The Great Bend Bat Cats dealt a blow to the Hutchinson Monarchs’ Jayhawk Collegiate League championship hopes on Wednesday in Great Bend, as the Bat Cats erased an early three-run deficit and went on to win 11-5.
The loss moved the Monarchs two games back of Great Bend. The Monarchs (21-9 overall, 19-9 Jayhawk) have a two-game weekend set with seventh-place Newton, while Great Bend (22-8) has a two-game set with the fifth-place Haysville Aviators this weekend. The Monarchs would need to sweep Newton and have Haysville at least split with Great Bend for the Monarchs to have a chance. The Monarchs have a pair of games with the eighth-place Performance Factory Phenoms that were rained out, but would only be made up if the league standings could be affected.
Junction City (20-9) and Derby (19-9) are also mathematically alive.
The Monarchs had a strong start Wednesday. With two outs in the top of the first inning, JJ Spafford stole third base and scored on a throwing error.
In the fourth inning, the Monarchs increased the lead to 3-0. With the bases loaded and one out, Nash Wray grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring Marcus Gradney. Then with two outs, Drew Bugner reached on an error, and Jackson Harding came home.
Great Bend scored the game’s next 11 runs. The Bat Cats outhit the Monarchs 17-8. Wray was the only Monarch with more than one hit, as Wray finished with two.
Jackson Schanuel walked twice and had a ninth-inning two-run single.
Dayton Hicks took the loss on the mound for the Monarchs, as he gave up four runs on 10 hits in five innings.
The Monarchs return to action at 7 p.m. Friday at Hobart-Detter Field to take on Newton.
