BY JIM MISUNAS jmisunas@gbtribune.com HAYS — The Hays High baseball team led No. 5 state-ranked Great Bend 3-0 Tuesday before a lightning delay. After the Panthers struck for four clutch sixth-inning runs, Hays rallied for a 5-4 victory keyed by two critical Panther errors and a game-winning balk. Centerfielder Carson Umphres nearly saved the Panthers when he threw out Kaleb Roe at third base after back-to-back sixth-inning singles. Brett Rhoades scored the tying run when shortstop Daxton Minton and leftfielder Koehn Ribordy committed errors on a Trace Jacobs' groundball. Jacobs scored the game-winner when Panther pitcher Hunter Herrman was called for a balk after Bennet Smith took off for second base. Indian reliever Carter Graham earned the victory by recording three sixth-inning outs and stranding the tying runner by recording three seventh-inning outs. Slade Mohr walked and Umphres singled. But Graham retired Jaxon Wondra, Ian Premer and Minton for the victory. Hays starter Tiger Johnson shut out the Panthers for five innings. Mohr singled and Umphres walked before the lightning delay. After Wondra's single, Mohr and Umphres scored on Ian Premer's double. Pinch runner Jace Schartz scored in Minton's single. Premer scored on a wild pitch for a 4-3 lead. Graham recorded three outs with runners at third and second and no out. Second baseman Johnny Cano threw out Trenton Kern at home and third baseman Rhoades threw out Minton at home on back-to-back plays. Peyden Oelger flew out. Hays led 3-0 against Panther ace Umphres. Cano drilled a 2-run homer after Landon Hardman reached on a third-inning error. Johnson doubled home Cano in the fifth inning. Minton threw out Johnson on a relay from centerfielder Koehn Ribordy. Four-time defending Western Athletic Conference baseball champion Hays High (3-1, 1-0 WAC) takes early control over Great Bend (4-1, 0-1 WAC). The Panthers visit Pratt Friday for a doubleheader. Great Bend 000 004 0 — 4 6 3 Hays High 002 012 x — 5 6 1 Umphres, Herrman (6) and Wondra. Johnson, Cano (6), Graham (6) and W—Graham, 1-0 L—Herrman, 1-1.. 2B—GB—Premer; H—Johnson. HR—H—Cano