BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Newton pitcher Hao Wei Wu baffled the Great Bend Bat Cats for seven innings with an effective mix of off-speed and changeup pitches. The Bat Cats were six outs away from losing to the worst team in the Jayhawk Collegiate League.
Wu retired 19 of 21 Bat Bats after seven innings for a 5-2 Newton lead.
The Bat Cats spoiled Wu's crafty performance with a 9-run eighth inning to shock the Rebels 11-5 Thursday night. The Bat Cats (10-7, 9-7 Jayhawk) scored eight runs off a trio of ineffective Newton pitchers.
Down 5-2, Carson Lorch doubled in Jesse Ponce after a hit batter. Lorch scored on a wild pitch for a 5-3 score. Cooper Smith walked and Ian George reached base when first baseman Alex Connoyer misplayed his groundball, which eventually led to six unearned runs.
Kyle Walker singled in Smith and George, who jumped to miss a tag by catcher Sheng Yen Tseng. Fort Hays State's Isaiah Ural scored when Yen Tseng relayed the baseball to second base for a 7-5 lead. Lorch singled in Walker and Joey Marker. Smith singled in Ponce and Lorch for an 11-5 lead.
Newton's Tytin Goebel singled in Cooper Addison for a 1-0 lead. George singled in Lorch for a 1-1 tie.
Addison and Connover hit RBI singles for a 3-1 Rebels lead. Lance Wike homered and Goebel scored on a seventh-inning wild pitch for a 5-1 lead. Ural scored on Marker's groundout for a 5-2 score after seven innings.
Newton Rebels 100 021 100 – 5 10 2
GB Bat Cats 100 000 19x – 11 9 0
Wu, Zarechi (8), Newquist (8), Gomez (8) and Yen-Tseng. McCarthy, Volski (5), Scallon (7), Kaiser (9) and George. W–Scallon, 1-0. L–Zarachi, 0-2. 2B–GB–Lorch 2; N–Addison. HR–N–Wike.
JAYHAWK COLLEGIATE
Kansas Cannons 15-5 17-6
Haysville Aviators 13-7 14-8
Derby Twins 13-6 15-6
Hutchinson Monarchs 13-6 14-6
GB Bat Cats 11-7 12-7
Kingman Islanders 6-11 6-11
Wichita Dirtbags 5-11 5-11
Diamond Kings 3-11 3-11
Newton Rebels 3-17 3-17
MONDAY–Hutchinson 10, Bat Cats 3; Haysville 11, Newton 10
TUESDAY–Bat Cats 11, Cannons 4; Dirtbags 15, Kingman 4; Hutchinson 13, Haysville 8; Derby 19, Newton 1
WEDNESDAY–Cannons 5, Bat Cats 0; Hutchinson 6, Haysville 4; Derby 19, Newton 1
THURSDAY–Derby 11, Newton 1; Bat Cats 11, Newton 5; Cannons 8, Haysville 1; Derby 10, Diamond Kings 5
FRIDAY–Dirtbags 6, Hutchinson 3; Cannons 16, Haysville 4; Derby 16, Wellington 3
SATURDAY–Bat Cats 7, Newton 1; Diamond Kings at Derby; Hutchinson 9, Dirtbags 1
SUNDAY–Jayhawk All-Star at Wichita Riverside
MONDAY–Wellington at Newton
TUESDAY–Great Bend Bombers at Bat Cats; Derby at Hutchinson; Cannons at Diamond Kings