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Orth's homer sparks Bat Cats to first place
Bat Cats can clinch Jayhawk title, NBC berth Friday
kirby orth
Bat Cat Kirby Orth

BY JIM MISUNAS

jmisunas@gbtribune.com

Great Bend left-handed batter Kirby Orth homered to left field and drove in five runs to spark the Bat Cats past Hutchinson 12-3 Wednesday.

"I put a good swing on a heater away. My whole approach was left center field," Orth said. "He threw heaters away. I had two good swings in my previous at-bats."

The summer's largest home crowd roared its approval as Great Bend rallied from a 3-0 deficit.

"This was a big win, and we took care of business," Orth said. "That was special, a big thanks to the Great Bend community."

Andrugh Yee hammered his 10th home run and drove home three runs.

Jayhawk Collegiate leader Great Bend (22-8) leads Junction City (20-9), Hutchinson (19-9) and Derby (19-9) for a NBC World Series berth. Defending NBC World Series champion Hutchinson is an automatic qualifier.

The Bat Cats need one more victory to clinch first place either in Friday's home game against Haysville or Saturday at Haysville.

Mason Murphy (5-1, 5.46 ERA) struck out 12 Monarch batters. Reliever Jacob Field added five strikeouts.

Hutchinson led 3-0 on a run-scoring wild pitch, a groundout and an error.

Jaxon Bunkers scored on a double play for a 3-1 score. Orth's 2-run homer scored T.J. Shaw before Jaxon Bunkers scored on an error for a 4-3 lead.

Orth's 2-run double scored George McCarroll and Shaw and Yee's single scored Orth for a 7-3 lead.

"I looked for a first-pitch heater and didn't miss it," Orth said.

Cesar Chapman scored on McCarroll's double to ignite a 5-run seventh. McCarroll scored on Orth's groundout. Yee's homer scored Shaw. Peanut Brazzle scored on a wild pitch for a 12-3 lead.

Jackson Schanuel's single scored Nash Wray and Drew Bugner for Hutchinson's final runs.

Hutchinson 100 200 002 — 5 8 2

Great Bend 0001 133 50x — 12 17 1

Hicks, Jarrell (6), Lyons (7), Day (7) and Harding. Murphy, Field (7) and Kessler. W—Murphy. L—Hicks. 2B—GB—McCarroll. HR—GB—Yee (10), Orth (6).

JAYHAWK COLLEGIATE

Great Bend Bat Cats 22-9 24-9

Junction City Brigade 22-9 23-9

Hutchinson Monarchs 20-9 21-9

Derby Twins 19-9 19-10

Haysville Aviators 16-13 21-13

Kansas Cannons 14-15 15-15-1

Newton Rebels 9-20 11-22

Wichita Factory 8-21 8-21

Kingman Islanders 2-28 2-28

7-13—Hutchinson 5, Haysville 3; Cannons 11, Kingman 5; Newton 5, Wichita 0

7-14—Hutchinson 12, Great Bend 3; Junction City 5, Derby 3; Newton 15, Cannons 5; Haysville 17, Kingman 5

7-15—Great Bend 11, Hutchinson 5; Junction City 9, Derby 0; Cannons 15, Newton 4

7-16—Junction City 9, Cannons 3; Haysville 12, Kingman 3

7-17—Haysville 10, Great Bend 5; Hutchinson 13, Newton 2; Junction City 9, Wichita 0

7-18—Great Bend at Haysville; Kingman at Newton; Junction City at Wichita; Cannons at Derby

7-19—Hutchinson at Newton; Cannons at Derby

7-20—Derby at Haysville (2)