By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Great Bend shocks Red Demons
GBHS Panther logo clr
Panther golf places seventh at Hays.

BY JIM MISUNAS

jmisunas@gbtribune.com

DODGE CITY — Great Bend pitcher Shanaeia Mehlhaff threw a masterpiece against a Dodge City team averaging 16 runs per game. Right fielder Makayla Williams saved the game with two catches. Catcher Kaylee Unruh rescued the Panthers with a double play.

Cleanup hitter Shailey Clark delivered the game-winning single that drove home Alyssa Keller for a 3-2 softball victory over Dodge City, the defending Western Athletic Conference champion. The 14-inning, three-hour affair is believed to be the longest softball game in school history. 

Keller walked in the 14th inning and Jenna Mauler singled. Clark delivered the go-ahead hit that eluded Red Demon shortstop Marisela Landa.  Mehlhaff matched Dodge City ace Raegan Lopp pitch-for-pitch through 14 innings.

Kaylee Unruh turned a eighth-inning bunt by Madison Armstrong into a double play. Makayla Williams caught Armstrong's liner to save the game in the 12th inning. Dodge City's Caroline Williams was thrown out at second base after a 14th-inning single.      

Dodge City's Caroline Stephenson singled home Elise Helfrich in the first inning for 1-0 lead. Mehlhaff retired Zabree Rodriguez to strand two baserunners.  

The Panthers stranded two baserunners in the first inning and third inning. Great Bend's Makayla Williams reached base an on fourth-inning error and scored on an infield error for a 1-1 tie. Aleah Urban scored on Mauler's ninth-inning single after a single and stolen base.

Dodge City's Lopp drove home Zabree Rodriguez for a 2-2 tie after a leadoff triple in the ninth inning. 

Great Bend (6-4, 3-1) is tied with Garden City (7-1, 3-1 WAC) for first place. The Panthers play Hoisington and Ellinwood Thursday at Hoisington.

DODGE CITY 5, GREAT BEND 4 (G2) — Great Bend came within one base hit of a game-tying rally with a three-run seventh inning. Aleah Urban doubled and scored on Jenna Mauler's single. Makayla Williams singled home Mauler and Shailey Clark for a 5-4 score. But Dodge City pitcher Olivia Ortiz recorded the final out when pinch runner Abby Miller was tagged out on Brenna Bownes' single to survive with a one-run victory.

Dodge City scored five unearned runs off losing pitcher. Shanaeia Mehlhaff. After an error extended the third inning, the Red Demons scored runs on back-to-back walks. Caroline Stephenson, Zabree Rodriguez and Regan Gerber scored on an error for a 5-0 lead.

Williams singled home Clark in the fourth inning for a 5-1 score.    

Great Bend 000 100 001 000 01 — 3 11 6

Dodge City 100 000 001 000 00 — 2 8 4

Shanaeia Mehlhaff and Kaylee Unruh. Raegan Lopp and Jones. W—Mehlhaff. L—Lopp. 3B—DC—Kalscheur. 3B—DC—Williams, Rodriguez. 

Great Bend 000 100 3  — 4 10 2

Dodge City 005 000 x — 5 3 0

Shanaeia Mehlhaff and Unruh. Ortiz and Jones. W—Ortiz. L—Mehlhaff. 2B—GB—Urban.

WAC SOFTBALL

Garden City 3-1 7-1

Great Bend 3-1 6-4 

Dodge City 2-2 10-2

Hays High 1-3 3-3

Liberal 1-3 5-3