BAT CATS 7, KANSAS CANNONS 5 — Bat Cats reliever Cade Kunz threw four shutout innings to preserve a hard-fought 7-5 Jayhawk Collegiate League victory over the Augusta Kansas Cannons Monday. Barton Cougar pitcher Kunz worked around three hits and two walks. Shortstop T.J. Shaw turned an eighth-inning double play.
Peanut Brazzle's grand-slam homer capped a 5-run fourth inning. Brazzle's blast scored Carson Umphres, Caleb Cowan and Joey Marker for a 5-1 lead. Marker's hit-by-pitch plated Andrugh Yee.
Brazzle's drive to centerfield was boosted by a 20-mph southerly wind. Cannons centerfielder Zach Makarewich barely missed making a play.
"That felt great. It came at the right time," said Brazzle, the Club 1 Fitness Player of the Game. "I got a fastball. I thought it was gone. But the centerfielder looked like he might catch it."
Kansas Cannon Blake Seefeldt kicked off a 4-RBI night with a third-inning single to score Teigan Munce for a 1-0 lead.
The Cannons rallied for a 5-5 tie. Makarewich scored on a wild pitch. Seefeldt's 3-run homer scored Rodriguez and Hunter Alvord for a 5-5 tie.
Great Bend responded with a pair of fifth-inning runs. Elias Leno scored on a Logan Gross balk. Luke Nohinek scored on Cowan's sacrifice fly for a 7-5 lead.
The second-place Bat Cats (8-5, 8-3 Jayhawk) are scheduled to travel to Augusta Tuesday weather permitting.
Kansas Cannons 001 040 000 — 5 8 2
GB Bat Cats 000 520 00x — 7 7 2
Gross, Nunez (5), Doty (7) and Baxter. Clementz, Kunz (6) and Nohinek. W—Clementz, 2-1. L—Gross. SV—Kunz. 2B—GB—Walker; KS—Munce, Makarewich. HR—GB—Brazzle; KS—Seefeldt.
JAYHAWK LEAGUE
Hutchinson Monarchs 9-2 10-2
GB Bat Cats 8-3 8-5
Haysville Aviators 6-3 7-3
Derby Twins 7-4 7-4
Junction City Brigade 7-5 8-5
Kansas Cannons 5-7 6-7-1
Wichita Wildcats 4-7 4-7
Kingman Islanders 3-10 3-10
Newton Rebels 2-9 2-10
6-14—Monarchs 9, Bat Cats 5; Brigade 10-7, Aviators 3-6; Kingman 7, Newton 2
6-15—Derby 9, Monarchs 8; Brigade 10, Newton 4
6-16—Bat Cats 7, Cannons 5; Aviators 14, Wildcats 13; Monarchs 8, Kingman 1
6-17—Bat Cats at Augusta Cannons; Kingman at Monarchs; Newton at Brigade; Wildcats at Aviators; Wellington at Derby