BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
HAYSVILLE – Nothing beats breaking a four-game losing streak like a three-run homer.
BAT CATS 5, HAYVSILLE 3 (G1) – Great Bend Bat Cat Tyler Henry drilled the game-deciding three-run homer to spark a 5-3 first-game victory over the Haysville Aviators Tuesday. Kansas City Community College standout Henry hit the third-inning homer off pitcher Andrew Baughn to drive home Jake Baker and Brady Michel for a 5-0 lead.
The Bat Cats (11-10, 10-8 Sunflower) won the nightcap 6-5. Haysville visits Great Bend Wednesday for a 5:30 p.m. doubleheader.
Bat Cat starter Joe Richter worked four shutout innings with four strikeouts.
The Bat Cats led 1-0 when Alex Rodgers scored on Collin Meinert's first-inning groundout. The Bat Cats scored four unearned third-inning runs after Rodgers reached on an error. Baker's single drove home Rodgers to set the stage for Henry's three-run blast.
Haysville's Keaton Candor singled home Bailey Amble and Cole Lee in the fifth inning. Matthew Klein scored on a sixth-inning passed ball.
BAT CATS 6, HAYSVILLE 5 (G2) – Bat cats catcher Trent Touchet saved the day by throwing out Sterling Spurling to end the ballgame. Reliever Mitch Carnahan switched from catcher to pitcher and struck out Braden Wallace to preserve the 6-5 win. Haysville rallied in the seventh inning when Spurling singled home Dylan Golden.
The Bat Cats scored six second-inning runs, five unearned. Seth Kenagy singled home Mitch Carnahan. Meinert's single drove home Chance Ragsdale and Kenagy. Brady Michel's bases-loaded double drove in Rodgers, Meinert and Baker for a 6-2 lead.
Haysville led 2-0 when Romel Martinez scored on a hit-by-pitch and Keaton Candor scored on a bases-loaded walk. Braden Wallace scored on Martinez's groundout for a 6-3 score after two innings. Jeffrey Myers singled home Dylan Golden for Haysville's fifth-inning run.
BAT CATS 5, HAYSVILLE 3
Bat Cats 104 000 0 – 5 6 0
Haysville 000 021 0 – 3 6 3
Richter, Henricks (5), Shadrick (6), Peters (7) and Touchet. Andrew Baughn and Matthew Baughn. W–Richter. L–A. Baughn. 2B–BC–Baker, Mitch Carnahan; H–Klein. HR–BC–Henry.
BAT CATS 6, HAYSVILLE 5
Bat Cats 060 000 0 – 6 4 3
Haysville 210 010 1 – 5 6 3
Talavera, Grant Thompson (4), Smith (5), Zerr (7), Mitch Carnahan (7) and Mitch Carnahan, Touchet (7). Christenberry, Kelly (2) and Myers. W–Talavera. L–Christenberry. Sv–M. Carnahan. 2B–BC–Michel, Mitch Carnahan.
SUNFLOWER COLLEGIATE LEAGUE
Cheney Diamond Dawgs 17-0 20-0
Hutchinson Monarchs 11-4 13-4
Rose Hill Sluggers 10-5 10-5
Great Bend Bat Cats 10-8 11-10
Mulvane Patriots 8-11 8-11
Derby Twins 7-11 7-11
Newton Rebels 6-9 9-9
Haysville Aviators 3-10 5-13
Sunflower Seeds 2-16 2-16
7-5–Hutchinson 5, Derby 2; Newton 6, Mulvane 5; Rose Hill 11, Seeds 1
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 9, Derby 5; Newton 11, Mulvane 10; Rose Hill 5, Seeds 0
7-8–Haysville at Bat Cats (DH), 5:30 p.m.; Derby at Hutchinson; Newton at Mulvane; Seeds at Rose Hill; Wichita Sluggers Elliot at Cheney; Wichita Elite Jones at Cheney
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