DERBY 8, BAT CATS 4 — The Bat Cats trailed 8-1 before the offense got rolling in a 3-run ninth inning in an 8-4 Jayhawk Collegiate League setback to Derby Wednesday at Al Burns Memorial Field.
The Bat Cats (14-9, 13-7 Jayhawk) are 1-4 against Jayhawk leader Hutchinson (17-5, 15-5 Jayhawk) and second-place Derby (16-7, 14-7). Great Bend travels to Derby Saturday.
Nebraska recruit Carter Kutz delivered the game-defining sixth-inning sequence. Kutz struck out Bat Cats Tyler Clementz and Carson Umphres to strand Andrugh Yee, J.J. Fontana and Luke Nohinek to preserve a 4-1 lead. Kutz (1.35 ERA) yielded one earned run in 32/3 innings.
Great Bend's Peanut Brazzle (.346) singled, stole second base and scored on a first-inning error for a 1-0 lead off Vanegs (2-0, 4.24 ERA).
Derby started an 8-run barrage with two unearned third-inning runs. The Bat Cats handed Derby two runs with twin errors. Kale Dudding scored on an error. Caden Richards scored on a Tyson Owens single for a 2-1 lead off. Rolen Driskoll homered and Cade Sunderland singled home Lindahl in a 2-run fifth inning off Bat Cats pitcher Eli Lang (3-2, 3.20 ERA).
Derby scored four ninth-inning insurance runs. Lindahl singled home Driskoll. Damian Garcia singled home Richards. Sutherland doubled home Lindahl. Garcia scored on Nick Allison's sacrifice fly for an 8-1 lead.
Red-hot Brazzle (.346) doubled home Clementz and Umphres and T.J. Shaw doubled in Brazzle in the ninth inning.
Derby Twins 002 020 004 — 8 13 2
GB Bat Cats 100 000 003 — 4 5 3
Vanegs, Kutz (6) and Driskoll. Lang, Kunz (9) and Leon. W—Vanegas, 2-0. L—Lang, 3-2. 2B—GB—Brazzle, Shaw; D—Sutherland. HR—D—Driskoll.
JAYHAWK COLLEGIATE LEAGUE
Hutchinson Monarchs 15-5 17-5
Derby Twins 14-7 16-7
GB Bat Cats 13-7 14-9
Haysville Aviators 14-8 17-8
Junction City Brigade 10-10 12-10
Kansas Cannons 10-11 12-11-1
Rose Hill Wildcats 10-12 10-12
Kingman Islanders 5-17 5-17
Newton Rebels 4-17 5-18
7-8—Kingman at Derby; Haysville at Monarchs; Hays at Cannons; Wildcats at Newton
7-7—Bat Cats at Brigade; Derby at Kingman; Cannons at Dodge City
7-6—Brigade at Bat Cats; Aviators at Monarchs
7-5—Bat Cats at Derby; Kingman at Monarchs; Cannons at Brigade
7-3—Derby 8, Bat Cats 4; Aviators 7, Newton 3; Wildcats 2, Kingman 1
7-2—Derby 14, Dodge City 10; Aviators 7, Newton 5; Brigade 7, Cannons 5; Monarchs 12, Blacksox 3; Islanders 15, Wildcats 12
7-1—Wildcats 7-0, Bat Cats 5-4; Aviators 13, Kingman 8; Monarchs 11, Cannons 2; Newton 9, Dodge City 4
