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Panthers outlast Indians, 9-8
GBHS Panther logo clr
Members of the 2021 GBMS volleyball team are front row—Lainey Smith, Jadynce Schroeder, Shatarah Newton, Henley Nairn, Rhett Nairn; second row—Hayley Suchy, Allie Gerhardt, Braelyn Turner, Kaitlyn Dreiling, Camryn Post, Alyvia Batchman, Miya Nachtigal, Kamryn Koelsch, Kya Behr, Meredith Mazouch, MacKenzie Lindberg, Jaselyn Werth, Heidi Jording, Braylee Carper, Kynli Shull; third row—Maddison Gaddis, Sophia Cale, Remmi Burkes, Katelyn Roddey, Ava Kaiser, Lydia Schaub, Alex Mayers, Araceli Aguilera, Zoey Mayberry, Sophia Elsen. back row—Naima Zapita, Gabriella Tomlin, Chalya Prenderegast, Kourtnee Leech, Olivia Boone, Madelynne Siefkes, Kimmy Hofflinger, Katherine Mazouch, Denver Ringo, Tatum Anderson, Alyssa McCulley, Kyra Lewis.

jmisunas@gbtribune.com

HAYS — After losing a seventh-inning lead, Great Bend's Analiz Rivas delivered the game-winning single for a hard-fought 9-8 softball victory over Western Athletic rival Hays High. The Indians swept the Panthers in Wednesday's doubleheader 3-2 and 10-4. 

The Indians (5-5) forced an 8-8 tie with four seventh-inning runs. Dezarae Schmidt drilled a two-run triple and Morgan Berry hit an RBI double. Panther reliever Paige Thexton retired Harlee Danner and Ashlynn Zimmer to strand Schmidt at third base.

Panther Rivas singled home Pamela Bujanda in the eighth inning. Thexton retired the final two Hays batters for the victory with winds gusting past 30 mph.

The Panthers (5-8) led 3-0 thanks to three Indian errors. Sydney Unruh was hit by a pitch and moved to second base on Halle Post's bunt single. Unruh stole third base and scored on a Lakyn Zimmerman's throwing error.

Grace Rowland doubled home pinch runner Laura Daniel after Jordan Turner reached on a second-inning fielding error. Rowland stole third base on scored on Zimmerman's throwing error.

Thexton's third-inning double scored Unruh after a single for a 4-0 lead. Lainey Hardman scored on a wild pitch and Brenna Schwien hit an RBI single for a 4-2 score.

Turner and Bujanda drilled RBI hits and Bujanda scored on Grace Rowland's groundout for a 7-2 lead after 51/2 innings. Schmidt's two-run single made it 7-4. Thexton's single scored Breanna Ridgeway for an 8-4 lead after 61/2 innings.

Great Bend 121 003 11 — 9 15 4

Hays High 000 002 40— 8 9 2

Turner, Thexton (7) and Bownes. Thomas and Zimmerman. W—Thexton. 2B—GB—Thexton 2, Rowland, Turner, Ridgeway, Unruh; H—Zimmerman, Berry, Schwien. 3B—H—Schmidt

WESTERN ATHLETIC

Dodge City 4-0 9-1 

Garden City 3-1 6-1

Hays High 3-3 5-5

Great Bend 2-4 5-8 

Liberal 0-4 4-7 

WEDNESDAY—*Hays 3-10, Great Bend 2-4

THURSDAY—Dodge City 2-10, Hays-TMP 1-5; Great Bend 9, Hays 8; Garden City 10-6, Liberal 1-1