According to the Great Bend Bats Cats baseball team’s social media pages, their clubhouse was broken into Thursday night.
The Bat Cats are a member of the Jayhawk Collegiate League along with the Hutchinson Monarchs.
The crime has been reported to law enforcement, but the Bat Cats organization stated if you know or hear anything about the crime to make sure you report it.
“Bat Cats fans, supporters, and folks in our community, we need your eyes and ears,” said the Bat Cats in a statement released on Facebook. “We were shocked to see that our clubhouse/office was broken into last night, effectively putting our season in jeopardy. While we don’t know yet about our players personal things, we were robbed of our safe and electronic devices.
“We aren’t sure how to proceed yet as the shock of this hasn’t worn off quite yet. We’ve worked extremely hard for eight years to build, and it has taken people and businesses like yourselves to do this. WHOEVER DID THIS HAS STOLEN FROM YOU TOO!
“Police and investigators have done a great job doing what they do in instances like this, and we know that they will do their very best to find the culprit(s) even if we can’t recover our assets.
“We ask that you keep the players who have made Great Bend their home for the summer, and are committed to who we are as an organization, in your prayers.
“And please, if you know or hear of anything, do the right thing and report it. Thank you very much.”
The 2024 season marks the eighth year for the summer collegiate baseball team in Great Bend.
The Bat Cats (10-7 in Jayhawk Collegiate League play and 11-7 overall) are scheduled to play a doubleheader at 6 p.m. Saturday against the Newton Rebels at Newton.
Eight members of the Great Bend Bats Cats are scheduled to play in the Jayhawk Collegiate League All-Star Game at 5:45 p.m. Sunday at Riverfront Stadium in downtown Wichita. Admission is $5.
The Bat Cats’ All-Stars are Carson Lorch, IF, Northeast Texas CC, Haslet, Texas; Tyler Stuhlsatz, OF/LHP, Barton CC, Great Bend; Jesse Ponce, IF, NOC Enid, Sachse, Texas; Jhett Creel, NOC Enid, Wylie, Texas; Kyler Horsman, U/RHP, Barton CC, Manhattan; Carson Sowell, LHP, NOC Enid, Garland, Texas; Cooper Smith, IB/LHP, NOC Enid, Marlow, Okla.; Julio Heredia, RHP, NOC Enid, Krugerville, Texas.
The Wichita Wind Surge (the Minnesota Twins’ Double-A Texas League team) plays the North Arkansas Naturals (the Kansas City Royals’ Double-A team) at 1:15 p.m. Sunday.
Fans who attend the Wind Surge-Naturals game will be admitted free to the All Star Game.
10 Hutchinson Monarchs, coach selected for All-Star Game
Ten members of the Hutchinson Monarchs and head coach Casey Lippoldt will participate in the Jayhawk Collegiate League All-Star Game.
The 10 Hutchinson Monarchs will play for the Stripes Team against the Stars Team.
Representing the defending National Baseball Congress Tournament champion Monarchs are first baseman Jarrett Flaggert, shortstop Cooper Wesslund, third baseman Camden Johnson, outfielders Brett Smajstria and Jaden Gustafson and pitchers Brock Rod, Jace Minor, Kamden Edge, Reed Scott and Camden Jensen.
Former Wichita State University All-American Phil Stephenson is the Stripes head coach. His assistant coaches are Lippoldt, Newton Rebels’ coach Justin Hinsley and Kingman coach Toby Munz.
Hutchinson Baseball Association announces tryout clinic dates
The Hutchinson Baseball Association has scheduled tryout clinics for July 25 (Thursday) and July 27 (Saturday) at Fun Valley Sports Complex.
Each player will receive a free membership to Hacks Indoor Facility, 1228 North Halstead, Hutchinson, Kan., as part of the association.
July 25 tryout clinics: 8 and under, 8 and under, 10 and under, 5:30 p.m.; 11 under, 12 and under, 6:30 p.m.; 13 and under, 14 and under, 7:30 p.m.
July 27 tryout clinics: 8 and under, 8 and under, 10 and under, 9 a.m.; 11 under, 12 and under, 10 a.m.; 13 and under, 14 and under, 11 a.m.
Former Newton Rebels baseball players selected in Chinese pro draft
Yu Chun-Yu and Hsu-He-Chieh, members of the 2023 Newton Rebels baseball team, were selected in the Chinese Professional Baseball League Draft Friday.
The Newton Rebels compete in the Jayhawk Collegiate League along with the Hutchinson Monarchs.