The Great Bend Bat Cats trailed 6-2 to the Cheney Diamond Dawgs, the Sunflower Collegiate baseball leader.
But the teams enjoy a little history. It was the Diamond Dawgs that eliminated the Bats Cats from the 2017 NBC Tournament in Wichita.
It was pay back time for Great Bend Bat Cats coach Roger Ward.
The Bats Cats shocked the Diamond Dawgs with 10 consecutive runs for a 12-6 victory over the Sunflower West leader at Al Burns Field. Relievers Zach Curry and Zach Poe worked 42/3 shutout innings. Hunter Romero and Collin Meinert delivered two-run singles as the Bat Cats scored six runs with two out in the eighth inning to snap a 6-6 tie.
"It's a big win. We beat one of the better teams in the league," Ward said. "Cheney has talent. They've got third-year guys who have won a lot. I like the way we responded. We did all our damage with two out."
The Bat Cats (6-4 Sunflower) trail Cheney (10-2 Sunflower) by 4 games. The Bat Cats journey to Wichita's Eck Stadium to play the Newton Rebels at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. Free tickets are available at Lumpy's Bar and Grill or KGVB radio in Great Bend.
"The Tuesday showcase is a big deal," Ward said.
Bat Cat Chandler Bloomer doubled home Luke Repka and Daunte Freeman in a two-run first inning.
Cheney scored six consecutive runs. Andrew Miller scored on Greyson Pinkett’s fourth-inning groundout. Antonio Gauthier drilled a three-run double off reliever Zach Curry and Tresten Kennard delivered a two-run single off pitcher Jarrett Seaton in a five-run fifth inning for a 6-2 lead.
The Bat Cats chipped away. Dawson Pomeroy singled home Collin Meinert in the fifth inning. Meinert singled home Hunter Romero in the sixth inning. Freeman tripled home Alex Guevara and Freeman scored on Bloomer’s groundout for a 6-6 tie.
The Bat Cats scored eight runs with two out when eight consecutive batters reached base. Brenden Tauber scored on an error. Romero singled home Freeman and Bloomer. Meinert singled home Romero and Ryan Monson. Luke Repka singled home Brady Michel for a 12-6 lead.
Diamond Dawgs 000 150 000 – 6 9 1
GB Bat Cats 200 011 26x — 12 16 1
Postlethwait, Chappell (6), Shipp (8) and Pinkett. Seaton, Curry (5), Poe (9) and Bloomer. W—Poe. L—Chappell. 2B—GB—Bloomer; C—Gauthier 2. 3B—GB—Freeman; C—Rambusch.
SUNFLOWER WEST
Cheney Diamond Dawgs 10-2
Hutchinson Monarchs 10-4
Great Bend Bat Cats 6-4
Wichita Sluggers 3-8
Andale Warhawks 1-9
SUNFLOWER EAST
Haysville Aviators 7-4
El Dorado Broncos 6-4
Mulvane Patriots 6-7
Derby Twins 5-6
Newton Rebels 4-7
SUNFLOWER INDEPENDENT
Salina Shock 3-6
WEDNESDAY
Great Bend Bat Cats at Newton Rebels
Derby Twins at Andale Warhawks
El Dorado Broncos at Cheney Diamond Dawgs
Hutchinson Monarchs at Haysville Aviators
Mulvane Patriots at Wichita Sluggers
THURSDAY
Hutchinson Monarchs at Great Bend Bat Cats
El Dorado Broncos at Derby Twins
Mulvane Patriots at Newton Rebels
Salina Shock at Haysville Aviators
Wichita Sluggers at Andale Warhawks
