BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

HAYS — Give the Great Bend Cats credit for consistency. The Hays Larks dropped the Bat Cats to 0-7 in one-run Jayhawk League games with a hard-fought 2-1 baseball victory Wednesday.
Jayhawk League leader Hays (16-4) scored an unearned run that proved to be the difference. The Bat Cats (12-17, 7-16 Jayhawk) stranded six runners on base. Last-place Haysville (5-16) visits Great Bend Friday to start a three-game series at Al Burns Memorial Field.
Barton Cougar pitcher Easton Smith (1-3) and reliever Trey Boren pitched masterfully, holding the Larks to seven hits with nine strikeouts. Bat Cat first baseman Chris Swanberg and shortstop Reece Johnson teamed for a first-inning double play.
The crisp 2 hour-12 minute game also showcased Hays pitchers Mason Myhre (3-1) and Walter Pennington, who yielded six hits with eight strikeouts.
The punchless Bat Cats scored a first-inning run when Reece Johnson scored on Mick Urban-Michalak’s sacrifice fly. The Bat Cats showed off their speed by stealing four bases. Reece Johnson stole two bases and Andrew Schatz and Thomas Alexander also strole bases.
The Bat Cats handed the Larks their first run with back-to-back second-inning errors, including a potential double play grounder. Jacob Boston scored on a passed ball. Devin Hager singled home Boston for a third-inning run.

GB Bat Cats 100 000 000 — 1 6 3
Hays Larks 011 000 00x — 2 7 0
Smith, Boren (6) and Andrew Schatz. Myhre, Pennington (6) and Wolverton. W—Myhre, 3-1. L—Smith, 1-3. 2B—H—Divis.

JAYHAWK LEAGUE
Hays Larks 16-4
Liberal Beejays 13-9
Derby Twins 11-9
El Dorado Broncos 12-10
Dodge City A’s 9-9
GB Bat Cats 7-16
Dodge City A’s 9-9
GB Bat Cats 7-16
Haysville Aviators 5-16
FRIDAY-SUNDAY
Haysville at Great Bend
Dodge City at Derby
Hays at El Dorado
JULY 4
Hays 2, Great Bend 1
Derby 5, Haysville 4
Dodge City 8, Liberal 2