By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
While running a summer collegiate baseball organization is a year-long job, more people are starting to think about the return of the Great Bend Bat Cats as spring has arrived. The 2024 season marks year eight for the Bat Cats competing at Al Burns Memorial Field.
Manager Roger Ward said local support has been great and his team will continue to find ways to get the community involved. On July 2, the Bat Cats will face the Great Bend Bombers, a team consisting of local high school athletes.
"Some of those Bombers players are aspiring to be college baseball players," said Ward. "They'll get a chance to play against the Bat Cats. That night too, hopefully, we'll have the Great Bend Rec baseball and softball teams there. Each team can run the bases between innings and get announced. We hope we have some really good participation on that."
While looking for community support, the Bat Cats are also looking for host families this summer. For two months, residents have the chance to house one or more of the collegiate players that come to Great Bend from around the country to play.
The Bat Cats’ first game this year is June 1.