BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Great Bend Bat Cats pitcher Tyrus Riley was on fire.
The Barton Community College pitcher from Bentonville, Ark. would’ve made Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton proud.
The 6-foot-7 Riley struck out seven batters with a sharp-breaking curveball. He retired 15 of 16 batters in the Bat Cats’ 5-2 victory Monday over the Dodge City A’s.
“The ‘Cats’ are hot. Everyone is confident,” Riley said. “I had a good bullpen. I was relaxed.”
The Bats Bats’ defense was spectacular in 85-degree heat at LawsonBiggs Field.
Centerfielder Alex Rodgers delivered the game’s signature play with a second-inning throw that first baseman Simon Larranaga alertly relayed to catcher Si Schumacher who tagged Tyler Cotto out at home.
Third baseman Adam Mustow relayed to second baseman Hunter Gotreaux for a nifty 5-4-3 double play on an Alex Cummings groundball. Mustow retired Carson Wright on a topped seventh-inning groundball.
The Bat Cats (5-1, 2-0) took advantage of a critical Dodge City error to score four unearned first-inning runs. Alex Rodgers scored when Connor Allen’s 2-out groundball was misplayed by second baseman Rhett Pospichal. Raithen Malone singled home Allen and Larranaga. Mustow scored on Larranaga’s perfect hit-and-run single for a 4-0 lead.
Dodge City’s Brenden O’Sullivan singled home Wright in a 2-run third inning. Aft er stopping at third base, Cummings scored when second baseman Gotreaux failed to relay the baseball into the infield. But Bat Cats starter Matthew Howell left the bases loaded when he struck out Pospichal on a 3-2 pitch.
Rodgers singled home Mustow in the third inning for a 5-2 lead. Bat Cats catcher Schumacher had the tables turned on Rodgers’ single. He was tagged out at home on Jacob Klinovsky’s perfect throw from right field.
Neither team scored in the final six innings. Dodge City reliever Dillon Weaver matched Riley with four scoreless innings. The Bats Cats play at Dodge City Thursday before returning home at 3 p.m. Saturday against Mulvane.
Dodge City 002 000 000 — 2 8 5
Bat Cats 401 000 00x — 5 7 0
Pereira, Weaver (5) and Cotto. Howell, Riley (5) and Schumacher. W—Riley 1-0. L—Pereira, 0-1. 2B—GB—Christian.
SUNFLOWER COLLEGIATE LEAGUE
Hutchinson 4-0 4-0
Newton 3-0 3-0
Great Bend 2-0 6-1
Derby 2-2 4-2
Cheney 2-2 3-2
Haysville 2-2 2-2
Kingman 2-2 2-3
316 Elite 0-2 0-2
Mulvane 0-3 0-3
Wichita Lobos 0-4 0-4
6-12—Great Bend at Mulvane (2), 6 p.m.; Newton at Derby
6-11—Mulvane at Great Bend (2), 3 p.m.; Derby at Newton; Hutchinson at Cheney; Haysville at Valley Center; Wichita Lobos at Kingman
6-10—Cheney at Hutchinson; Newton at Derby; Wichita Lobos at Kingman
6-9—Great Bend 18, Dodge City 1; Newton 7, Mulvane 0
6-8—Hutchinson 10-8, Wichita Lobos 2-1; Derby 4-1, Cheney 2-4; Kingman 4, Haysville 1; Newton 16, Mulvane 3
6-7—Hutchinson 5-2, Wichita Lobos 2-2; Newton 6, Mulvane 2; Kingman 14, Haysville 4; Cheney 9, Derby 5
6-6—Great Bend 5, Dodge City 2
