BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

WICHITA — The greatest finish in Great Bend softball history came up shy of a state softball championship game.

Defending state softball champion St. Thomas Aquinas dominated from start-to finish to beat Great Bend 13-2 in Friday's 5A state softball semifinals.

The Panthers (26-2) will tie for third-place for the best state finish in 11 state softball trips.

The Saints roughed up starter Chayla Prendergast and reliever Braelyn Turner for 10 runs in three innings.

Great Bend's pitchers walked seven batters and the Panthers committed three errors. Third baseman Denver Ringo, first baseman Alyssa McCauley and shortstop Kya Behr combined for a 5-3-6 double play.

The Panthers delivered 10 hits against Aquinas pitcher Alayna Vaeth, who had two runners thrown out with six stranded runners.

Baze Hogan, Kamryn Koelsch and Kya Behr each delivered two hits.

Hogan drove home Alyssa McCauley for the Panthers' second-inning run. Koelsch doubled home Hogan in the fourth inning.

The Panthers missed an opportunity for two additional runs.

Pinch runner Mikalya Minton was held up at third base on a clean third-inning single by Koelsch with two out. Denver Ringo was thrown out at home on Koelsch's fourth-inning double with two out.

Aquinas' Addison Sabers doubled twice and drove home three runs. Great Bend set up the Saints' 7-run third inning with five walks and a throwing error. The Saints scored on a bases-loaded walk, a passed ball, a wild pitch and an error.

St. Thomas Aquinas 217 001 2 — 13 16 1

Great Bend 010 100 0 — 2 10 3

Vaeth and Noonan. Chayla Prendergast, Turner (3), McCauley (3), Alyssa Prendergast (6) and Mazouch. W—Vaeth. L—C. Prendergast, 13-2. 2B—GB—Koelsch, Mazouch; STA—Sabers 2, Pinkham.