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Bat Cats surprise Cheney, 4-1
Pitching, defense key victory
P hagen Rose
Bat Cats pitcher Hagen Rose (1-1, 0.45 ERA) delivers a pitch against Sunflower Collegiate League powerhouse Cheney. The Bat Cats won 4-1. - photo by JIM MISUNAS Great Bend Tribune

BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

One down, three to go.

Great Bend relied on spectacular pitching and defense to surprise Sunflower Collegiate League leader Cheney 4-1 in Tuesday's opener. Bat Cat pitchers Hagen Rose (2-1) and Matt Nedved stranded 13 Cheney baserunners.

The Bat Cats (25-9, 21-8) remain three games behind Cheney (28-5, 24-5) in the Sunflower Collegiate League heading to Wednesday's rematch at Cheney.

Bat Cats shortstop Raithen Malone was dazzling, with a trio of double play groundballs. Lenny Ashby hit into a 3-6-1 first-inning double play started by first baseman Simon Larranaga ended when Rose sprinted to first base. Ashby hit into a 4-6-3 third-inning double play started by second baseman Dre Amaral. Cody Moore grounded into a 6-4-3 third-inning double play.

Malone also sparked the Bat Cats' offense with a pair of RBI doubles. 

"I waited for my pitch and hit aggressive," Malone said.

Colby Christian scored on Malone's double that ignited a 3-run second inning,  Simon Larranaga scored on an Amaral groundout. Malone scored on an Alex Rodgers single for a 3-1 lead on Dallas Baptist pitcher Tyler Schott. Malone's fourth-inning double scored Larranaga for a 4-1 lead.

Cheney's Cody Moore ripped an RBI single to score Jaxson Holder in the second inning.

Rose and Nedved escaped seventh and eighth-inning jams. Third baseman Colter Maldanado retired Noah Brewer on a close play to end the seventh inning. Nedved stranded the bases loaded by retiring Brock Rodden on a fly ball after Andrew Brautman's easy high pop fly wasn't caught.

Great Bend benefited from a friendly home crowd on Great Bend Bombers baseball night. Dozens of Bombers players made retrieving foul balls a constant race to the baseball.

Cheney 010 000 000 – 1 6 0

GB Bat Cats 030 100 00x – 4 6 1 

Schott, Anthies (7) and Moore. Rose, Nedved (8) and Connor Allen. W–Rose, 1-1. L–Schott, 2-1. SV–Nedved. 2B–GB–Malone 2.

BAT CATS PITCHING (25-9)—Lanik 5-1, 4.76; Stuart 4-0, 5.55; Tower 3-1, 4.17; Austin 2-0, 1.20; Howell 2-0, 2.25; Riley 2-0, 5.00; Nedved 2-1, 2.31; Albus 2-2, 3.75; McWilliams 1-0, 3.00; Thornton 1-0, 0.00; Rose 1-1, 0.45; Gonzalez 1-1, 4.50; Brett Allen 0-1, 3.30; Tinkler 0-1, 3.37

BAT CATS HITTING—Larranaga, .347, 22R, 22 RBI, 7 HR; Gates, .337, 16R, 23 RBI, 14 SB; Rodgers, .319, 26R, 10 RBI, 15 SB, 3 HR; Mustow, .311, 20R, 2 HR; Silva .306, 21 R, 12 SB; Wallar, .301, 19R, 28 RBI, 6 HR; Christian, .256, 13R, 16 RBI, 11 SB; Kreutzer, .255, 9R, 11 RBI; Gotreaux, .250, 11R 8 SB; Maldanado, .220, 9R, 10 RBI; Schumacher, .220 7R; Connor Allen, .196, 11R; Malone, .182, 14R, 1 HR; Aramal, .174, 8R, 1 HR; Spinn, .118,  4R.