BY JIM MISUNAS
The newly-turfed Great Bend Sports Complex was a masterpiece. Great Bend's opening softball doubleheader was a learning experience with two lopsided losses.
The Manhattan Indians spoiled Great Bend’s softball opener with a 17-3 victory Tuesday with the wind gusting past 30 mph. The Indians led 4-1 and scored 13 runs in their final two at-bats.
The McPherson Bullpups delivered the Panthers worse news with a 26-0 run-rule rout in the nightcap.
MANHATTAN 17, PANTHERS 3 (G1) – Great Bend’s defense collapsed in the windswept conditions as every ball hit into the air was an adventure. The Panthers committed seven errors that led to 12 unearned runs off hard-luck Great Bend pitcher Jordan Turner.
Manhattan’s Takara Kolterman doubled twice and scored three runs with three RBIs. MaKenzie Reid doubled twice, scored three runs and drove home three runs. Paige Dupler and Logan Neitzel each drove home two runs.
The Panthers struck out 16 times against Manhattan pitcher Kierra Goos, who recorded 12 strikeouts in the first four innings. Great Bend scratched out three runs, thanks to a spark by DeShawna Bryant, who delivered two hits and an RBI double.
Paige Thexton scored on a bases-loaded walk to Lauryn Davis in the fourth inning. Bryant’s double scored Thexton in the sixth inning. Analiz Rivas singled home Bryant for a 17-3 final.
MCPHERSON 26, PANTHERS 0 (G2) – McPherson scored 12 runs in the fourth inning en route to a dominating 26-0 victory in the nightcap. DeShawna Bryant singled for the Panthers' lone highlight.
McPherson's Haely Hagemann drove home five runs and scored three runs with three hits. Cameron Pelzel drove in four runs, scored three runs and delivered three hits. Addie Herrera drove home three runs. Alex Romero scored three runs and drove in three runs.
Manhattan 103 067 – 17 15 1
Great Bend 000 102 – 3 3 7
Goos and Raegan Neitzel. Turner and Davis. W—Goos, 1-0. L—Turner, 0-1. 2B—GB—Bryant; M—Reid 2, Kolterman 2, Dupler.
McPherson (10) 13 (12) – 26 18 1
Great Bend 000 0 – 0 1 6
Chapman and Foile. Thexton, Post (4), Prilling (4) and Davis. W–Chapman. L–Thexton. 2B–M–Chapman, Hagemann, Foile.
