BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
GARDEN CITY — Garden City scored two first-inning unearned runs thanks to two errors to lead defending Western Athletic Conference softball champion Great Bend 2-0.
The Panthers responded with an 8-run fourth inning to roll past the Buffaloes 11-2. The Panthers (19-1, 10-0 WAC) swept their 26th consecutive league victory.
Prendergast overcame two fielding errors, a walk and a misplayed bunt with nine strikeouts. Prendergast (10-1, 1.08 ERA) has 78 strikeouts in 642/3 innings.
"They jumped out early taking advantage of our nerves," said Great Bend coach Shawn Behr. "They got us down 2-0."
Denver Ringo homered off Garden City pitcher Brylee Hamblin (7-3, 2.52 ERA) before the Panthers exploded in an 8-run fourth inning ignited by four walks.
"We needed to come out and blow it open," Behr said. "Our team responded in a big way, and answered the call. If we let the other team maintain a lead into the late innings, the harder it would be to overcome the deficit."
The four walks fueled the big inning. Ringo's double scored Alyssa McCauley and Jaya Stroup. Ringo scored on Camdyn Post's sacrifice fly. Braelyn Turnr and Baze Hogan scored on Kya Behr's single.
McCauley's double scored Katherine Mazouch and Behr. Prendergast's double scored McCauley for a 9-2 lead. Eight Panthers delivered a hit.
"When 'Chay' got the lead, you see it in her eyes — she was going to close them out," Behr said.
The Panthers added two runs. Mazouch scored on McCauley's sacrifice fly that gave her three RBI. Rydlie Swanson doubled and pinch runner Stroup scored on Turner's groundout.
Behr paid homage to leadoff better Camdyn Post, who ignites the lineup.
"Camdyn Post has been amazing at leadoff. I love the way she hits with power, torches outfielders, and hits gaps," Behr said. "When she lights a spark in that No 1 spot, the lineup catches fire."
Garden City (9-9, 5-1 WAC) must sweep Great Bend Thursday to prevent the Panthers' potential celebration.
"Good teams may split, but 'great teams' sweep," Behr said.
Great Bend 010 801 1 — 11 9 1
Garden City 200 000 0 — 2 7 0
Prendergast and Koelsch. Hamblin, Polson (4) and Peck. W—Prendergast, 10-1. L—Hamblin, 7-3. 2B—GB—McCauley, Prendergast, Ringo, Mazouch, Swanson. HR—LARNED — Larned pitcher Tristan Regan completed a baseball sweep of Hugoton with a 10-0 shutout. The Indians (5-10) won Tuesday's non-league opener 9-2.
LARNED 9, HUGOTON 2 (G1) — Reece Morgan stuck out five batters in four innings to earn the victory. He delivered four hits, two doubles and two runs batted home.
Cooper Herbert drove in three runs with a 3-for-3 performance. Regan, Hunter Hobbs and Easton Fox added RBI.
Reece Morgan singled home Miller to start a 3-run first. Conner Spreier scored on a Hobbs fly ball. Regan scored on Herbert's single for a 3-0 lead.
LARNED 10, HUGOTON 0 (G2) — Regan completed a 2-hit shutout with 55 efficient pitches and two strikeouts.
Reece Morgan, Mason Miller and Fox each drove home two runs Regan, Antonio Torres and Luke Krehbiel added RBI.
In a 6-run first inning, Reece Morgan's 2-run single was followed by Regan's RBI single. Conner Spreier scored on a passed ball. Fox's bunt scored Hunter Hobbs. Cooper Herbert scored on Krehbiel's groundout for a 6-0 lead.
Hugoton 100 010 0 — 2 4 3
Larned 311 202 x — 9 13 3
Seymour, Nix (4) and Rindels. Reese Morgan, Krehbiel (5), Gonzalez (7) and Hobbs. W—R. Morgan. L—Seymour. 2B—L—R. Morgan . 3B—L—Hobbs.
Hugoton 000 00 — 0 2 3
Larned 601 03 — 10 10 1
Hill, Rindels (3) and Rindels. Tristan Regan and Hobbs. W—Regan. L—Seymour. 2B—L—R. Morgan, Hobbs.
GB—Ringo.
WAC SOFTBALL
Great Bend 10-0 19-1
Garden City 5-1 9-9
Hays High 4-5 7-10
Dodge City 0-6 3-13
Liberal 0-7 4-11
4-28—Great Bend 11, Garden City 2; Dodge CIty 18-19, Wichita 0-3
4-30—Garden City at Great Bend (2); Hays at Hays TMP; Liberal at Cimarron; Dodge CIty at Wichita South
5-1—Dodge City at Wichita North
