BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Great Bend’s softball team delivered timely hitting, spectacular defense and clutch pitching against rival Garden City.
The nine-inning affair featured one unpredictable play after another.
However, like many feel-good stories, this one finished with a sad ending as the Buffaloes pulled off a hard-fought 7-5 extra-inning victory Tuesday night. The Panthers (5-9) and Buffaloes (9-1) play a twin bill Thursday at Garden City.
The Panthers were one out away from upsetting the 9-1 Buffaloes after earlier surprising WAC powerhouse Dodge City. But the Buffaloes delivered the tying seventh-inning RBIs as Rilee McGraw and Gissell Gutierrez ripped back-to-back base hits for a 5-5 tie.
This one was too juicy to just go seven innings, so the drama extended to nine innings. Abby Parr scored on a wild pitch and Brie Manwarren scored on a groundball for a 7-5 victory.
“It was a great softball game and we gave ourselves opportunities,” said Great Bend coach Carrie Minton. “Our girls battled from start-to-finish. I liked the way we dug in and battled. We put runs across in tough situations. We made great defensive stops. We know if we clean it up, we’ve got a shot again Thursday.”
“In the end, they caught a few breaks and took advantage.”
Great Bend showed the fight of a champion behind Pamela Bujanda, who singled, doubled and tripled with two runs scored.
“Pamela Bujanda was tremendous at the plate,” Minton said. “She battled at the plate and scored a couple times. Our pitcther Jordan Turner threw eight innings and went way deeper than we thought she would.”
The Panthers’ spectacular defense kept them close.
Centerfielder Breanna Ridgeway made a leaping third-inning catch of a Mya Cruz fly ball to the fence. Right fielder Melyne Fletchall made a stretching catch on a Gutierrez’ fourth-inning fly ball. Third baseman Grace Rowland tagged out Abby Parr on a fifth-inning fielding gem. Shortstop Sydney Unruh was solid as usual.
Garden City’s Manwarren singled home Jesikah Foster with a first-inning run. Bujanda tripled home courtesy runner Laura Daniel and scored on a fourth-inning wild pitch for a 2-1 Panther lead.
The Buffaloes regained the lead thanks to a pair of fourth-inning Panther errors. Angie Serrano’s bunt traveled 15 feet, but she sped around the bases on a throwing error. Manwarren singled home Foster for a 3-2 lead.
Turner matched up perfectly with Garden City ace Brie Manwarren. After a timely mound visit by Minton, Turner rallied to retire three consecutive batters after the Buffaloes led 3-2.
“We were a little rattled and the girls were anxious,” Minton said. “The girls took a deep breath and went back and did what they’ve done a hundred times before. That’s exactly what they did.”
Paige Thexton’s floating windblown pop fly eluded shortstop Rilee McGraw and Brooke McReynolds scored for a 3-3 tie.
The Panthers were in position for a victory after a two-run sixth inning. Bujanda doubled and scored on a wild pitch. Ridgeway walked and Unruh doubled, and Ridgeway was awarded home on an overthrow for a 5-3 lead.
But the Buffaloes rallied with two out in the seventh inning. McGraw singled home Manwarren and McGraw scored on a Gutierrez triple for a 5-5 tie.
The Panthers rallied in the ninth inning when Thexton and Brenna Bownes hit back-to-back singles. But Manwarren retired Turner and Bujanda to end the ballgame.
Garden City 100 020 202 — 7 12 1
Great Bend 000 212 000 — 5 11 5
Manwarren and Angie Serrano. Turner, Thexton (9) and Bownes. W—Manwarren. L—Turner. 2B—GB—Bujanda, Thexton, Unruh; GC—Castro, Manwarren. 3B—GB—Bujanda; GC—Gutierrez
