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Bat Cats rally past Newton, 9-6
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Bat Cat Alex Rodgers hitting against Newton Rebels during Monday's Sunflower Collegiate League baseball game. - photo by Hugo Gonzalez


jmisunas@gbtribune.com

Newton Rebel Nolan Riley achieved his goal of making a statement against his former Barton Community College and Great Bend Bat Cat teammates. 

Fortunately, by the time Riley launched a three-run homer, the Bat Cats led 4-0 on their way to a hard-fought 9-6 victory over the Newton Rebels in Monday's Sunflower Collegiate League baseball game. Riley reached base five consecutive times against his former teammates.

The Bat Cats made sure they would win on “Strike Out Cancer Night,” at Al Burns Field.

Sunflower Collegiate league all-star Jayden Saylor pitched a solid 62/3 innings. Chance Ragsdale drilled a key two-run single to spark a four-run seventh inning for an 8-3 lead. Trent Touchet drilled a seventh-inning homer and added an RBI single in the eighth inning. 

The Bat Cats (14-18, 13-16) remain in fourth place, one game ahead of Derby (11-16).

Chance Ragsdale singled home Touchet in the first inning. Collin Meinert scored on an error and Christian Oliver singled home Jake Baker for a 3-0 lead after three innings. Seth Kenagy scored on Baker's fourth-inning groundout for a 4-0 lead. Newton's Hibiki Ouchi and Jack Sigrist walked before Riley drilled a three-run homer.. 

Touchet's homer ignited a four-run seventh inning. Ragsdale singled home Tyler Henry and Oliver for a 7-3 lead off reliever David Mutoh. Kenagy singled home Ragsdale for an 8-3 lead after seven innings. Touchet singled in Meinert for a 9-3 lead.

Newton's Lincoln Andrews and Enzo Bonventre delivered RBI singles in the ninth inning off reliever Grant Thompson. Bat Cat second baseman Collin Meinert and shortstop Seth Kenagy turned a clutch double play on Erik Garza's ninth-inning groundball.

BAT CATS 9, REBELS 6

Newton 000 000 303 – 6 9 2

Bat Cats 012 100 41x – 9 10 3

Martinez, Armeni (4), Mutoh (7), Frazier (8) and Parcero, Ouchi (4). Saylor, Grant Thompson (7) and Touchet. W–Saylor. L–Martinez. 2B–BC–Meinert, Oliver; N–Riley, Andrews. HR–BC–Touchet.

SUNFLOWER COLLEGIATE LEAGUE

Cheney Diamond Dawgs 22-3 28-3

Hutchinson Monarchs 21-4 23-4 

Rose Hill Sluggers 19-6 22-7

Great Bend Bat Cats 13-16 14-18

Derby Twins 11-16 11-16

Mulvane Patriots 9-16 11-16

Newton Rebels 9-16 12-17

Haysville Aviators 5-18 7-21

Sunflower Seeds 5-19 5-19

7-18–Derby 7, Bat Cats 6; Cheney 11, Newton 8; Rose Hill 13, Haysville 3; Hutchinson 16, Mulvane 1

7-20–Bat Cats 9, Newton 6; Hutchinson 5, Cheney 2; Rose Hill 9, Mulvane 4

7-21–Bat Cats at Newton; Hutchinson at Cheney; Rose Hill at Mulvane; Seeds at Haysville; Liberal at Derby

7-22–Newton at Bat Cats; Hutchinson at Cheney; Mulvane at Rose Hill; Seeds at Haysville; Liberal at Derby