BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
After struggling offensively, the Great Bend Bat Cats have averaged 14 runs per game while riding a 4-game winning streak. The Bat Cats rolled past the Wichita Diamond Kings 10-2 and 13-7 Saturday to combine for 57 runs over the past four games.
The Bat Cats' 7-8-9 hitters combined for 13 hits in the doubleheader at Al Burns Memorial Field. Great Bend (9-5, 8-5 Jayhawk) travel to Hutchinson (9-5, 8-5 Jayhawk) Monday.
BAT CATS 10, DIAMOND KINGS 2 (G1) – Bat Cat Garrett Ninness led a 13-hit attack with three singles and three runs batted in.
"I've started being more aggressive," Ninness said. "If it's first-pitch fastball, I'm swinging."
Joey Marker delivered a pair of RBI singles. Jesse Ponce, Jhett Creel, Christian Ammann, Anthony Capobianco and Kade Goeke each drove in one run. The Bat Cats scored in five of seven innings.
Second baseman Carson Lorch and shortstop Ponce turned a nifty double play on a Jackson Ellison groundball. Third baseman Goeke delivered a dazzling defensive play on Gunner Hewitt's topped groundball.
Bat Cats starter Andrew McCarthy (2-0) struck out four batters in five innings. Scallon threw two shutout relief innings.
Diamond King Jackson Ellison scored on Austin Winter's first-inning sacrifice fly. Carson Smith scored on Mason Cherry's fifth-inning single.
BAT CATS 13, DIAMOND KINGS 7 (G2) – Bat Cat reliever Felix Heredia was brilliant with three consecutive strikeouts to end the 7-inning affair. Great Bend's Tyler Stuhlsatz ended a scoreless sixth inning with a 5-4-3 double play turned by Goeke and Joey Marker. Marker made another dazzling defensive play with a jump throw on a Landon Haines fifth-inning groundball.
After trailing 4-0, the Bat Cats outscored the Diamond Kings 13-3. Great Bend started with a 6-run second inning and scored seven runs in the next three innings.
Ian George and Ninness each produced 2-run hits in back-to-back innings. Marker, Lorch and Goeke drove home runs.
Goeke, Cooper Smith and Kyler Horsman scored on errors. Lorch hustled home from second base on Smith's groundout. George scored on a second-inning steal. Ninness scored on a third inning wild pitch.
Diamond King Austin Winter drove in four runs with a pair of singles. Ellison tripled, doubled and singled, drove home a run and scored three runs. Cherry and Selenke each scored two runs. Eleven Diamond Kings reached on a walk or hit by pitch.
GB Bat Cats 122 014 0 – 10 13 0
Diamond Kings 100 010 0 – 2 2 2
McCarthy, Scallon (6) and Creel. Haines, Maldonado (4), Rodriguez (6) and Smith. W–McCarthy 2-0. L–Haines. 2B–GB–Creel; DK–Smith.
Diamond Kings 100 010 0 – 7 6 3
GB Bat Cats 122 014 0 – 13 10 0
Roth, Tannahill (4) and Winter. Cavazos, Sowell (2), Bushko (3), Stuhlsatz (6), Heredia (7) and George. W–Bushko 2-1. L–Roth. Roth. 2B–GB–Ninness; DK–Ellison. 3B–DK–Ellison.
JAYHAWK COLLEGIATE
Haysville Aviators 13-3 14-4
Kansas Cannons 12-4 14-5
Hutchinson Monarchs 10-5 11-5
Derby Twins 9-6 10-6
GB Bat Cats 8-6 9-6
Kingman Islanders 6-10 6-10
Wichita Dirtbags 4-9 4-9
Diamond Kings 3-10 3-10
Newton Rebels 3-13 3-13
THURSDAY–Bat Cats 14, Junction City 1; Derby 8, Haysville 0
FRIDAY—Haysville 12, Derby 0; Newton 13, Kingman 8; Cannons 6, Monarchs 2
SATURDAY–Bat Cats 10-13, Diamond Kings 2-7; Cannons 16, Dirtbags 3; Haysville 6, Newton 4; Derby 15, Dodge City 6; Monarchs 15, Kingman 2
SUNDAY–Hutchinson 3, Kingman 2; Cannons 5, Dirtbags 1
MONDAY–Hutchinson 10, Bat Cats 3; Haysville 11, Newton 10
TUESDAY–Cannons at Bat Cats; Dirtbags at Kingman; Haysville at Hutchinson; Newton at Derby
WEDNESDAY–Bat Cats at Cannons; Dirtbags at Kingman; Haysville at Hutchinson; Derby at Newton
