Great Bend Post
Regional baseball for Great Bend likely meant a pair of rematches. Playing as the No. 7 seed overall in the Class 5A West Regional, the Panthers drew a first-round game against rival Hays. The teams split a pair of one-run games five weeks ago. With the season on the line Tuesday in Wichita, the Panthers downed the Indians 3-1.
Great Bend struck first with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning. Owen Kaiser led off the frame with a walk before Hunter Herrman took his spot on the bases. Herrman scored the game's first run on a groundout from Trenton Kern. Ian Premer walked and scored on a single from Edwin Chavez.
Hays took advantage of an error on the fourth inning for its lone run of the day. The Panthers utilized another walk to Kern in the bottom of the frame. He scored on another single from Chavez for what proved to be the final run of the game.
Chavez provided two of the three Panther hits in the win, both RBI-singles. Premer walked, singled, and scored the other run.
Carson Umphres was effective on the mound, allowing no earned runs on three hits in a complete game. He struck out three.
The Panthers improve to 12-9 on the season and get the winner of the Kapaun/Andover game in tonight's regional final. The Panthers opened the season with a pair of 8-7, 7-1 losses to Kapaun.