BY JIM MISUNAS

jmisunas@gbtribune.com

WICHITA — By the time, the Great Bend Bat Cats delivered a base hit with a runner on base, their magical 2026 season was nearly over.

The Bat Cats were 0-for-18 with a runner on base with the Shawnee Between The Lines Hornets leading Great Bend 6-3 in Tuesday's NBC World Series elimination game.

Cesar Chavira's bunt single ended the Bat Cats' 0-for-18 drought and ignited an eighth-inning rally.

Great Bend batted zero-for-5 with the bases loaded and left 10 runners stranded.

The Hornets handed Great Bend a huge opportunity with three consecutive first-inning errors. Fortunately, George McCarroll and T.J. Shaw scored runs when the Hornets committed errors.

The first-inning rally fizzled when Chase Chapman struck out and Jack Jewell flew out with the bases loaded.

Great Bend's seventh-inning threat ended when Chase Chapman struck out with the bases loaded.

The Hornets pounded starter Ben Smith for five earned runs. Quinn Groebl hit a sacrifice fly and Brad Blankenship delivered a 2-run single for a 3-2 lead.

Bat Cat Cesar Chavira scored on Kirby Orth's second-inning groundout for a 3-3 tie.

Josh Holmes' 2-run homer scored Barton Cougar Kyle Graves for a 5-3 lead. Graves singled home Clay Anderson for a 6-3 lead.

Great Bend 210 000 02 — 5 5 0

BTL Hornets 302 100 00 — 6 7 4

Smith, French (3), Graham (5) and Chavira. James and Chartrand. 2B—GB—Wakeland; BTL—Holmes. HR—BTL—Holmes.