BAT CAT FEVER
7 p.m. Thursday
Al Burns Memorial Field
Radio—kscbnews.com (1270 Liberal)
BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
It’s been a long three months for Great Bend Bat Cats coach Roger Ward. The season has been delayed by health concerns on the coronavirus.
Ward’s patience is being rewarded when the Bat Cats open the 2020 summer baseball season at 7 p.m. Thursday at Al Burns Memorial Field against the Liberal BeeJays, a five-time NBC champion. The three-game home series will start eight games against Lberal this summer. There is no admission charged for home games.
Opening night will feature a live radio remote (100.7 FM) sponsored by Alan and Gail Moeder from Moeder Plumbing, Heating and Air. Megan Barfield, Great Bend Chamber president, will assist with a ribbon-cutting to celebrate opening night.
The Bat Cats will continue to maintain a slow pace with pitchers and hitters. Light workouts and scrimmages have helped the players after three months of no live games.
“It’ll have a spring-training feel. We’ll monitor the pitchers closely and try and get everyone on the mound,” Ward said. “We’ll sub in hitters and defensive guys every game. Everyone came in shape, but no one has seen live pitching for three months.”
Ward is thankful the Sunflower Collegiate League waited until the health crisis subsided before voting to play summer baseball.
“We’re so ready for baseball,” Ward said. “We’re thankful to be in this league. They showed good leadership. There’s a void and we need baseball. We’re excited to fill that void.”
The Bat Cats will play a 32-game Sunflower League schedule.
“With some leagues not playing, the level of baseball will be higher this summer,” Ward said. “The pitching will be better than last year.”
The Bat Cats kicked off the 2020 season with a successful First Pitch banquet, which auctioned sports and travel items as a fundraiser.
“It was a really good night with more people attending this year,” Ward said. “We were really pleased and surprised by the support considering the economy. We’re ecstatic about how people have supported us.”
Former Barton Community College Hall of Fame baseball coach Mike Warren delivered a keynote address.
“Coach Warren delivered a good message for everybody,” Ward said. “Everyone got a chance to visit. We’re blessed with good quality baseball players and several parents traveled many miles to attend. Our host families make everything possible. We’ve got something special in Great Bend.”
2020 GREAT BEND BAT CATS
Coaches—Roger Ward, Tim Nolan
2—Chance Ragsdale, IF, Washburn, Weatherford, Texas
3—Chandler Bloomer, C-OF, Barton CC, Ottawa
4—Alex Rodgers, OF, Barton CC, Omaha, Neb.
6—Brady Michel, OF, Emporia State, Great Bend
7—Seth Kenagy, IF, Kansas City CC, Agency, No.
8—Collin Meinert, IF-RP, Upper Iowa, Deerbrook, Wis.
9—Brayden Smith, LP, Fort Hays, Great Bend
10—Hunter Murray, RP, Sam Houston, Lovelady, Texas
11—Ryan Thompson, IF, Cisco College, Frisco, Texas
12—Adrian Talavera, RP, New Mexico Military, El Paso, Texas
13—Joe Richter, RP, Barton CC, Lincoln, Neb.
14—Dylan Blomquist, OF-LP, Temple College, Belton, Texas
15—Trent Touchet, C, Sam Houston, Shreveport, La.
16—Christian Oliver, OF, McMurry, Atlanta, Texas
17—Travis Gilbert, RP, Bossier Parrish CC, Cypress, Texas
18—Jayden Saylor, RP, Bossier Parrish CC, Garland, Texas
19—Ryan Peters, RP, Sam Houston, Cypress, Texas
20—Jake Baker, IB-OF, Kansas, Lawrence
23—Mitch Carnahan, C-UT, McMurry, Hereford, Texas
24—Ben Brown, C-IF, Redlands CC, Wichita
25—Tyler Henry, OF, Kansas City CC, Gardner
26—Marty Carnahan, RP, UT, McMurry, Hereford, Texas
28—Ian Henricks, RP, Barton CC, Lawrence
29—Brian Shadrick, RP, Temple College, Belton, Texas
30—Grant Thompson, RP, Barton CC, Osawkie
34—John Zerr, RP, Dakota Wesleyan, Oakley
39—Jarrett Seaton, LP, Emporia State, Omaha, Neb.
