Great Bend Post Sports
Katherine Mazouch was the hero a couple times last year as a freshman on the Lady Panther softball team. She reclaimed her title Friday afternoon in Salina after delivering a game-winning double in the sixth inning. The Lady Panthers held on to beat Salina South 6-5. Great Bend dropped game two to McPherson 6-0.
Against South, Great Bend scored runs in the first, third, and fifth innings to lead 4-0 heading into the sixth. That’s when the Cougars decided to take the lead with a five-run frame.
Kamryn Koelsch opened the bottom of the sixth with a single. Ava Kaiser, running for Koelsch, advanced to second base on a sac bunt from Denver Ringo. Kaiser moved to third on a groundout from Alyssa McCauley, then scored on an error off Chayla Prendergast’s bat to tie the game. Rylee Prilling came in to run for Prendergast and scored what proved to be the game-winning run after Mazouch hit a two-out double to right field.
Braelyn Turner pitched five scoreless innings to open the game, striking out one and allowing five hits. Prendergast took over in the fifth, allowing five earned runs on two hits and three strikeouts. Prendergast remained in the game into the seventh, walking her sixth batter of the game before Turner returned to the circle. Ringo threw out a runner at home for the second out, and Turner forced a popup to Koelsch behind the plate to end the game.
Koelsch singled three times and drove in a run. Paige Thexton singled, doubled, and added a team-high 21st walk of the season, coming around to score two of the six runs. DeShawnna Bryant singled twice and drove in two. Camdyn Post singled and scored twice.
Turner threw four shutout innings to begin game two. The Pups singled and homered in the fifth to open up a 2-0 lead, then plated four more runs in the sixth. Turner allowed six earned runs on nine hits with three strikeouts. Prendergast recorded the final out.
The Lady Panther offense was held to just a single apiece from Post and McCauley.
Great Bend moves to 18-6 on the season ahead of next Tuesday’s home games against TMP.