BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

The rivalry between the Great Bend Bat Cats and Hutchinson Monarchs is alive and well. The Monarchs feature players from Hutchinson Community College and the Bat Cats showcase Barton Community College players. 

The Monarchs roared past the Bat Cats 9-3 in Tuesday's showdown for second place in the Sunflower West Division. The Monarchs (21-11) are one game ahead of the Bat Cats (20-12) for second place. The teams play at Hutchinson Wednesday. Both teams have clinched spots in next week's four-team Sunflower playoff series.

If Great Bend beats Hutchinson, the Bat Cats still could finish second. If the Bat Cats lose, Thursday's game at Derby will be a playoff preview since the teams would meet Monday at Wichita State.  

Great Bend's Brady Michel drilled a three-run homer that scored Hunter Romero and Dawson Pomeroy for the Bat Cats' runs. 

Hutchinson's Scott Wolverton drove home three runs. Taylor Barber and Jackson Lofton each drove home two runs. The Monarchs delivered 15 hits.

Hutchinson 200 110 050 –  9 15 0

GB Bat Cats 000 300 000 – 3 3 1

Howell, Philbern (8) and Wolverton. Howe, Curry (5), E. Young (7), Mossa (8) and Gibson. W–Howell. L–Howe. 2B–H–Barber, Whitchurch, Lofton. HR–H–Whitechurch; BC–Michel.