newton at Derby

6-27—Bat Cats at Liberal; Cannons at Aviators; Monarchs at Islanders Newton at Derby 

6-26—Bat Cats at Dodge City; Cannons at Aviators; Islanders at Monarchs; Derby at Newton

6-25—Derby at Dodge City

6-24—Cannons at Bat Cats; Monarchs at Newton; Aviators at Twins; Wellington at Islanders

6-23—Cannons at Bat Cats; Monarchs at Newton; Twins at Aviators; Islanders at Kansas Curve

6-22—Bat Cats 12, Cannons 4; Twins 5, Aviators 2

6-21—Bat Cats 7, Islanders 4; Cannons 7, Monarchs 6

6-20—Bat Cats 5, Islanders 4; Rebels 12, Aviators 7; Cannons 14, Monarchs 9

6-19—Bat Cats 14, Islanders 3; Cannons 20, Monarchs 0; Aviators 5, Rebels 2


Cougar baseball shocks No. 3 Cowley Tigers
Barton baseball
ARKANSAS CITY -- The Barton Cougar baseball team scored early and often plating 11 of its runs over the first four innings to upset No. 3 Cowley College 12-8 on Tuesday. The Cougars (21-8) have won four in a row over the Tigers (23-7). Barton plays Jayhawk West leader Colby at 1 p.m. Thursday at Lawson-Biggs Field. The Cougars travel to Colby Sunday. Tyler Janssen led the Cougars balanced offensive attack providing three of the Cougars six extra base hits on the afternoon, finishing 3-for-5 and single shy of the cycle. The freshman drove in four runs highlighted behind his fourth-inning three-run round tripper for his fourth of the year. Eight of Barton's nine in the lineup furnished a hit with Janssen being joined by Kyle Graves 3-for-6 day at the plate and RBI, as the duo combined for six of the Cougars 14 hits on the afternoon. Kyle Walker was second in runs produced, driving in two of his three runs during Barton's four run top of the second frame, finishing 2-for-5 at the dish with a walk. Rounding out the Cougars' multi-RBI performances was Ayden Hadley and Wyatt Yetter, each driving in two runs apiece. Hadley distributed his pair with a first inning double while Yetter added the final run of a three-run first on a groundout followed by a leadoff fourth inning blast for his first big fly of the season. Despite finishing 0-for-1 at the plate, Barrett Donaldson generated three of Barton's nine walks created with a run scored. Braden Hauschel earned a no-decision in his one-inning of work allowing three runs on two hits with a walk and strikeout. Eli Lang (1-0) notched his first collegiate victory tossing 4.1-innings in relief scattering seven hits and three runs with Landon Haines getting the final two outs of the sixth allowing one hit with a stirkeout. Andrew McCarthy tossed a scoreless seventh with a strikeout while operating around a pair of walks. Cade Kunz handled the eighth yielding two runs on a hit and collected a strikeout before handing off to Preston Golden for the ninth, as the sophomore locked it down
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