The Great Bend Bat Cats delivered a brave comeback with their best hitter up. But 316 Sluggers reliever Payton Tolle struck out Alex Rodgers to hand the Bat Cats a hard-fought 4-3 loss in Saturday’s Sunflower Collegiate baseball showdown. The Bat Cats play the Sluggers at home at 3 p.m. Sunday.
The Bat Cats (10-5) scored three ninth-inning runs with an inspired rally. Nico Baumbach reached on an error. Junior Torres walked and Micah Grover singled to load the bases. Baumbauch scored on a J.D. Ortiz sacrifice fly. Tyler Henry was retired on a fly ball. Dylan Blomquist doubled home Torres and Grover for a 4-3 score. But Tolle struck out Rodgers to end it.
Slugger Austin Warkins singled in Tolle in the second inning. Tanner Leonard scored on a fifth-inning passed ball. Drew Sturgeon scored on a single by A.J. Mendolia seventh-inning run. Jerimiah Ceasar scored on Jordan Rodgers eighth-inning single for a 4-0 lead.
Sluggers 010 010 110 – 4 8 1
Bat Cats 000 000 003 – 3 10 1
Leslie, Woods (7), Tolle (9) and Flagg. Thornton, Shadrick (6), Lenocker (7) and Torres. W–Leslie. L–Thornton, 1-1. 2B–BC–Blomquist, best, Rodgers; S–Tolle, Reetz.
SUNFLOWER COLLEGIATE
Cheney D Dawgs 16-4
Hutchinson Monarchs 10-4
Great Bend Bat Cats 10-5
316 Sluggers 13-7
Derby Twins 10-11
Haysville Aviators 10-9
Andale Warhawks 4-11
Sunflower Seeds 3-13
Newton Rebels 3-16
6-27–Sluggers at Bat Cats, 3; Seeds at Warhawks; Twins at Diamond Dawgs; Monarchs at Aviators
6-26–Sluggers 4, Bat Cats 3; Seeds 10, Warhawks 1; Diamond Dawgs 14, Twins 4; Monarchs at Aviators
