BY JIM MISUNAS

jmisunas@gbtribune.com

WICHITA — By the time Kansas City Piper switched to its best pitcher, Great Bend built a 3-0 lead en route to a 5A baseball quarterfinal victory over the Pirates.

Panther ace pitcher Carson Umphres (8-2, 1.45 ERA) worked around five baserunners in scoring position to earn a 6-hit shutout victory with five strikeouts.

"My high fastball and low knuckleball were working," Umphres said. "Towards the end, I mixed it up because they'd seen me multiple times. I started off speed and struck them out with the fastball."

Panther coach Randy Beck earned its first victory in six tries at the 5A state baseball tournament.

"Carson was the epitome of good pitching," Beck said. "What a great game. That takes a lot of pressure off everyone else Friday."

Left fielder Hunter Herrman delivered the game's biggest play when he threw out Kaiden Simons out at home in the first inning. Simons doubled down the left field line to start the game. But Simons made a critical baserunning mistake by not advancing to third base on a Myles Ross groundout to first baseman Ian Premer.

Herrman delivered a perfect throw to catcher Owen Kaiser, who tagged Simons out on Mason Porter's double.

"That was a huge play, a great throw. You don't get bigger momentum than throwing a runner out at the plate," Beck said. 

Umphres appreciated Herrman saving his shutout.

"Hunter set the tone for us throwing a guy out at home," Umphres said.

The Panthers spliced together a walk, hit batter and  pair of RBI singles in a 3-run third inning. Piper starter Carter Laird (5-3) walked Kaiser, hit Jaxon Wondra with a pitch and walked Herrman to load the bases.

Pinch runner Eli Soupiset slid safely home on Slade Mohr's sacrifice fly. Wondra scored on an Umphres single. Herrman scored when Daxton Minton popped a single to the outfield for a 3-0 lead. Piper centerfielder Kellen Heier saved two runs when he dived for Ian Premer's sinking line drive.

"Sometimes, one good inning is all it takes," Beck said. "You've got to execute."

The Panthers thrived on-and-off the field. Panther alumni Joey Soupiset showed his skill when he bare-handed a foul pop up behind home plate. 

Piper batted 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position off Umphres, who retired Simons for the final out after a 3-for-3 afternoon.

"Carson got Simons out at the right time," Beck said.

Piper's best pitcher lefthander Dylan Eikenbary (7-1) was as good as advertised, shutting out the Panthers for 41/3 innings.

Great Bend (23-5) plays Blue Valley Southwest (22-6) in Friday's 1:15 p.m. 5A semifinal.

KC Piper 000 000 0 — 0 6 0

Great Bend 030 000 x — 3 4 1

Laird, Eikenbary (2) and Monhollon. Umphres and Kaiser. W—Umphres , 8-2. L—Laird, 5-3. 2B—KC—Simmons, Porter, EIkenbary.

5A STATE, WICHITA STATE—SEMIFINALS—St. Thomas Aquinas 25-4 vs. Hays High 19-8, 11 a.m.; Great Bend 24-5 vs. Blue Valley Southwest 22-6, 1:15 p.m.; FIRST ROUND—St. Thomas Aquinas 2, Valley Center 0; Hays High 7, Shawnee Heights 6; Great Bend 3, KC Piper 0; Blue Valley Southwest 5, Goddard Eisenhower 2