In a high school softball doubleheader that was moved due to rain earlier in the week, Great Bend lit up its home field as the visiting team on Thursday, scoring 25 runs on 28 hits.
The Lady Panthers won 14-2 in five innings in game one and 11-1 in the second game at the City of Great Bend Sports Complex.
“Most of that came in the first inning,” GBHS head coach Carrie Minton said of the first game. “We had six hits, and (Hoisington pitcher Bailey Barnard) gave up two walks, too. We just hit the ball really well tonight.”
The Lady Panthers opened the first game with five singles and a double from McKenna Mauler that led to nine runs in the top of the first inning.
Barnard was chased out of the game before she could record an out and Tana Hickel came in as relief.
“It was a nightmare evening of softball for us,” Hoisington head coach Lee Van Scyoc said. “It was just bad all around. Great Bend hit our pitchers really well. We had too many errors. We didn’t hit their pitchers well.
“Great Bend played very well. I’m not sure if they made an error in the second game. I just thought we’d be able to be more competitive with them.”
Mauler, Kaylie Doll, Elizabeth Barber, Tarynn Stueder, Bonny Boultinghouse and Dakota Sanders each recorded an RBI in the inning.
“Everybody on our lineup scored,” Minton said. “The girls just came out ready to play. They were excited to be playing on their home field.”
Great Bend pitcher Hunter Middleton gave up her first hit in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Hoisington’s Becca Harmon and Hickel led off the inning with a couple of singles. Haley Acker followed that up with a strike out, but a wild pitch scored Harmon and Mykela Riedl reached on an error in right field. Hickel scored on the error.
In the second game, Great Bend was able to score one run in both the first and second innings, giving it an early lead behind freshman pitcher Braylin Bretz.
Hoisington plated Acker in the fourth inning, but Great Bend was able to drive in four runs in the top of the fifth to put the game out of reach.
Bretz and Middleton each improved to 3-0 on the season.
“Both of our pitchers did a great job today,” Minton said. “The girls have a lot of confidence in them. All of our pitchers and catchers are freshmen, so they are really stepping up and helping this team.”
Great Bend travels to Liberal on Tuesday. The doubleheader begins at 4 p.m.
Hoisington hosts Ellinwood on Tuesday starting at 4.
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
At Great Bend
City of Great Bend
Sports Complex
Thursday
Great Bend 14, Hoisington 2 (5)
123 45 R H E
GB 910 31 — 14 13 3
HH 000 20 — 2 3 3
Hunter Middleton & Hannah Mauler; Bailey Barnard, Tana Hickel (1) & Haley Acker. W — Middleton (3-0); L — Barnard (0-2). 2B — GBHS: Kelsie Doll, McKenna Mauler.
Great Bend 11, Hoisington 1
123 456 7 R H E
GB 110 241 2 — 11 15 0
HH 000 100 0 — 1 7 7
Braylin Bretz & Dakota Sanders; Bailey Barnard & Haley Acker. W — Bretz (3-0); L — Barnard (0-3). 2B — GBHS: Elizabeth Barber; HHS: Stephanie Stephens, Jennifer Hitschmann. 3B — GBHS: Braylin Bretz.
