BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
You knew it wasn’t the Great Bend Bat Cats’ night when Chris Swanberg’s hard-hit ball was ruled an error rather than a double.
Swanberg, the Bat Cats’ designated “beer batter,” would’ve delivered $1 beers had it been ruled a third-inning hit.
The Bat Cats came up dry against perennial Jayhawk League powerhouse Liberal in a 10-2 loss that started a three-game series at Al Burns Memorial Field.
Last year, the Bat Cats achieved a goal by sweeping Liberal at home. Bat Cats coach Roger Ward played summer baseball with the Liberal Beejays. The Bat Cats (3-7) will play Liberal (9-4) again at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.
Liberal roared to a 5-0 lead with five hits off starter Zach Curry, a Barton Cougar. The Bat Cats wasted an opportunity to rally back, but two baserunners were thrown out at third base in the first inning.
Liberal’s Brett Vosik delivered a two-run single and Dylan Paul drilled a two-run homer for a 5-0 lead.
Bat Cat leadoff batter Austin McNicholas and Reece Johnson were hit by first inning pitches. Andrew Schatz hit an RBI single, but Johnson was picked off at third base. Blaine Ray reached on an infield single and Schatz was thrown out overrunning third base to miss a golden opportunity.
Vosik singled home Sean Arnold in the third inning. McNicholas scored when Swanberg’s third-inning groundball was misplayed. Nolan Riley and Brendan Madsen led the Bat Cats with two hits apiece.
Liberal starter Payton Bauer and reliever Josh Zanger shut out the Bat Cats over the final six innings.
Paul hit a sacrifice fly and Peyton Johnson hit a RBI seventh-inning single. Chase Hacker drilled a two-run ninth-inning homer.
Liberal 501 000 202 – 10 15 3
Bat Cats 101 000 000 – 2 9 3
Bauer, Zenger (7) and Abiles. Curry, Lemmons (5), Gutierrez (7) and Andrew Schatz. W—Bauer, 1-1. L—Curry, 0-2. 2B—GB—McNicholas; L—Allen, Burton. HR—L—Paul, Hacker.
JAYHAWK LEAGUE
Liberal Beejays 9-4
Derby Twins 9-4
Hays Larks 6-3
Dodge City A’s 5-5
El Dorado Broncos 4-7
GB Bat Cats 3-7
Haysville Aviators 3-8
THURSDAY, JUNE 21
Liberal at Great Bend, 2 (5 p.m.)
El Dorado at Derby
Dodge City at Hays
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20
Liberal at Great Bend
El Dorado 8, Hayvsille 4
Dodge City 5, Hays 3
TUESDAY, JUNE 19
Liberal 10, Great Bend 2
Derby 9, Haysville 4
BAT CATS (8-8)
W—Haven Warhawks 6-5 (Gant 1-0)
W—McPherson 20-10 (Anderson 1-0)
L—McPherson 14-15 (Gant 0-1)
L—Hays Larks 6-11 (Curry 0-1)
L—Dodge City A’s 8-9 (Riley 0-1)
L—Hays Larks 3-4 (Lemmons 0-1)
W—OKC 15-5 (Oblas 1-0)
W—OKC 7-6 (Schatz 1-0)
W—OKC 10-6 (Gutierrez 1-0)
L—Derby Twins 4-5 (Lemmons 0-2)
L—Derby Twins 7-15 (Hegarty 0-1)
W—Derby Twins 8-5 (Smith 1-0)
L—Haysville Aviators 10-11 (Gutierrez 1-1)
W—Haysville Aviators 17-8 (Schatz 2-0)
W—Haysville Aviators 11-4 (Gutierrez 2-1)
L—Liberal BeeJays 2-10 (Curry 0-2)
