BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Great Bend pitcher Chayse Gruber struck out 11 batters and newcomer Isaiah Ural delivered four hits as the Bat Cats edged past the Newton Rebels 6-3 in Thursday's Jayhawk League baseball game. The Bat Cats travel to Derby Saturday.
Gruber spotted an effective fastball that's been clocked at 91 mph with a mix of 80 mph changeups and occasional 75 mph curveballs. His slider is a work in progress.
"I work heavy fastball with an armside run to it," he said. "With two strikes, my fastball is still my best pitch. With lefties, my changeup has been effective."
At Neosho County, Gruber compiled a 2-0 record in 12 relief appearances.
"I've maintained my confidence," Gruber said. "As a pitcher, your job is executing your pitches and trusting your defense. All my summer coaches have helped fine tune my pitching style."
Gruber said summer baseball has worked to his advantage.
"During summer, you get a break to work on your mechanics," he said. "I enjoy the summer weather because you can warm up quicker as a pitcher."
Newton scored twice off Gruber (4-0), a Hsu He Chuh first-inning sacrifice fly and Tytin Goebel's fourth-inning home run. Justice Hinsley's seventh-inning single scored Eastin Bryant. Bat Cat pitcher Kevin Schoneboom earned a save.
The Bat Cats (25-9, 20-6 Jayhawk) converted four walks and an error into a 3-run fourth inning off pitcher Yu Chun Yu. Armani Raygoza and Ural scored on bases-loaded walks and Grant Nottlemann scored on an error.
Ural singled home Raygoza in the fifth inning. Brady Wilson scored on Jace Wentling's sixth-inning single. Matthew Mendez scored an eighth-inning run on Robby Bolin's groundout.
Newton Rebels 100 100 100 — 3 6 3
GB Bat Cats 000 311 01x — 6 6 2
Chun Yu, Newton (5) and Lewis. Gruber, Jones (7), Schoneboom (9) and Nottlemann. W—Gruber, 4-0. L—Chun Yu. 2B—GB—Ural, Raygoza. HR—N—Goebel.
JAYHAWK 1ST HALF 2ND HALF OVERALL
Great Bend Bat Cats 15-3 5-3 25-9
Kansas Cannons 12-6 7-1 19-10
Haysville Aviators 9-9 3-3 12-15
Derby Twins 9-9 3-4 15-15
Newton Rebels 8-10 0-5 10-15
Hutchinson Monarchs 7-11 3-2 11-13
Kingman Islanders 3-15 2-5 8-19
7-13—Bat Cats 6, Rebels 3; Monarchs 9, Twins 5; Cannons 12, Islanders 2
7-15—Bat Cats at Twins; Rebels at Islanders; Aviators at Monarchs
7-16—Bat Cats at Twins; Islanders at Rebels; Aviators at Monarchs; Cannons at Wellington
7-17—Twins at Bat Cats; Rebels at Islanders; Monarchs at Aviators
