BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

The Great Bend softball team has crafted its "revenge tour" to a fine art.

The Panthers erased a 13-8 loss to Newton with dominating 11-1 and 14-4 run-rule victories Thursday that clinched a 5A softball regional home site. The Panthers (21-5) play Andover Central (9-17) at 4:30 p.m. with Topeka Seaman (18-8) playing Goddard Eisenhower (11-15) at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

"Being able to play our postseason games at home is a major accomplishment," said Panther softball coach Carrie Minton. "There are a lot of really good softball teams in 5A. To lock in a spot hosting speaks volumes to how well these girls played all season. Our fan support is awesome. We're looking forward to an electric environment Tuesday."

PANTHERS 11, NEWTON 1 (G1) — Callie Umphres (.378) ripped her first home run and drove home a career high five runs to spark the Panthers. Umphres doubled home Kya Behr (.547) and DeShawnna Bryant to end the game. 

Katherine Mazouch (.489) drilled her fourth homer. Alyssa McCauley (.489) hit  2-run single in a 4-run third inning. Behr and Mazouch each drove home a run.

"Our girls have hit well all season," Minton said. "When they get in the box they are anxious to put a ball in play. But they did a great job being patient and waiting until they got a little deeper in the count to find their pitch. That mentality made their pitcher work a little harder and let us settle in the box."

Pitcher Chayla Prendergast (14-3, 2.79 ERA) avenged a loss to Newton yielding one earned run with three strikeouts.

"After suffering the loss to Newton last week, our team refocused and was determined to not have a repeat outcome," Minton said. "We made adjustments defensively and at the plate which worked out well." 

PANTHERS 14, NEWTON 4 — Bryant (.479) doubled three times and drove home two runs with four hits. 

Mazouch, Behr, McCauley and Koelsch each drove home two runs in a an 18-hit attack. The Panthers started with a 5-run first and ended with a 4-run fifth inning.

Pitcher Braelyn Turner (3-1, 4.29 ERA) struck out a season high eight batters.

PANTHER PITCHING—Prendergast 15-4, 2.79, 40 ER-100.1 IP; McCauley 5-1, 5.72 ERA, 27 ER-33 IP; Turner 3-1, 4.29 ERA, 9 ER-142/3 IP; Umphres 0 ER-2.2 IP, 0.00 ERA 

PANTHER BATTING—Behr .547, 52-95; 28 R, 48 RBI, 17-2B, 1-3B, 1 HR; McCauley, .489, 43-88; 17 R, 10 RBI, 10-2B, 1-3B, 3-HR; Mazouch .489, 45-94; 8-2B, 3-3B, 4-HR; Bryant .479, 45-94; 30 R, 34 RBI, 13-2B, 1-3B, 5-HR; Post .426, 35-82; 40 R, 19 RBI, 4-2B, 1-3B; Umphres .378, 31-82; 19 R, 15 RBI, 6-2B, 1-HR; Koelsch .376, 32-85; 12 RBI, 9-2B, 1-HR; Ringo .307, 23-75; 14 R, 9 RBI, 4-2B; Prendergast .318, 21-66; 14 RBI; 4-2B; 2-HR

Newton 100 000 — 1 6 0

Great Bend 304 013  — 11 13 1

Rose, Davis (6) and Kern. Prendergast and Koelsch. W—Prendergast 14-3. L—Rose. 2B—Umphres, Behr, Koelsch, Mazouch; N—Kern, Zerger. HR—GB—Umphres, Mazouch.

Newton 022 00 — 4 2 3

Great Bend 520 34 — 14 18 1

Wharton and Kern. Turner, McCauley (5) and Koelsch. W—Turner, 3-1. L—Wharton. 2B—GB—Bryant 3, Koelsch, Mazouch. 3B—GB—McCauley. HR—N—Unruh.

5A WEST REGIONALS

MAIZE (5-20)—Maize South 26-0 vs. Goddard 7-17; vs. Valley Center 15-11 vs. Wichita Kapaun Mt. Carmel 15-11, 3 p.m.

WICHITA (5-21)—Wichita Carroll 22-4 vs. Topeka West 9-17; Hays High 16-10 vs. Andover High 15-11, 2 p.m. 

GREAT BEND (5-20)—Great Bend 21-5 vs. Andover Central 9-17; Topeka Seaman 18-8 vs. Goddard Eisenhower 11-15, 3 p.m.

SALINA (5-20)—Salina Central 19-7 vs. Emporia 10-16, 3 p.m.; Salina South 19-7 vs. Newton 10-16 

DNQ—Arkansas City 7-19; DNQ—Hutchinson 7-19