2020 BAT CATS SCHEDULE
6-11-13—Bats Cats vs. Liberal BeeJays; 6-15—Bats Cats vs. Mulvane Patriots; 6-16— Bats Cats at Mulvane Patriots; 6-17— Bats Cats vs. Mulvane Patriots ; 6-19— Bats Cats at Mulvane Patriots; 6-20— Bats Cats vs. Rose Hill Sluggers; 6-21—Bats Cats at Rose Hill Sluggers; 6-22—Bats Cats at Rose Hill Sluggers; 6-23—Bats Cats at Rose Hill Sluggers at Wichita; 6-25— Bats Cats vs. Sunflower Seeds at Cheney; 6-26—Bats Cats vs. Sunflower Seeds; 6-27—Bats Cats vs. Sunflower Seeds at Cheney; 6-28—Bats Cats vs. Sunflower Collegiate League at Cheney; 6-30-7-1—Bats Cats vs. Cheney D-Dawgs; 7-2-3—Bats Cats at Cheney D-Dawgs; 7-5-6—Bats Cats vs. Haysville Aviators; 7-7-8—Bats Cats at Haysville Aviators; 7-9—Bats Cats vs. Liberal BeeJays; 7-10—Bats Cats vs. Hutchinson Monarchs; 7-11—Bats Cats at Hutchinson Monarchs; 7-12—Bats Cats at Hutchinson Monarchs; 7-14—Bats Cats vs. Hutchinson Monarchs at Wichita; 7-15—Bats Cats vs. Derby Twins; 7-16—Bats Cats at Derby Twins; 7-17—Bats Cats vs. Derby Twins; 7-18—Bats Cats vs. Derby Twins; 7-20—Bats Cats vs. Newton Rebels; 7-21—Bats Cats at Newton Rebels; 7-22—Bats Cats vs. Newton Rebels; 7-23—Bats Cats at Newton Rebels; 7-24—Bats Cats at Liberal Beejays; 7-27-28—Bats Cats vs. Liberal Beejays; 7-29-30—Bats Cats at Liberal Beejays.
BAT CATS AUCTION
Bat Cats Autographed Baseball—Mark Zerr
Bat Cats Original Helmet—Gail Brack
Bat Cats Signed Bat—Jon and Amanda French
Bat Cats Signed Bat—Stacy Lewis
Bat Cats Patriotic Jersey—Darrin Hall
Bat Cats “Strike Out Cancer” Jersey—Mark Zerr
Bat Cats “Strike Out Cancer” Jersey—Kathy Boeger
Dallas Cowboys Big Three Texas Stadium Turf—Jeff Stos
Len Dawson Super Bowl IV MVP—Tanner Strube
Michael Jordan 6-Time NBA Champion—Craig and Annette Pangburn
KC Chiefs Super Bowl Confetti—Alex Cape
KC Royals 2015 World Series—Stan Towns
History Of The KC Royals Jersey—Amy Ney
Kansas Jayhawks All-Time Greats—Randy Conrady
Kansas State Spotlight—Craig Biggs
Patrick Mahomes Super Bowl Championship Picture—Craig and Annette Pangburn
Mamba Forever—Evan Schenkel
Mexico Playa Resort 4 Night—Stacy Lewis
Mexico Playa Resort 7 Night—Korey and Alyson Burkhart
Rolling Stones 50th Anniversary Signed Albums (1 in 50 in the World)—Tanner Strube
Ruth/Gehrig “Cowboys”—Cory Baker
“So God Made A Farmer”—Angie Reed
Jackie Robinson—Brendan Kuhn
Nolan Ryan’s “Gunslinger”—Landon Sciacca
George Strait’s “Cowboy”—Jon and Amanda French
“So God Made A Soldier”—Mark Zerr
John Wayne “The Duke”—Dale Dawson
