Bat Cats lose opener, 8-6

BY JIM MISUNAS

jmisunas@gbtribune.com

Hutchinson's Drew Reetz delivered a pair of two-RBI singles to spark the Monarchs past the Great Bend Bat Cats 8-6 in Friday's opener of a four-game Sunflower Collegiate League baseball series. Hutchinson (14-4, 12-4 Sunflower) occupies second place while the Bat Cats (12-12, 11-10 Sunflower) remain in fourth place.

The Bat Cats led 5-4 after six innings, but the Monarchs tagged reliever Grant Thompson for six earned runs at Al Burns Field.

Great Bend rolled to a 2-0 lead when Brady Michel singled home Collin Meinert and Baker scored on Tyler Henry's first-inning groundout.

The Monarchs answered with a four-run third inning. Clayton Chadwick scored on Anthony MacKenzie's single. MacKenzie scored on Taylor Barber's single. Reetz's single scored Barber and Dylan Nedved for a 4-2 lead.

The Bat Cats responded with a three-run sixth inning. Michel's single scored Meinert. Henry's double scored Michel. Ben Brown singled home Henry for a 5-4 lead after six innings.

Hutchinson scored six seventh-inning runs. Chadwick scored on Nedved's single. Reetz singled home MacKenzie and Barber. Easton Rindt scored on Barber's single for an 8-5 lead.

Michel scored on Trent Touchet's groundout for an 8-6 score after eight innings.

MONARCHS 8, BAT CATS 6

Hutchinson 004 000 310 – 8 10 0

Bat Cats 200 003 010 – 6 9 1

Hamilton, Cornelius (7), Randall (9) and Hamm. Murray, Grant Thompson (3), Peters (7), Shadrick (9) and Touchet. W–Hamilton. L–Murray. 2B–BC–Michel, Henry.

SUNFLOWER COLLEGIATE LEAGUE

Cheney Diamond Dawgs 17-0 21-0

Hutchinson Monarchs 12-4 14-4

Rose Hill Sluggers 12-5 12-5

Great Bend Bat Cats 11-10 12-12

Mulvane Patriots 9-11 9-11

Derby Twins 8-11 8-11

Newton Rebels 6-11 9-11

Haysville Aviators 4-11 6-14

Sunflower Seeds 2-18 2-18

7-10–Hutchinson 8, Bat Cats 6; Derby 8, Seeds 7; Rose Hill 9, Newton 6

7-11–Bat Cats at Hutchinson; Haysville at Cheney; Seeds at Derby; Newton at Rose Hill; Wichita Aeros at Mulvane