BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

The first-half Jayhawk League champion Great Bend Bat Cats tuned up for All-Star Sunday with a 5-2 victory over the Colorado Springs Cage Rats Saturday. The Bat Cats (19-6, 15-3 Jayhawk) won two of three from the Cage Rats.

Robby Bolin scored three runs and delivered three hits. Jake Tatom singled and doubled and drove home Balin twice. Tatom's single drove home Bolin in the first inning.

The Cage Rats scored two third-inning runs off starter Bryan Bartles. Matt Leraker doubled home Matt Whitting. Chase Branson reached on an error. Jim Fafinsky scored on Jackson Hower's sacrifice fly. Bartles escaped further damage by retiring Nick Carlson and Ben Tate.

Bolin walked and scored on Tatom's third-inning double. Bolin singled, stole second and third base and scored on Carlson's throwing error at catcher for a 3-2 lead. Jace Wentling provided valuable insurance with a 2-run homer that drove home Marshall Hale for a 5-2 lead.

Bat Cats reliever Matthew Howell (Ne Texas) worked 32/3 scoreless innings to earn the victory.

Cage Rats 002 000 0 — 2 6 1

Bat Cats 101 012 x — 5 9 1

Blasi and Carlson. Bartles, Howell (4), and Hale. W—Howell. L—Blasi. 2B—GB—Tatom; CR—Leraker. 3B—CR—Carlson. HR—GB—Wentling.

JAYHAWK LEAGUE

Great Bend Bat Cats 15-3 19-6

Kansas Cannons 12-6 13-8

Derby Twins 9-9 11-10

Haysville Aviators 9-10 9-10

Newton Rebels 7-11 9-11

Hutchinson Monarchs 7-11 7-11

Kingman Islanders 4-14 6-14

7-2—Sunflower All-Stars at Great Bend, 5:30

7-1—Bat Cats 5, Colorado Springs 2; Islanders 15, Aviators 8; Wellington at Twins

6-30—Colorado Springs 4, Bat Cats 1; Dodge City at Twins; Aviators 7, Rebels 6

6-29—Bat Cats 15, Colorado Springs 8; Hays Larks 7, Cannons 3