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Shaw's grand slam sparks Bat Cats
tJ shaw catch
Bat Cats shortstop T.J. Shaw delivers a highlight-reel catch to save a run on Jack Helberg's sixth-inning pop fly that leaves centerfielder Carson Umphres stunned. - photo by Lori Farmer

JUNCTION CITY — T.J. Shaw hammered a grand slam homer to spark the Great Bend Bat Cats past Junction City 9-5 in a showdown for first place.

Great Bend (22-7, 19-7 Jayhawk) leads Junction City (19-8, 18-8 Jayhawk) by 11/2 games for first place.

Junction City sliced the lead to 5-4 when Shaw's homer off B Hauschel scored Delarco Delancy, Dylan Sarna and George McCarroll for a 9-4 lead. Sarna and McCarroll singled after a walk.

Bat Cat all-star pitcher Zachary Alarid (4-0, 1.87 ERA) threw six solid innings and Field worked three innings for a save. Field struck out Cade Ostner to leave the bases loaded in the ninth inning.

Shaw scored on a sixth-inning single by red-hot Andrugh Yee. Chavira delivered the game's clutch single to score Yee and Peanut Brazzle for a 5-2 lead.

Junction City answered with two runs when Alarid fought his command with a pair of wild pitches and a costly passed ball on a strikeout.

Junction City's Ortner's first-inning single drove home Kyle Walker for a 1-0 lead.

Chase Kessler's 2-out single scored Kirby Orth and Cesar Chavira after a second-inning single and walk for a 2-1 lead.

Junction City's Brayden Harpole scored on a Collin Ross sacrifice fly for a 2-2 tie.

Great Bend 020 003 400 — 9 9 0

Junction City 100 102 001 — 5 7 1

Alarid, Field (7) and Kessler. Roberson, Hauschel (6), Udland (7) and Kellogg. W—Alarid, 4-0. L—Roberson. SV—Field. 2B—GB—Brazzle. 3B—JC—Pantuso. HR—GB—Shaw.

JAYHAWK COLLEGIATE

Great Bend Bat Cats 20-7 22-7

Derby Twins 17-7 17-8

Junction City Brigade 18-8 19-8

Hutchinson Monarchs 17-8 18-8

Haysville Aviators 13-11 18-11

Kansas Cannons 12-13 13-13-1

Newton Rebels 7-17 9-19

Wichita Factory 7-19 7-19

Kingman Islanders 2-23 2-23

7-8—Great Bend 18, Newton 6; Hutchinson 6, Junction City 4; Derby 13, Kingman 1; Haysville 13, Wichita 11

7-9—Newton 11, Great Bend 1; Junction City 9, Hutchinson 2; Derby 11, Kingman 0; Haysville 7, Wichita 3

7-10—Great Bend 9, Junction City 5; Hutchinson 14, Haysville 5

7-11—Jayhawk All-Stars at Hutchinson, 7 p.m.

7-12—Junction City at Great Bend, 3; Haysville at Derby; Newton at Wichita; Kingman at Cannons