STORY AND PHOTOS
BY KEITH LIPPOLDT
klippoldt@gbtribune.com
July 15, 2025 was officially proclaimed Great Bend Bat Cats Day by the Barton County Commissioners.
Members of the Bat Cats baseball team along with General Manager and Head Coach Roger Ward were in attendance to receive the recognition.
The Bat Cats have been in operation since the summer of 2017. The team plays in the Kansas Collegiate Summer League with several teams from cities across the state. The team is made up of collegiate players from around the country and, this year, they have a player from Canada.
Commissioner Barb Esfeld, who is a host family for three Bat Cats this summer, read the Proclamation and gave her thanks to the players and staff.
“I can tell you that we have enjoyed having you guys,” she said. “You give up your summer to come play here. And I know a lot of you guys are poor college kids. I remember being there myself, and you come here and give up your summer. You give up time away from family, friends, girlfriends, and we appreciate it. You bring a lot to our community. These guys have done outstanding community service work. They shoveled mulch for hours at (the Great Bend Recreation Activity Center) My Backyard Playground. I can’t even mention all the things that you guys have done for our community.
“But then, just the entertainment you provide for the people that love baseball. We have something to go do that we normally wouldn’t. So we really appreciate you guys. And as coach said, a lot of these guys aren’t sleeping in late. Sometimes they get to, but not often. They’re very dedicated to their sport as well as they’re great to have as the host families.”
Head Coach Roger Ward took to the podium and talked about the program’s growth from the beginning years and became emotional talking about this year’s team.
“The early years were tougher than probably what it seemed from the outside,” he said. “The team has had success and always made it through the season no matter what obstacles were thrown in front of us, financially or even just a natural tragedy. Every year, it’s getting easier, more support. The crowds have been incredible for us, and I feel like the future is going to get even better. The support from advertisement, all the businesses, individuals, is something that I just can’t believe. To be honest with you, coming from year number one, when personal friends wouldn’t give us $1 because they just wanted to see us prove it. And I feel like we’re well on that track, and it’s a pleasure every day for an old guy like me to still put on a baseball uniform. But to bring these young guys in that have the whole world in front of them, try to teach them a few life lessons along the way, and just see them compete ...”
Ward explained that this season has had some heartbreak, with tough losses, but not once have his players thrown in the towel and given up.
“Any coach would be crazy to tell you that there weren’t years you couldn’t wait for the season to get over,” he said. “Because it’s long, it’s hard, it’s a grind. Sometimes the guys aren’t receptive of what you’re trying to say. They start taking shortcuts, But this is not that team. This is my favorite team ever. But what they’ve been through and the trials and tribulations – I think we’ve been walked off four times with two outs in the ninth. But they keep showing up.
“But not only that, they’re just good humans. Collectively, this is the best set of humans we’ve had here in Great Bend. It’s an honor when folks like you do things like this and recognize the organization as a whole. And then these young men, who we don’t know what they’re going to be yet, I have a hunch there’s going to be a lot of these guys that are going to be very successful in life, just from what I see on a day to day basis. I’m a little bit emotional today, and I don’t know why. I apologize about that. The end is always scary to me, no matter what.”
Great Bend’s final home game of the season will be Friday night at Al Burns Field. The Bat Cats are still in the hunt for a berth in the NBC World Series, making the final few games very important.
“I’m so proud of the city and everybody who’s invested in this, including our organization and raising private funds. I think it’s (Al Burns Field) something that everybody can walk by — or ride their bike by — or drive by and be real proud of. And I wouldn’t want it to be in any other town than my hometown, which is Great Bend. I love Great Bend. Thank you guys for everything.”
Esfeld made the motion to adopt the Proclamation. It was seconded by Commissioner Shawn Hutchinson and carried 5-0.
This is what else the Commissioners did in the meeting.
• Approved the regular Accounts Payable register, presented by County Clerk Bev Schmeidler, for the period of July 1 to July 15.
Commissioner Duane Reif made the motion to approve the register and it was seconded by Esfeld. The motion carried 5-0.
• Approved the 13th month accounts payable, second run, also presented by Schmeidler.
Hutchinson made the motion to accept and that was seconded by Commissioner Donna Zimmerman. The motion carried 5-0.
• Entered into Executive Session with the subject matter being legal issues affecting the Barton County Health Department. County Counselor Patrick Hoffman stated, “the justification would be to have consultation with the county counselor and to be private for attorney client privilege. The participants would be (County Administrator) Matt Patzner, myself, Health Director Karen Winkelman and (Health Department Financial Officer) Misty Trudeau.”
