BY JIM MISUNAS
GODDARD – Great Bend’s first inning against Goddard Eisenhower was a living nightmare. The Tigers scored seven runs before the Panthers recorded an out. Eisenhower (17-5) held off the Panthers’ rally 8-5 in Thursday’s 5A regional baseball championship game.
EISENHOWER 8, PANTHERS 5 (G2) – Brad Beck’s first-inning single scored Paco Hernandez for a 1-0 lead.
But the Tigers scored six runs off starting pitcher Paco Hernandez. Will Rogers and Cody Hawks delivered 2-run triples. Tyner Horn and Carson Roy hit run-scoring singles for a 7-1 lead. The Tigers benefited from two walks, a hit batter and an extra out when Rogers scored on a playable groundball by Ethan Eddy.
Panther reliever Stefan Spray kept the Tigers’ bats quiet during a terrific 6-inning performance. Tyner Horn touched Spray for an RBI single that scored Rogers for an 8-1 lead.
Panther Jade Poe delivered a momentary spark with a windblown 2-run homer that scored Joseph Moeder in the fifth inning.
Eisenhower ace Tyner Horn was forced into action. The Panthers scored when Tyler Stuhlsatz’s sixth-inning single drove home Gavin Haberman. Horn retired Jade Poe on a line drive to second baseman Cael Sanderson to strand Stuhlsatz and Joseph Moeder.
The Panthers battled to the final out. Gavin Haberman’s infield single scored Chayse Gruber. Stuhlsatz faced Horn with two on and two-out. Horn retired Stuhlsatz on a topped grounder to end the game.
The Panthers (15-7) ended a fantastic season as co-champion of the Western Athletic Conference with Hays High. The Panthers graduate eight senior starters – Sage Koelsch, Brad Beck, Paco Hernandez, Joseph Moeder, Gavin Haberman, Stefan Spray, Chase Gruber and Jade Poe.
PANTHERS 3, KAPAUN MT. CARMEL 2 (G1) – The Panthers rallied past the Crusaders 3-2 on three walks, a hit batter and an error for a hard-fought semifinal victory. Brad Beck’s bases-loaded walk forced home Jade Poe for the game-winning run.
Pinch runner Bradley Hopkins ran for Stefan Spray after he reached on an error. Jade Poe and Sage Koelsch walked off reliever Payton Gosch. Hopkins scored when Hernandez hit into a groundball forceout. Gruber was hit by a pitch and reliever Charlie Barrier walked Beck for the walk-off victory.
Great Bend pitcher Gruber (6-1) was brilliant with eight strikeouts in seven innings. The Panthers erased three baserunners with sparkling defense. Leadoff batter Kline Nguyen was thrown out by Stefan Spray on a first-inning double play groundball. Gruber picked off Bradyn McClure at first base on the third inning. Pelfrey was thrown out at home on an attempted double steal by Gruber.
The Crusaders’ Charlie Chrisman singled home Dylan Burr after a fifth-inning double. Hernandez drove home Stefan Spray after a fifth-inning single and two hit batters by starter Dayton Pelfrey.
The Crusaders regained the lead 2-1 when Dylan Burr singled home McClure. Kapaun Mt. Carmel gambled when Burr and Pelfrey attempted a double steal that Gruber foiled when he threw to catcher Beck for the inning-ending out.
Kapaun 000 011 0 – 2 5 3
Great Bend 000 010 2 – 3 3 3
Pelfrey, Gosch (6), Barrier (7) and Noah Schreck. Gruber and Beck. W—Gruber, 6-1. L—Gosch, 3-2. 2B—KMC—Burr.
Great Bend 100 021 1 – 5 8 1
Eisenhower 700 100 x – 8 9 3
Hernandez, Stefan Spray (1) and Beck. Sanderson, Horn (6) and Bucher. W—Sanderson. L—Hernandez, 2-3. 2B—GB—Hernandez; GE—Adams. 3B—GE—Rogers, Hawks. HR—GB—Poe.
