BY JIM MISUNAS

jmisunas@gbtribune.com

Great Bend pitcher Carson Umphres set a positive tone with a solid performance. The Panther offense finished the job with a dominating 13-3 and 16-6 doubleheader sweep over Hutchinson High Friday. 

Any baseball hit into the swirling wind proved to be a defensive challenge with winds gusting past 30 mph. The windswept twin bill started with an ominous backdrop when heavy dust darkened the sky at the Great Bend Sports Complex.

Great Bend coach Randy Beck started 12 position players in the twin bill. He'll continue to give players an opportunity to compete.

"We played quite a few players. It was really a good team effort," Beck said. "Our plate appearances were really good. We put the bat on the ball. I liked  our competitiveness and attitude. Our guys did whatever it took to win. Defensively, we played well in windy conditions. Our outfield did an exceptional job."  

Great Bend (2-2) plays at Liberal April 7.

PANTHERS 13, HUTCHINSON 3 (G1) – Umphres shut down Hutchinson's offense. Leadoff batter Tyler Stuhlsatz delivered four hits and scored four runs. Daxton Minton drove home four runs.

"Carson had good command of his pitches," Beck said.

Umphres was efficient for four innings with 56 pitches. He worked ahead in the count with a fastball and mixed in a knuckleball and curveball.

"I try and stay calm. Scoring 13 runs makes it relaxing on the mound," Umphres said. "It was pretty impressive the way we hit the baseball today."

Left fielder Carson Poe threw out Carter Morgan at second base after a leadoff single. Shortstop J.J. Grove and second baseman Hunter Herrman turned a second-inning double play on Bradyn Rodriguez. 

Minton's windblown double scored Stuhlsatz and Umphres in the first inning. Koehn Ribordy, Owen Kaiser and Minto delivered RBIs in the second frame. A 6-run third inning provided an 11-1 lead. Stuhlsatz, Umphres, Edwin Chavez, Minton and Grove drove home runs. Umphres scored on a passed ball.

Hutchinson's Morgan, Eastyn Keeler and Caiden Beavers drove home runs. 

PANTHERS 16, HUTCHINSON 6 (G2) – Great Bend rallied from a 4-0 deficit to outscore the Salthawks 16-2. Great Bend iced the run-rule victory with a 9-run sixth inning. The Panthers delivered four triples and a double.

"You want to chip away and get back in the ballgame," Beck said. "Our goals are to extend inning and come up with a big inning."

Reliever Hunter Herrman struck out five batters in 31/3 shutout innings after replacing Owen Kaiser.

"Hunter should gain confidence with that outing," Beck said. ":He threw his two pitches in the strike zone.": 

Umphres drove home four runs. Stuhlsatz stayed red hot with two hits, two runs scored and three RBIs. Ian Premer tripled and drove home three runs.

Hutchinson led 4-0 when Lakin Franz and the Salthawks scored on an error, wild pitch and a balk.

Edwin Chavez singled home Premer and Umphres' windblown double scored Koehn Ribordy, Stuhlsatz and Hopkins for a 4-4 tie. Two walks and an error handed Hutchinson a 6-4 lead. Grove tripled and scored on Premer's sacrifice fly for a 6-5 score.

Herrman tripled and scored on a Stuhlsatz's groundout. Hopkins tripled and scored on a Umphres single for a 7-6 lead.

Premer and Stuhlsatz delivered 2-RBI hits in a 9-run sixth inning. Slade Mohr added an RBI single. 

Hutchinson 001 02 – 3 6 3

Great Bend 236 2x – 13 14 2

Franz, Eckhoff (3) and Morgan. Umphres and Kaiser, Chavez. W—Umphres, 1-0. L—Franz. 2B—GB—Stuhlsatz, Umphres, Grove. 3B—GB—Stuhlsatz; H--Morgan.

Hutchinson 132 000 – 6 3 6

Great Bend 041 209 – 16 14 2

Davis, Keeler (4), Heneha (6) and Morgan. Kaiser, Herrman (3) and Milsap, Ribordy, Kaiser. W—Herrman, 1-0. L—Keeler. 2B—GB—Umphres. 3B—GB—Grove, Herrman, Hopkins, Premer; H—Beavers