By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The Great Bend High School baseball team will enter the Class 5A State
Baseball Championships with a 13-9 record and will face the top seed of the
tournament, but coach Randy Beck said the Panthers are walking tall going into
Wichita.
“It’s such a good feeling winning a Regional championship and have the kids
come back into practice with a purpose,” said Beck. “We’re feeling good about
ourselves heading to Wichita this week. We’re still walking tall.”
Great Bend was able to knock of rival Hays High School in the first Regional
game 3-1 last Tuesday before coming from behind against Andover to win 4-3 in
the Regional championship game. Trailing 3-0 in the title game, the Panthers
came back to win the game in the 8th inning with a bunt by Edwin
Chavez and a throwing error by Andover.
“I just wanted to move them over,” said Chavez. “Coach Beck gave me the sign to
move them over and give the next person a chance to score them in. Lucky
enough, with an error, we won the game.”
RELATED STORY: Great Bend baseball team heading to State
The last time the Panthers advanced to state in 2019, the team also went
through Hays in Regional play by beating the Indians on their home field. In
2019, Great Bend received the #7-seed in the tournament and fell in the first
round at Eck Stadium at Wichita State University. Returning to Eck Stadium this
year, the Panthers are the #8-seed and face #1 Bishop Carroll (21-1).
“We have no pressure on us,” said Beck. “I’ve seen one-seeds overlook eights.
We’re going to be relaxed, play our butts off and have fun. We’ll see what
happens.”
Great Bend graduated eight seniors from last year’s team and brought back just
three seniors this spring with the rest of the roster filled with freshman and
sophomores. One of the three seniors, Tyler Stuhlsatz, was the winning pitcher
in the victory over Andover pitching the final two-plus innings.
“The first day of practice felt kind of weird because last year we had a bunch
of seniors,” said Stuhlsatz. “That first practice we tried to show the
underclassmen what to do and show them the way.”
The Panthers started the season 4-4, found their groove in mid-April by winning
six straight, but lost five of their final six games heading into Regionals.
“They do have chemistry, but it takes time getting used to everybody around
you,” said Beck. “It takes time for the younger guys to know our program,
figure out plays and what to do in certain situations. They got used to the
speed of the game.”
Sophomore Carson Umphres made a couple of significant offensive plays for Great
Bend in the come-from-behind victory over Andover. Umphres had a home run in
the 6th inning to get the Panthers within striking distance.
Trailing 3-2 with two outs in the 7th inning, Umphres smacked a
double to score Stuhlsatz and tie the game up for extra innings.
“You just have to mentally prepare and know that you’re the best in the moment,”
said Umphres. “During the summer I gained like 30 pounds. I made sure I hit the
weight room and got better as an athlete.”
Senior Bradley Hopkins will get to close out his high school career with an appearance
at State.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” said Hopkins. “I just try to help out my pitcher
anyway possible in the outfield. I know if I can get an out they know we have their
back. I give everything I have no matter what.”
Great Bend plays the third game on Thursday, May 25 at Wichita State’s Eck
Stadium. The Panthers are scheduled to start their game against Bishop Carroll
at 3:30 p.m. Listen to the broadcast on 104.3 FM or online at
greatbendpost.com.