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Slumping Bat Cats continue downward slide
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Bat Cat's pitcher Marty Carnahan delivers during Wednesday night's baseball game against Derby. - photo by Hugo Gonzalez

BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

The dogs days of summertime continue to haunt the Great Bend Bat Cats.

Even jumbalaya cuisine prepared by Louisiana legend Lyles Lashley could not rescue the Bat Cats from a six-game losing streak.

An error led to a three-run Derby inning. The Bat Cats self destructed with five errors and seven walks that handed Derby an 8-4 Sunflower Collegiate League baseball victory.

The Bat Cats (12-16, 11-14 Sunflower) travel to Derby Thursday before returning home Friday.

The Bat Cats' turned a team record four double plays to work out of trouble. Second baseman Collin Meinert and shortstop Seth Kenagy turned a first-inning twin killing. Kenagy and Meinert teamed for a 6-4-3 third-inning double play. Left fielder Brady Michel converted a fourth-inning double play. Meinert took care of business on a 4-3 seventh-inning double play.

The Bat Cats missed a golden opportunity in a two-run first inning that saw six consecutive baserunners reach base. Trent Touchet forced home Collin Meinert on a walk. Jake Baker scored on Tyler Henry's groundball. But Derby pitcher Tom Barnhouse retired Chance Ragsdale to strand the bases loaded.

Chance Ragsdale scored the Bat Cats' eighth-inning run. Jake Baker scored on Touchet's ninth-inning sacrifice fly.

Derby's Carsen Pracht scored on a first-inning double play after reaching on an error. Brett McGee scored on Tyler DeLong's fourth-inning groundball for a 2-2 tie. A critical error led to a three-run fifth inning. Cole Romero. McGee and Brennen VanBrueusegen delivered RBI singles for a 5-2 lead. Kole Myers scored a sixth-inning run for a 6-2 lead.

Pracht scored on a passed ball and McGee scored on a wild pitch for an 8-3 lead after 81/2 innings.

TWINS 8, BAT CATS 4

Derby 100 131 002 – 8 9 2

Bat Cats 200 000 011 – 4 6 5

Barnhouse, Greenwood (6), Thiels (8), DeLong (9) and McGee. Marty Carnahan, Smith (7), Grant Thompson (9) and Touchet. W–Barnhouse. L–Marty Carnahan. 2B–BC–Touchet.

SUNFLOWER COLLEGIATE LEAGUE

Cheney Diamond Dawgs 21-0 27-0

Hutchinson Monarchs 17-4 19-4 

Rose Hill Sluggers 16-5 19-6

Great Bend Bat Cats 11-14 12-16

Mulvane Patriots 9-12 11-12

Derby Twins 9-15 9-15

Newton Rebels 7-14 10-15

Haysville Aviators 4-16 6-19

Sunflower Seeds 5-19 5-19

7-14–Hutchinson 8, Bat Cats 2; Cheney 14, Haysville 1; Seeds 4, Derby 3; Newton 5, Rose Hill 4

7-15–Derby 8, Bat Cats 4; Cheney 8, Newton 7; Rose Hill 7, Haysville 1; Hutchinson 5, Mulvane 3

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; (nc) Wichita Elliot at Seeds

7-18–Bat Cats at Derby; Cheney at Newton; Rose Hill at Haysville; Mulvane at Hutchinson; (nc) Wichita Grays at Seeds