KINGMAN, Kan. – A phenomenal 8th and 9th innings for the Great Bend Bat Cats’ offense paved the way for a win in their final road game of the 2025 season, beating the Kingman Islanders 12-7 Thursday, July 17.
Kingman led for most of the matchup, striking first in the 3rd inning. Great Bend took the lead in the 5th inning, capped off by a Carson Umphres RBI double. The Bat Cats led 3-2, but the lead was short-lived as the Islanders tied the game in the 6th and took a three-run lead in the 7th.
With the Bat Cats trailing 6-3 going into the 8th inning, but stormed back to tie the game. Cole Pladson started the scoring with an RBI single, Caleb Cowan drove in a run on a walk, and Campbell Coleman was hit by a pitch to bring in a run, putting the score at a 6-6 deadlock.
They entered the 9th still tied, but they had a six-run inning to give themselves a commanding lead. After getting a man on base, the Bat Cats tried to get a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner, but an error helped him reach base and scored a run to give them the lead. A wild pitch two pitches later made the score 8-6.
The wheels then fell off for Kingman as Logan Renken singled to right field, but two runs scored on an error and put Renken at third base, putting the score at 10-6 Bat Cats. Renken then scored on a wild pitch and one pitch later, Cowan hit a home run to left field. The score was 12-6 after the top of the 9th. The Islanders got a run back on a Great Bend error, but Andrugh Yee held on to give the Cats a 12-7 win.
Yee earned the win on the mound, throwing 2 1/3 innings with three strikeouts. Umphres went 3-3 on the game to lead the Bat Cats. TJ Shaw also went 2-4 with three runs.
The Bat Cats are 19-14 on the season with one game remaining in their schedule. They will host the Islanders in Great Bend Fri., July 18 at 7 p.m.
