BY JIM MISUNAS

jmisunas@gbtribune.com

HUTCHINSON — Great Bend Quicksilver finished as state runner-up in the 14-and-under IFA state softball championship. The St. George Twisters downed Quicksilver 7-2 in Sunday’s championship showdown. Quicksilver finished with a 4-2 tournament record.

Coaches Khris Thexton, Lyles Lashley and Josh Post featured a lineup that included DeShawnna Bryant, Lauryn Davis, Bailey Jackson, Taylor Lashley, Faith Miller, MaKenzie Premer, Halle Post, Rylee Prilling, Callie Steffan, Paige Thexton and Teagan Walker. 

Quicksilver has posted an 18-6 record in the first summer as a 14-and-under softball team.

“This was our best finish in a state tournament,” coach Thexton said. “I was proud of the girls and how well they played. This is our first year at 14-under. We played some second-year teams that we’ve struggled against in the past.”

Quicksilver’s Paige Thexton earned three pitching victories and delivered a homer and three triples. 

“Paige pitched three games and so did Bailey Jackson,” Thexton said. “Both girls did a great job hitting spots and letting their defense work behind them.”

Rylee Prilling drove in nine runs in six games with a double and triple. 

“When your leadoff batter leads the team in RBIs, you know you are hitting well all through the lineup,” he said. “We have several power hitters, but we can also lay down the bunts and play small ball.”

DeShawnna Bryant homered twice. McKenzie Premer delivered a double and triple.

“We have some great hitters and the girls can hit the ball, top-to-bottom in our lineup,” Thexton said. “Our offense typically drives our games, but our defense and pitching was very good this weekend. Some girls stepped up. We added Teagan Walker for the weekend and she did a great job at the plate.

Thexton believes the future is bright next summer.

“These girls are a fun bunch to work with,” he said. “They’re very coachable and always working to get better. as softball players.”

ST. GEORGE TWISTERS 7, QUICKSILVER 2 (CHAMPIONSHIP) – Rylee Prilling doubled home Bailey Jackson and Callie Steffan for Quicksilver’s two runs. Quicksilver’s Bailey Jackson pitched.  St. George’s Sam Killingsworth homered. Pitcher Laiken Buell earned the victory and singled home a run. 

QUICKSILVER 11, TOPEKA STRIKE FORCE 5 – Quicksilver’s Prilling drove home three runs and Premer drove in two runs. Thexton worked four innings.

Prilling and Thexton scored on passed balls and Taylor Lashley singled home Bryant for a 3-0 first-inning lead. Prilling’s single scored Lashley and Teagan Walker to start a five-run second inning. Premer singled in Thexton and Prilling. Bryant scored on Faith Miller’s single for an 8-1 lead.

Quicksilver scored three third-inning runs. Prilling’s triple scored Lashley. Bailey Jackson’s single scored Prilling. Thexton’s single scored Jackson for an 11-3 lead.

QUICKSILVER 6, CLAY CENTER 4 – Quicksilver’s Bryant and Thexton ripped home runs to spark the offense. Pitcher Bailey Jackson threw six innings. Jackson scored on an error and Bryant homered for a 2-0 lead. Walker singled home Premer to ignite a three-run second inning. Prilling singled home Lashley. Steffan scored on Jackson’s groundout for a 5-2 lead. Thexton’s homer provided a valuable insurance run. 

QUICKSILVER 6, HOISINGTON KANSAS HEAT 4 – Quicksilver scored in all five innings for a hard-fought victory. Bryant singled home Lashley for a 1-0 first-inning lead. Premer scored on Prilling’s sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead. Thexton tripled home Walker and Jackson for a 4-0 lead after three innings.

TOPEKA STRIKE FORCE 10, QUICKSILVER 8 – Quicksilver led 8-5, but Strike Force rallied for a hard-fought 10-8 victory. Strike Force scored four runs in the fourth with two singles, two doubles and a walk.

Bryant’s first-inning single scored Thexton. Prilling singled home Premer for a seven-run second inning. Jackson singled in Prilling. Lauryn Davis and Jackson scored on Thexton’s single. Walker scored on a wild pitch. Premer’s single scored Thexton and Bryant for an 8-5 lead.

QUICKSILVER 12, SALINA FUSION 3 – Quicksilver’s Bryant hammered home four runs and Thexton drove home three runs.

Quicksilver’s Thexton tripled home Lashley and Jackson in a five-run first inning. Bryant doubled home Thexton. Davis singled in Bryant. Prilling singledin Premer for a 5-0 lead.

Jackson singled in Walker to start a five-run second inning. Bryant’s three-run homer brought home Jackson and Thexton. Premer scored on a passed ball for a 10-0 lead. Lashley singled home Prilling. Steffan scored on Thexton’s sacrifice fly in a two-run third inning. Steffan scored on Thexton’s sacrifice fly for a 12-1 lead.

TWISTERS 7, QUICKSILVER 2 

Quicksilver 000 02 — 2 7 0 

St. George 310 03 — 7 11 0

Jackson and Davis. Buell and West. W—Buell. L—Jackson. 2B—Q—Prilling; SG—Zenger.

QUICKSILVER 11, STRIKE FORCE 5

Quicksilver 353 0 — 11 8 0

Strike Force 122 0 — 5 6 0

Thexton and Davis. W—Thexton. 3B—Q—Prilling.

QUICKSILVER 6, CLAY CENTER 4

Quicksilver 230 010 — 6 10 1

Clay Center 200 101 — 4 5 1

Jackson and Davis. W—Jackson. HR—Q—Bryant, Thexton.

QUICKSILVER 6, KANSAS HEAT 4 

Kansas Heat 000 13 — 4 7 0

Quicksilver 112 2x — 6 9 0

Boxberger and West. Thexton and Davis. W—Thexton. L—Boxberger. 3B—Q–Premer, Thexton; KH—Boxberger.

STRIKE FORCE 10, QUICKSILVER 8

Quicksilver 170 0 — 8 10 2

Strike Force 321 4 — 10 10 1

Jackson, Steffan (4), Thexton (4) and Lashley. L—Jackson. 2B—Q—Premer. 3B—Q—Thexton.

QUICKSILVER 12, FUSION 3

Fusion 001 2 — 3 3 1 

Quicksilver 552 x — 12 14 2 

Thexton and Davis. W—Thexton. 2B—Q—Bryant. 3B—Q—Thexton. HR—Q—Bryant.