BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
HAYS — When Great Bend's DeShawnna Bryant faced Hays High pitcher Riley Dreher, Bryant proved why 2025 is the Year of the Panther.
Bryant launched a game-clinching 3-run homer that capped off an 11-5 victory over the defending Western Athletic Conference softball champions. The Panthers scored 10 earned runs off Hays All-WAC pitcher Dreher, who has started 37 games in four years.
Great Bend pitcher Chayla Prendergast (8-2) yielded one earned run with three runners scoring after walks and one after an error. The game was delayed two hours by lightning.
The Panthers (14-4, 8-0 WAC) lead the Indians (9-6, 4-3 WAC) and Garden City (10-2, 3-1 WAC) for the WAC title.
The Panthers jumped to a 4-0 lead after 31/2 innings.
Prendergast made Kamryn Koelsch's sacrifice bunt pay off with a 2-run double to score Callie Umphres and Alyssa McCauley after back-to-back singles. Prendergast scored when Katherine Mazouch drew a throw from catcher Avery Solida for a 3-0 lead. Kya Behr singled home Camdyn Post for a 4-0 lead.
Katie Klein's single scored pinch runner Davis in the fourth inning. Koelsch's homer made it 5-1.
Two walks and an error led to a 3-run Hays inning. Elyse Zimmerman singled in Dreher. Brynlee Brouse singled home Lauren Klein and Zimmerman.
Two Hays errors paved the way for a 3-run Panther sixth inning. Mazouch scored on a dropped infield pop up, Post scored on an Umphres' fly ball. McCauley singled home Behr for an 8-5 lead.
Bryant crushed the Indians' hopes with a 2-out, 3-run blast that scored Prendergast and Behr.
Great Bend 030 113 3— 11 17 1
Hays High 000 131 0 — 5 6 3
Prendergast and Koelsch. Dreher and Solida. W— Prendergast, 8-2. L— Dreher, 4-3. 2B—GB—Prendergast; H—Zimmerman. HR—GB—Bryant, Koelsch.
WAC SOFTBALL
Great Bend 8-0 14-4
Garden City 4-1 11-2
Hays High 4-3 9-6
Liberal 0-6 5-9
Dodge City 0-6 0-12
THURSDAY—Great Bend 11, Hays 5; Garden City 7-12, Liberal 4-10
FRIDAY—Hays TMP at Dodge City
GREAT BEND (8-0, 14-4)—WW Dodge City 18-17, 3-0; WW Hutchinson 7-6, 12-0; W Manhattan 16-2; L McPherson 5-11; WW Pratt 16-11, 7-5; W Liberal 11-2; WW Liberal 17-6; 10-6; W Dodge City 16-1; L Goddard Eisenhower 3-8; L Maize South 0-11; L Derby 1-4; W Wichita Northwest 6-2; W Hays High 10-0; W Hays High 11-5; 4-29—Garden City (1); 5-1—at Garden City (2); 5-9—at DH; 5-15—Newton (2)
GARDEN CITY (4-1, 11-2)—WW Scott City 19-3, 15-0; WW Goodland 10-0, 10-1; WL Hays High 7-6, 6-13; W Derby 1-0, W Wichita NW 16-0; W Goddard Eisenhower 6-5; L Maize South 0-16; WW Liberal 12-2; W Liberal 7-4, 12-10; 4-29—at Great Bend (1); 5-1—Great Bend (2); 5-6—Dodge City (2); 5-8—at Dodge City (2); 5-9—DH; 5-10—DH; 5-13—Hays High (1)
HAYS HIGH (4-3, 9-6)—WW Olathe East 9-3, 10-5; WW Junction City 6-2, 5-0; W Dodge City 15-0; WW Dodge City 15-0, 15-0; WL Garden City 13-6, 6-7; L Goddard Eisenhower 1-9; L Derby 1-12; L Maize South 0-12; W Wichita Northwest 16-0; L Great Bend 0-10; L Great Bend 5-11; 5-1—Hays TMP (2); 5-6—at Liberal (2); 5-8—Liberal (1); 5-13—at Garden City (1); 5-15—Manhattan (2)
LIBERAL (0-6, 5-9)—WW Colby 17-2, 14-2; W Hesston 6-4; L Halstead 3-4; L Great Bend 2-11; LL Great Bend 6-17, 6-10; L McPherson 0-15, Maize 0-13; WW Hugoton 21-2, 21-2; L Garden City 2-12; LL Garden City 4-7, 10-12; 5-1—Cimarron (2); 5-5—SW Heights (2); 5-6—Hays High (2); 5-8—at Hays High (1); 5-13—at Dodge City (2); 5-15—Dodge City (1)
DODGE CITY (0-6, 0-12)—LL Great Bend 3-18, 0-17; LL Salina Central 0-15, 0-15; L Hays High; LL Hays High 0-15, 0-15; L Great Bend 1-16; L Wichita NW 6-10; L Derby 0-18; L Goddard Eisenhower 0-17; L Maize South 0-20; 4-25—Hays TMP (2); 4-29—at Pratt (2); 5-1—at Wichita South; 5-2—Wichita Heights; 5-6—at Garden City (2); 5-8—Garden City (2); 5-13—Liberal (2); 5-15—at Liberal (1)
