CHRISTIAN’S NIGHT
BY JIM MISUNAS
It was Colby Christian’s night to shine.
Christian drove home three runs and stole four bases to spark the Great Bend Bat Cats past Derby 10-5 in Saturday’s Sunflower Collegiate League baseball game. Christian drove home runs in three at-bats and reached base four times. He delivered a game-tying ninth-inning single in Friday’s hard-luck 5-4 setback.
“I saw the ball really well and took advantage,” Christian said in a postgame interview. “Yesterday's at-bat gave me confidence. I was trying to get to the next bag to help my team.”
Alex Rodgers’ epic seventh-inning at-bat was legendary. Rodgers fouled out a fastball and curveball foul down the line with home-run distance. After fouling off several pitches, his speed forced Justin Harris into an error that led to a clinching 3-run inning.
Great Bend (23-9, 19-8) plays at Derby (17-10) Sunday to close the 4-game series.
The Bat Cats overcame five errors which led to four unearned runs.
After Derby scored an unearned run, Bodi Waller drilled an RBI single, Si Schumacher and Connor Allen drew bases-loaded walks and Brady Kreutzer delivered an RBI single for a 4-1 lead. JoJo Nieves scored on Christian’s second-inning groundout for a 5-1 lead.
Derby’s Kirkland Trahan delivered an RBI single and Derek Winn scored on a third-inning error for a 5-3 score.
Great Bend chipped away with single runs in the fourth and sixth innings. Christian singled home Wallar after a double. Nieves scored on a wild pitch after a walk and two stolen bases for a 7-3 lead.
Derby’s Justin Harris drove home Winn for a seventh-inning unearned run. Trevor Baugh scored on an eighth-inning error.
The Bat Cats took advantage of 10 walks to help put the game away. Christian and Connor Allen scored when Rodgers’ groundball was thrown away. Raithan Malone scored on a wild pitch.
Derby 102 000 110 – 5 5 2
GB Bat Cats 410 101 30x – 10 9 5
Morris, Elkins (5), Zhang (7), Arsiaga (7) and Winn. Lanik, Nedved (6), Rose (8) and Schumacher. W—Lanik, 5-1. L—Morris. 2B—GB—Wallar.
SUNFLOWER COLLEGIATE
Cheney 22-4
Hutchinson 21-6
Great Bend 19-8
Derby 17-10
Newton 12-7
Haysville 12-11
Kingman 8-16
Wichita Lobos 7-16
Mulvane 1-21
316 Elite 0-19
7-10—Great Bend at Derby; Kingman at Hutchinson; Mulvane at Haysville; Elite at Lobos (2)
7-9—Great Bend 10, Derby 5; Hutchinson 10, Kingman 0; Haysville 6, Mulvane 5
7-8—Derby 4, Great Bend 3; Hutchinson 16, Kingman 3; Newton 6, Cheney 3; Lobos 7, Elite 4
7-7—Great Bend 4, Derby 3; Hutchinson 15, Kingman 10; Cheney 5, Newton 4
