BY JIM MISUNAS
WICHITA – It’s like a bad dream.
The Hutchinson Monarchs completed a four-game sweep of the Great Bend Bat Cats with a dominating 8-2 victory Tuesday at Eck Stadium.
The Bat Cats (12-15, 11-13 Sunflower) dropped to 1-11 against the top three teams in the Sunflower Collegiate League. Hutchinson (18-4, 16-4 Sunflower) outscored the Bat Cats 37-18 in the four-game series.
There were several highlights for the slumping Bat Cats.
Jake Baker drilled back-to-back doubles. Third baseman Chance Ragsdale and left fielder Brady Michel delivered several dazzling defensive plays. Pitcher Hunter Murray fielded a bunt and retired Clayton Chadwick.
The Bat Cats return home Wednesday against the Derby Twins (8-14), who feature Mike Warren, former Barton Community College baseball coach as an assistant coach.
Bat Cat Trent Touchet singled home Michel in the fifth inning. Baker doubled home Collin Meinert in the eighth inning. Ragsdale was retired with the bases loaded in the seventh inning. Touchet and Tyler Henry singled to start the ninth, but Christian Oliver, Mitch Carnahan and Marty Carnahan were retired.
Barton Community College signee Tanner Schrag singled home Austin Callahan in the second inning. Anthony McKenzie, Dylan Nedved and Garrett Stephens delivered RBIs in the fifth inning for a 4-0 lead off starter Jayden Saylor.
The Monarchs broke the game open with a four-run eighth inning. Easton Rindt singled home Garrett Stephens. Chadwick doubled home Schrag and Rindt. McKenzie singled home Chadwick for an 8-1 lead.
MONARCHS 8, BAT CATS 2
Hutchinson 010 030 040 – 8 11
Bat Cats 000 010 010 – 2 6 2
Sharp, Kelly (7), Farmer (9) and Stephens. Saylor, Murray (6), Shadrick (8), Peters (9) and Touchet. W—Sharp. L—Saylor. 2B—BC—Baker 2; H—Callahan, Chadwick, Nedved.
SUNFLOWER COLLEGIATE LEAGUE
Cheney Diamond Dawgs 20-0 26-0
Hutchinson Monarchs 16-4 18-4
Rose Hill Sluggers 15-4 18-5
Great Bend Bat Cats 11-13 12-15
Mulvane Patriots 9-11 11-11
Derby Twins 8-14 8-14
Newton Rebels 6-13 9-14
Haysville Aviators 4-15 6-18
Sunflower Seeds 4-19 4-19
7-12–Hutchinson 8, Bat Cats 6; Cheney 7, Haysville 4; Seeds 7, Derby 4; Rose Hill 7, Newton 2; Mulvane 11, (nc) Wichita Standiford 1
7-13–Cheney 12, Haysville 1
7-14–Hutchinson 8, Bat Cats 2; Cheney 7, Haysville 0; Seeds at Derby; Rose Hill at Newton
7-15–Derby at Bat Cats; Newton at Cheney; Haysville at Rose Hill; Hutchinson at Mulvane; (nc) Wichita Elite at Seeds
7-16–Bat Cats at Derby; Cheney at Newton; Haysville at Rose Hill; Hutchinson at Mulvane; (nc) Wichita Westerman at Seeds
7-17–Derby at Bat Cats; Newton at Cheney; Rose Hill at Haysville; Mulvane at Hutchinson; Wichita Elliot at Seeds
7-18–Bat Cats at Derby; Cheney at Newton; Rose Hill at Haysville; Mulvane at Hutchinson; Wichita Grays at Seeds
