BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Brennan Fontenot, the Great Bend Bat Cat Prodigal Son, was back. The first-game beer batters delivered two base hits.
All was well with the Bat Cats’ world following a 17-2 Jayhawk League baseball victory over the Derby Twins Wednesday at Al Burns Memorial Field. The amazing Bat Cats completed a sweep with a 3-1 victory in the nightcap.
Fontenot, from Spring College, Texas, made a dazzling summer debut with three hits, including a stint at catcher. Perhaps his best play was trying to stretch a base hit into a double. Although he was thrown out, Fontenot showed his teammates he’s going to play aggressive baseball, something that’s been lacking for the Bat Cats.
The Bat Cats return to play Derby at 7 p.m. Thursday at Al Burns Memorial Field.
BAT CATS 17, DERBY 2 (G1) – Ottawa’s Blaine Ray (University of Kansas) delivered the big hit with a grand slam homer that keyed a seven-run fourth inning. Ray drove home five runs.
Barton Cougar pitcher Zach Curry (1-2) thrived in a solid five-inning stint with five strikeouts with 75 pitches. Reliever Neil Lemmons threw two scoreless innings with two strikeouts.
Great Bend roughed up starter Zimmerman for eight first-inning runs. Andrew Schatz and Chris Swanberg delivered RBI singles. Gavin Johnson and Schatz scored on an error and Nolan Riley scored on a passed ball. Blaine Ray, Reece Johnson and Austin McNicholas added runs batted in for an 8-0 lead.
The third inning was just as productive. Brennan Fontenot, Gavin Johnson and Nick Urban-Michalak drove home runs. Blaine Ray cleared the bases with a grand slam to left field for an 15-2 lead.
Reece Johnson added an RBI triple that scored Brendan Madsen and Johnson scored on an error for a 17-2 decision.
BAT CATS 3, DERBY 1 (G2) – Bat Cat Brennan Fontenot made a stunning debut with a two-run game-deciding single to spark a 3-1 victory over the Derby Twins.
Great Bend (11-12, 6-11 Jayhawk) moves out of last place in the Jayhawk League. Derby (8-9) plays at Great Bend Thursday.
After two walks and a hit batter, Fontenot’s third-inning single scored Brendan Madsen and Reece Johnson for a 2-1 lead. Gavin Johnson’s sacrifice fly scored Austin McNicholas for a 3-1 lead.
Bat Cats pitcher Daniel Hegarty (University of Kansas) threw the finest game of the summer with a four-hitter in a 84-pitch gem. He struck out five batters. Derby's Marques Paige drilled a second-inning homer.
Derby 010 100 0 – 2 6 2
Bat Cats 800 702 x – 17 17 1
Zimmerman, Moody (2), Barker (4), Quintanar (6) and Parker, Moyer. Curry, Parry (6), Lemmons (6) and Andrew Schatz, Fontenot (5), Gerardy (7). W—Curry, 1-2. L—Zimmerman. 2B—GB—Fontenot, Gavin Johnson; D—Paige, Anderson. 3B—GB—Gavin Johnson, Reece Johnson. HR—GB—Ray.
Derby 010 000 0 – 1 4 0
Bat Cats 003 000 x – 3 3 0
Smith and Moyer. Hegarty and Gavin Johnson. W—Hegarty, 2-1. L—Smith. 2B—D—Mendoza, Moyer. HR—D—Paige.
JAYHAWK LEAGUE
Hays Larks 10-4
Liberal Beejays 12-7
El Dorado Broncos 9-7
Dodge City A’s 7-7
Derby Twins 8-9
GB Bat Cats 6-11
Haysville Aviators 4-11
SUNDAY, JULY 1
El Dorado at Great Bend
Haysville at Hays
Liberal at Dodge City
SATURDAY, JUNE 30
El Dorado at Great Bend
Haysville at Hays
Liberal at Dodge City
FRIDAY, JUNE 29
El Dorado at Great Bend
Haysville at Hays
Dodge City at Liberal
THURSDAY, JUNE 28
Derby at Great Bend
El Dorado at Haysville, 2
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27
Great Bend 17, Derby 2
Great Bend 3, Derby 1
Hays 17, Dodge City 11
El Dorado 7, Haysville 5
TUESDAY, JUNE 26
Dodge City 10, Liberal 4
MONDAY, JUNE 25
Dodge City 6, Hays 2
SUNDAY, JUNE 24
El Dorado 8, Great Bend 0
Liberal 12, Havsville 6
Hays 26, Derby 1
SATURDAY, JUNE 23
El Dorado 10, Great Bend 2
Hays 2, Derby 0, 11 innings
Hays 26 Derby 1
Liberal 12, Haysville 4
FRIDAY, JUNE 22
El Dorado 4, Great Bend 3
Hays 0, Derby 0, 11 innings, suspended
THURSDAY, JUNE 21
Great Bend 8, Liberal 4
Liberal 5, Great Bend 4
Derby 9, El Dorado 4
El Dorado 3, Derby 2
Hays 6, Dodge City 5
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20
El Dorado 8, Haysville 4
Dodge City 5, Hays 3
TUESDAY, JUNE 19
Liberal 10, Great Bend 2
Derby 9, Haysville 4
SUNDAY, JUNE 17
Liberal 5, El Dorado 1
Liberal 7, El Dorado 5
Derby 11, Dodge City 4
SATURDAY, JUNE 16
Great Bend 11, Haysville 4
Dodge City 13, Derby 3
FRIDAY, JUNE 15
Great Bend 17, Haysville 8
Derby 12, Dodge City 6
Liberal 10, El Dorado 8
THURSDAY, JUNE 14
Haysville 11, Great Bend 10
Derby 12, Dodge City 6
Liberal 10, El Dorado 8
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13
Great Bend 8, Derby 5
Liberal 6, Hays 5
Derby 3, El Dorado 2
TUESDAY, JUNE 12
Derby 15, Great Bend 7
Hays 2, Liberal 1
El Dorado 21, Dodge City 11
MONDAY, JUNE 11
Derby 5, Great Bend 4
SUNDAY, JUNE 10
Hays 5, El Dorado 4
Derby 11, Liberal 5
SATURDAY, JUNE 9
Great Bend 7-6, 10-6 OKC
Dodge City 10, Haysville 5
Hays 10, El Dorado 2
Liberal 11, Derby 2
FRIDAY, JUNE 8
Great Bend 7, OKC 6
Haysville 12, Dodge City 8
El Dorado 5, Hays 1
Derby 11, Liberal 4
THURSDAY, JUNE 7
Hays 4, Great Bend 3
Liberal 16, Haysville 4
