By Brad Hallier
Tyson Vassart singled with one out in the top of the eighth inning Friday, scoring Keegan Demmer and AJ Mustow, breaking a scoreless game, and the Hutchinson Monarchs vaulted to first place in the Jayhawk Collegiate Baseball League by beating the Great Bend Bat Cats 2-1 in Great Bend.
The Monarchs didn’t have trouble getting runners on base, as they outhit Great Bend 11-4.
Carson Gonzales started on the mound for the Monarchs, and he threw four hitless innings. Riley Dickey earned the win by giving up a run on three hits in 3 1/3 efficient innings. Russell Copous pitched a five-out save.
The Monarchs improved to 7-1, a half game ahead of 7-2 Great Bend.
The Monarchs and Bat Cats return to action at 7 p.m. Saturday at Hobart-Detter Field. It will be the Monarchs’ annual Cancer Awareness Night.
