BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
WICHITA – Great Bend Bat Cat Grant Nottlemann continues on a record-setting pace with 9-for-13 batting (.692) in the NBC World Series, and a statistically shocking 17-for-21 on-base percentage of 81%.
The Bat Cats roared past the Seattle Blackfins 17-6 in Wednesday's elimination game. Barton Community College catcher Nottlemann (Lincoln, Neb.) singled and doubled for three RBIs and was 5-for-5 on base with a trio of walks.
Teammate Jayden Hill, Tuesday's hero, duplicated Nottlemann's feat with a single, double, three walks and 5-for-5 on base.
Hill and Nottlemann delivered highlight after highlight. Jaron Cotton singled home Hill in the second inning for a 1-1 tie. Hill threw out Seattle's Harrison Kaufman out at home plate, then doubled home Isaiah Ural for a 2-1 lead. Jackson Webster scored on a third-inning infield single by Kade Snodgrass and Hill hustled home on an error for a 4-1 lead.
Seattle's Zion Williams homered and Kaufman scored on a double steal after two Bat Cat errors for a 4-3 score.
But Great Bend extended the lead to 7-3 when Nottlemann forced home Tyler Cowan on a walk. Marshall Hale singled home Ural and Hill for a 7-3 lead.
The Bat Cats added two fifth-inning insurance runs. Cowan singled home Robby Bolin. Jackson Webster doubled home Cowan. Webster scored on a double steal for a 10-3 lead after 41/2 innings.
Great Bend kicked into high gear with a 7-run sixth inning. Jaron Cotton's walk forced home a run. Robby Bolin singled home Hale. Kade Snodgrass and Cotton scored on Cowan's single. Cotton scored on a double-play groundball. Nottlemann doubled home Webster and Hill, who scored with superb baserunning.
Great Bend pitcher Chayse Gruber (6-0) threw two scoreless innings to earn the victory.
GB Bat Bats 013 337 – 17 15 2
Seattle Blackfins 103 003 – 6 7 2
Tyrus Riley, Gruber (4), Bartels (6) and Nottlemann. Cooper, Bryan (3), Corsi (4) and Jones. W–Gruber, 6-0. L–Cooper. 2B–GB–Webster, Hill, Nottlemann; S–Kaufman. HR–S–Williams.
2023 NBC WORLD SERIES, WICHITA
12-TEAM BRACKET WEDNESDAY
Lonestar, Texas 19, Arlington Baptist 3
Denver Cougars 6, Liberal 5
Dallas Kraken, Texas 9, Hays Larks 2
Bat Cats 17, Seattle Blackfins 6
QUARTERFINALS
Dallas Kraken 6, Kansas Cannons 3
Hutchinson Monarchs 11, Lonestar, Texas 1
Santa Barbara 3, Denver Cougars 0
Seattle Studs 6, Bat Cats 1
SEMIFINALS
Hutchinson Monarchs 17, Dallas Kraken 0
Santa Barbara (33-10) vs. Seattle Studs (22-20)
CHAMPIONSHIP
Hutchinson (25-17) vs. Santa Barbara/Seattle Studs winner
