By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Bat Cats split home doubleheader
spt deh bat cats logo
Barton Cougar assistant baseball coach Alex King enjoyed a happy homecoming at Al Burns Memorial Field Wednesday. King directed the Fort Collins Foxes to an 8-7 non-league baseball victory over the Bat Cats.

BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

A two-run homer by Great Bend Bat Cat Tyler Henry provided a last-inning spark. But the Haysville Aviators escaped with a 5-4 victory in the nightcap of  Wednesday's Sunflower Collegiate League baseball doubleheader.

Brady Michel and Christian Oliver each delivered four RBIs to spark the Bat Cats past the Haysville Aviators 16-4 in Wednesday's opener at Al Burns Field.

The Bat Cats (12-11, 11-9 Sunflower) return home Friday against the Hutchinson Monarchs (11-4, 11-4 Sunflower).

BAT CATS 16, AVIATORS 4 (G1) – Bat Cat pitcher Jayden Saylor struck out six batters and yielded four hits. Trent Touchet's three-run first-inning homer got the Bat Cats rolling. Jake Baker singled in Alex Rodgers and Michel singled home Baker for a 2-0 lead.

Baker's bases-loaded walk started a three-run second inning. Michell singled home Rodgers and Collin Meinert for an 8-0 lead. Haysville's Matt Klein singled home Jeffrey Myers to start a four-run fourth inning. Klein scored on Braden Wallace's single. Sterling Spurling singled home Wallace and Bailey Amble. 

Michel's RBI double that scored Baker started a four-run fourth inning. Tyler Henry singled home Michel. Christian Oliver doubled home Henry and Touchet for a 12-4 lead. Oliver's single scored Michel and Henry for a 16-4 lead after Henry and Chance Ragsdale forced home runs on a hit batter and walk.

AVIATORS 5, BAT CATS 4 (G2) –Haysville starter Wagner worked five shutout innings with a dominating 12 strikeouts as the second-worst Sunflower team salvaged one game.

Jeffrey Myers doubled home Wallace and Larson for a 2-0 first-inning lead. Amble scored on Wallace's second-inning groundout for a 3-0 lead. Alex Rodgers scored on a double play for the Bat Cats' third inning run.

Bat Cats starter Mitch Carnahan shut out the Aviators for four innings. Haysville's Spurling scored on Wallace's squeeze bunt. Jordan Larson's double scored Wallace for a 5-1 lead. 

The Bat Cats nearly pulled off a miraculous seventh-inning rally. Michel's double drove home Baker. Henry drilled a two-run homer to left field off reliever Owen Loesch. But Loesch regrouped to strike out Touchet and Ryan Thompson to end the game. 

BAT CATS 16, AVIATORS 4

Haysville 000 400 0 – 4 7 0 

Bat Cats 530 440 x – 16 12 2

Jones, Kliniske (2), Stephens (2), Golden (5) and Myers. Saylor and Touchet. W–Saylor. L–Jones. 2B–BC–Michel, Touchet, Oliver. HR–BC–Touchet.

AVIATORS 5, BAT CATS 4

Haysville 210 000 2 – 5 8 0

Bat Cats 001 000 3 – 4 3 2

Wagner, Joyce (6), Loesch (7) and Myers. Mitch Carnahan, Smith (7) and Touchet. W–Wagner. L–M. Carnahan. 2B–BC–Michel; H–Larson, Myers. HR–BC–Henry.

SUNFLOWER COLLEGIATE LEAGUE

Cheney Diamond Dawgs 17-0 21-0

Hutchinson Monarchs 11-4 13-4 

Rose Hill Sluggers 11-5 11-5

Great Bend Bat Cats 11-9 12-11

Mulvane Patriots 9-11 9-11

Derby Twins 7-11 7-11

Newton Rebels 6-10 9-10

Haysville Aviators 4-11 6-14

Sunflower Seeds 2-17 2-17

7-6–Cheney 16, Rose Hill 1; Derby 13, Hutchinson 1; Mulvane 9, Newton 0

7-7–Bat Cats 5, Haysville 3; Bat Cats 6, Haysville 5; Hutchinson 8, Derby 5; Newton 11, Mulvane 10; Rose Hill 11, Seeds 2

7-8–Bat  Cats 16, Haysville 4; Haysville 5, Bat Cats 4; Hutchinson 10, Derby 1; Mulvane 16, Newton 12; Rose Hill 13, Seeds 4; Cheney 18, Wichita Elliot 1; Cheney 15, Wichita Jones 0

7-9–Bat Cats at Liberal; Haysville at Derby; Sluggers Westerman at Mulvane

7-10–Hutchinson at Bat Cats; Cheney at Haysville; Seeds at Derby; Rose Hill at Newton 

7-11–Bat Cats at Hutchinson; Haysville at Cheney; Seeds at Derby; Newton at Rose Hill; Wichita Aeros at Mulvane