BY JIM MISUNAS
Great Bend’s softball team finished 2019 with perhaps the toughest postseason loss in school history, an agonizing 11-10 regional championship setback to Wichita Northwest.
The Panthers led 10-2 and were one out away from a shocking upset when the Grizzlies rallied for a comeback victory. The Panthers rallied past Hays High 7-6 in the regional softball semifinal before losing to Wichita Northwest.
“We needed one more play to beat one of the best softball teams in 5A,” said Great Bend coach Carrie Minton. “We set ourselves up to punch a ticket to the state tournament. We didn’t shut the door. A game like last year shows how hard it is to qualify for state. You’ve got to beat good softball teams to qualify.”
The Panthers last qualified for the 5A state tournament in 2015 when pitcher Hunter Middleton sparked Great Bend to a 20-3 record. 5A runner-up Blue Valley West shut out the Panthers 5-0 at the 5A state tournament.
The 2020 softball season was canceled by the Kansas State High School Activities Association because of the coronavirus threat.
“The disappointing part is we didn’t see how far this softball team would’ve progressed,” Minton said. “It’s been a tough spring.”
Last year, the Panthers (13-7, 5-3 WAC) erased back-to-back losing seasons with a solid bounce-back record. Great Bend’s 3B-P Jenna Mauler, C-SS Shailey Clark and CF Aleah Urban earned first-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors and 2B Sydney Unruh earned honorable mention honors.
Pitcher Jenna Mauler was expected to be the lead pitcher. The senior trio of Mauler, Clark and Fletchall would’ve anchored the Panthers.
“It was a softball team that would’ve an opportunity to win a Western Athletic Conference title,” said Great Bend coach Carrie Minton. “We looked forward to really good softball players returning with varsity experience. We were excited to see Jenna Mauler develop into an outstanding pitcher. She’s a competitor who would’ve thrown a lot of games.”
The Panthers featured several other experienced players – 1B Cailee McMullen and OF-IF Mara Fletchall. Great Bend was well positioned with a starting lineup that had the infield and outfield spots covered.
Minton has always elected to give every player an opportunity to compete in game situations.
Minton said it would’ve been interesting to see which players would’ve stepped up their game.
“We had key positions to fill. There are so many unknowns,” Minton said. “We’ll never know how things would’ve panned out.”
“Sydney Unruh is an outstanding infielder and we were excited to see Mara Fletchall in the outfield,” Minton said. “We had a solid core of hitters in our batting lineup. There were some younger players we were excited about.”
Minton acknowledged how far softball has progressed with players competing on summer travel teams.
“It’s crazy to see how fast softball has developed,” she said. “The intensity of pitching and the speed of the game is higher. There’s an added emphasis on putting the ball into play. The game has come a long ways.”
PANTHER SOFTBALL
SENIORS—Shailey Clark, Mara Fletchall, Jenna Mauler
JUNIORS—Dakota Baldwin, Brenna Bownes-c, Ryleigh Post, Grace Rowland, Sydney Unruh
