HAYS — Much like last year, Great Bend's softball team failed to solve the pitching prowess of Hays Indian ace Aubree Thomas. Thomas (2-1) struck out eight batters to spark a 3-1 victory over the Panthers Wednesday.
Defending Western Athletic softball champion Hays (6-5, 5-0 WAC) hands the Panthers (13-4, 6-1 WAC) their first league loss heading to Thursday's twin bill at the Great Bend Sports Complex.
Thomas held the Panthers to 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position, all with two out. Great Bend's top four in the lineup batted 5 for 15, but the bottom half batted 0 for 15.
The Panthers had an untimely break when Kya Behr was tagged out at home in the first inning when Kamryn Koelsch's pop fly was dropped.
Dani Willeford singled home Alyse Zimmerman for a 1-0 Indian lead. Panther Paige Thexton scored on Behr's second-inning sacrifice fly for a 1-1 tie.
Hays High's Brynlee Brous doubled home Solida and Alyse Zimmerman off pitcher Braelyn Turner (4-3) in the third inning. Panther reliever Chayla Prendergast held the Indians scoreless in the final three innings with three strikeouts.
After 17 games, Behr is batting .580 (36 for 62); Bryant .491 (29 for 59) and Camdyn Post .452 (24 for 53). Thexton singled and doubled, Bryant doubled and Camdyn Post and Behr singled.
Great Bend 001 000 0 — 1 5 0
Hays 012 000 x — 3 7 3
Turner, Prendergast (4) and Koelsch. Thomas and Solida. W—Thomas, 2-1. L—Turner, 4-3. 2B—GB—Bryant, Thexton; H—Brous.
WAC SOFTBALL
Hays 5-0 6-5
Great Bend 6-1 13-4
Garden City 0-1 3-6
Liberal 0-3 4-9
Dodge City 0-6 2-10
WEDNESDAY—Hays 3, Great Bend 1
THURSDAY—Hays at Great Bend (2); Liberal at Garden City (2); Salina Central at Dodge City
HAYS HIGH (5-0, 6-5)—LL Valley Center 1-13, 5-11; WWW Dodge City 4-2, 10-4, 13-3; W Garden City 7-4; L Derby 2-14; W Wichita NW 5-2; L Eisenhower 2-3, L Maize South 1-13; W Great Bend 3-1; 4-18 at Great Bend (2); 4-22 at Garden City; 4-25 at Hays TMP; 4-26 at Salina Central; 4-30 Liberal (2); 5-2 at Liberal (1); 5-7 Salina South, Andover Central; 5-9 at Manhattan, Salina South
GREAT BEND (6-1, 13-4)—WW Pratt 5-3, 5-1; WW Hutchinson 17-5, 14-4; W McPherson 8-6; L Manhattan 1-4; WWW Liberal 16-2, 15-4, 15-0; WW Dodge City 15-3, 8-0; W Dodge City 4-1; L Goddard Eisenhower 4-9, L Maize South 5-10; W Derby 9-8, W Wichita NW 13-3; L Hays 1-3; 4-18 Hays (2); 4-23 at Garden City (1); 4-25 Garden City (2); 5-7 Hays TMP
GARDEN CITY (0-1, 3-6)—WW Wichita North 24-4, 17-2; WL Goodland 8-0, 4-9; L Hays 4-7; L Wichita NW 4-5; L Derby 1-14; L Eisenhower 1-2 L Maize South 0-13; 4-16 at Liberal (1); 4-18 Liberal (2); 4-22 Hays High; 4-23 Great Bend (1); 4-25 at Great Bend (2); 4-26 Wichita Southeast; 4-30 Dodge City (2); 5-2 Dodge City (1); 5-3 at Scott City; 5-9 at Topeka
LIBERAL (0-3, 4-9)—WW Bucklin 11-1, 14-6; L Hesston 0-1; L Kingman 5-12; LLL Great Bend 2-16, 4-15, 0-15; WW Wichita North 5-0, 25-3; LL Maize 0-11, McPherson 0-14; LL Hugoton 1-6, 3-4; 4-16 Garden City (1); 4-18 at Garden City (2); 4-25 at Cimarron; 4-30 at Hays (2); 5-2 Hays (1); 5-7 at Dodge City (1); 5-9 Dodge City (2)
DODGE CITY (0-6, 2-10)—WW Wichita South 16-0, 22-2; LLL Hays 2-4, 4-10, 3-13, LLL Great Bend 3-15, 0-8, 1-4; L Goddard Eisenhower 0-10; L Maize South 0-6; L Derby 0-14, L Wichita Northwest 0-7; 4-18 Salina Central; 4-19 at Hays TMP; 4-23 Pratt; 4-25 at Wichita Heights; 4-30 Garden City (2); 5-2 Garden City (1); 5-7 Liberal (1); 5-9 at Liberal (2)
