BREAKING
County approves settlement with Boxberger, Lehmkuhl
Full Story
By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Slumping Bat Cats continue downward slide
DSC_0141DSC_0141.jpg
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