BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
The Great Bend Bat Cats were determined to celebrate a victory on "Great Bend Bombers Baseball Night."
When Jesse Ponce's led off with a wild bloop double, a 4-game losing streak for the Bat Cats was officially over.
Manhattan's Kyler Horsman drilled a 3-run homer, scored four runs and drove in four runs to spark a 20-10 victory over the Derby Twins in Monday's Jayhawk Collegiate baseball game. The Bat Cats (6-5) return home Tuesday to play Derby.
Horsman's homer provided a free mini-golf pass to everyone in attendance. The Barton Cougar is batting over .450 during the summer.
"I got hot at the end of the spring season, and it's carried over," Horsman said.
Derby's "beer batter" struck out, guaranteeing cheaper beverages for the adult crowd for a half inning.
It was a perfect hitter's night with the wind gusting past 30 mph to left field.
Great Bend scored 12 runs in the first three innings – six in the first, three in the second and three in the third.
Christian Ammann drilled a 2-run homer and drove in three runs. Ponce batted 3-for-3 with three runs scored. Newcomer Anthony Capobianco debuted with two hits, two RBIs and three runs scored. Kyler Walker tripled, delivered three hits and drove in two runs.
Cooper Smith scored four runs and drove in two runs with hits. Jhett Creel and Garrett Minness each drove in a run.
Andrew McCarthy (1-0) earned the victory in relief. Great Bend Panther Owen Kaiser recorded four outs in relief.
Derby's Richard Gutierrez homered and drove in two runs. Bryce Hampton doubled home two runs. Holden Pantier, Caden Richards, Aiden O'Malley and Nolan Herchock also drove in runs.
Derby Twins 013 420 051 0 – 10 8 5
GB Bat Cats 633 503 x – 20 16 1
Acquaro, Vasquez (4), Diaz (5), Warren (6) and Gutierrez. Sowell, McCarthy (4), Kaiser (6) and Creel. W–McCarthy 1-0. L–Acquaro. 2B–GB–Ponce, Creel; D–Ganter, Pantier, Luikart, Hampton, Herchock. 3B–GB–Walker. HR–GB–Horsman, Ammann; D–Gutierrez.
JAYHAWK COLLEGIATE
Haysville Aviators 10-3 11-4
Kansas Cannons 9-4 11-5
Derby Twins 9-5 9-5
Hutchinson Monarchs 7-4 8-4
GB Bat Cats 6-5 7-5
Kingman Islanders 6-7 6-7
Wichita Dirtbags 4-8 4-8
Diamond Kings 3-7 3-7
Newton Rebels 2-11 2-11
SATURDAY–Dirtbags 7, Bat Cats 1; Derby 14, Kingman 2; Wellington 10, Haysville 8; Cannons 2, Newton 0
SUNDAY–Dirtbags 10, Bat Cats 9
MONDAY–Bat Cats 20, Derby 10; Monarchs 23, Black Sox 5; Dirtbags 16, Newton 4; Cannons 12, Kingman 4; Haysville 10, Diamond Kings 0
TUESDAY–Dirtbags 13, Newton 11; Kingman 3, Cannons 2; Haysville 15, Diamond Kings 3
WEDNESDAY– Newton 8, Kingman 6; Cannons 4, Monarchs 2
THURSDAY–Bat Cats 14, Junction City 1; Derby 8, Haysville 0
SATURDAY–Diamond Kings at Bat Cats (2), 5 p.m.
