The Jayhawk Collegiate League is stocked with outstanding baseball players from around the country. These players come into these towns and cities and provide outstanding baseball for those in attendance.

The Great Bend Bat Cats have been a member of this league for several years and have always finished at, or near, the top of the standings. This year will be no different.

Head Coach and General Manager Roger Ward is a baseball man. Nearly a decade ago, he had a dream of building a franchise in the city he calls home. He knew it would be difficult to pull it off and he knew it would take more than just him to make it happen. So much goes into building something like this from securing a field to call home to finding housing for the 25ish players that will spend their summer in Great Bend. Don’t forget you need someone to run the scoreboard and have a PA announcer to keep the crowd informed and entertained. Who is going to do the laundry after games? Who’s manning the concession stands? The list of needs is staggering.

Well, I can tell you Ward and the Bat Cats have got it going on. My interest in this program actually comes from a distance. My son Casey is in his third year as the head coach of the Hutchinson Monarchs. He spent two years before that as the pitching coach. Before that, he was a pitcher on the Monarchs inaugural team in 2009 and again in 2010. He actually has pitched for the Monarchs in non-league games the past two seasons.

The Monarchs won the NBC World Series in 2023 and finished second to the Hays Larks in the Series last summer. In 2023, they were not the best team in the Jayhawk League. That honor belonged to the Bat Cats up until the tornado came through town in early July and several of the players left and didn’t return for the postseason. That was a shame because that team was loaded. Ward can recruit and he can coach.

The Monarchs and Bat Cats met this past weekend for a pair of games. Friday, the Bat Cats hosted the Monarchs and the Monarchs returned the favor Saturday in Hutch. 

Let me tell you about my experiences in both stadiums. Friday, MPire Realty was the game sponsor and they did it up right. They provided brisket sliders and all the fixings to anybody and everybody that came through the gate – at no cost. They provided $1 beers the entire game. Hot dogs from the concession stands were also just a buck. Did I mention the Bat Cats don’t charge admission? All seats are free. I didn’t hear the attendance figure but there was a great crowd.

They keep the fans entertained with the level of play on the field and with the music, trivia and announcements piped through the sound system. They even had recent GBHS grad and 5A all-state player Carson Umphres on the mound. He didn’t disappoint. It was a great night of baseball. The Monarchs won this game 2-1.

Saturday, the Bat Cats visited Hutchinson at the refurbished Hobart Stadium in Carey Park. For the Monarchs, this was its annual Cancer Awareness Night where all proceeds and donations go directly to the Reno County Cancer office. They had several cancer survivors or family members of cancer victims on hand to throw out first pitches. Both teams wore Cancer Awareness jerseys and the Monarchs auctioned off their jerseys to raise additional money. It was an emotional ceremony with many sets of eyes leaking in the stands and on the field.

And, what is to be expected, the teams put on a great show for the nearly 600 fans in attendance. Hutch held on for a 9-6 win.

Casey and I talk frequently about his team and the other teams in the league. There are some franchises that are difficult to get along with and some teams that lack discipline on the field and in the dugout. In these conversations, he has nothing but respect and admiration for Ward and the Bat Cats. Both teams were sitting on top of the league standings on Friday. Before the game he said “Well, I guess we will see if we are for real.”

Both teams are for real. Both teams should go a long ways in the World Series this July. It could possibly come down to these two teams playing each other on the final weekend. If only one advances, I guarantee you the other will be rooting for the one left standing.

Ward and Great Bend have proven that they can maintain a top level team and provide affordable entertainment for the community. They are great ambassadors for the City, as well. Get out to Al Burns Field in Veterans Park and support these guys. 

Of course, I will be rooting for the Monarchs but if they don’t advance, I will be wearing my new Bat Cat hat and rooting for Ward and Co.

 — Keith Lippoldt