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Indian baseball edges Panthers in instant classic
GBHS panther logo
Published: Apr 2, 2025, 3:26 AM

BY JIM MISUNAS

jmisunas@gbtribune.com

HAYS — The Hays High baseball team led No. 5 state-ranked Great Bend 3-0 Tuesday before a lightning delay.

After the Panthers struck for four clutch sixth-inning runs, Hays rallied for a 5-4 victory keyed by two critical Panther errors and a game-winning balk.

Centerfielder Carson Umphres nearly saved the Panthers when he threw out Kaleb Roe at third base after back-to-back sixth-inning singles. Brett Rhoades scored the tying run when shortstop Daxton Minton and leftfielder Koehn Ribordy committed errors on a Trace Jacobs' groundball. Jacobs scored the game-winner when Panther pitcher Hunter Herrman was called for a balk after Bennet Smith took off for second base. 

Indian reliever Carter Graham earned the victory by recording three sixth-inning outs and stranding the tying runner by recording three seventh-inning outs. Slade Mohr walked and Umphres singled. But Graham retired Jaxon Wondra, Ian Premer and Minton for the victory.

Hays starter Tiger Johnson shut out the Panthers for five innings. Mohr singled and Umphres walked before the lightning delay. After Wondra's single, Mohr and Umphres scored on Ian Premer's double. Pinch runner Jace Schartz scored in Minton's single. Premer scored on a wild pitch for a 4-3 lead. 

Graham recorded three outs with runners at third and second and no out. Second baseman Johnny Cano threw out Trenton Kern at home and third baseman Rhoades threw out Minton at home on back-to-back plays. Peyden Oelger flew out.

Hays led 3-0 against Panther ace Umphres. Cano drilled a 2-run homer after Landon Hardman reached on a third-inning error. Johnson doubled home Cano in the fifth inning. Minton threw out Johnson on a relay from centerfielder Koehn Ribordy.

Four-time defending Western Athletic Conference baseball champion Hays High (3-1, 1-0 WAC) takes early control over Great Bend (4-1, 0-1 WAC). The Panthers visit Pratt Friday for a doubleheader.

Great Bend 000 004 0 — 4 6 3

Hays High 002 012 x — 5 6 1

Umphres, Herrman (6) and Wondra. Johnson, Cano (6), Graham (6) and W—Graham, 1-0 L—Herrman, 1-1.. 2B—GB—Premer; H—Johnson. HR—H—Cano 
Larned softball sweeps Ellis
karley lemuz
Larned pitcher Karley Lemuz - photo by Janet Fleske Special to the Tribune
Published: Apr 7, 2025, 2:25 AM
Larned softball wins opener LARNED — Larned's softball team scored 39 runs to dominate the Ellis Railroaders 21-4 and 18-5 in Friday's doubleheader. LARNED 21, ELLIS 4 (G1) — Larned's Brooks Simmons tripled and drove home a trio of runs. Driving home a pair of runs were Eowyn Hedding, Maya Wilson, Teagan Walker, Jadyn Crosby and Jillian Hagerman. Hagerman and Karley Lemuz each doubled. Lemuz (2-0) pitched five innings to earn the victory. The Indians took advantage of nine walks, seven errors, six wild pitches and two hit batters. Ellis' Maleah Vine drove home two runs. Rylan Aschenbrenner had an RBI LARNED 18, ELLIS 5 (G2) — Larned's Hedding doubled and drove in three runs. Walker and Hagerman each drove in two runs. Driving home one run were Lemuz, Brooke Simmins, Crosby, Ivy Hope and Gillian Smith. Crosby (2-0) pitched five innings to earn the victory. Railroader Vine drove home two runs. Kia Mader and Raegan Jimenez drove in runs. Larned 010 938 — 21 15 1 Ellis 400 000 — 4 2 7 Lemuz and Brooke Simmons. Rome and Ashenbrenner. W—Lemuz, 2-0. L—Rome, 0-3. 2B—L—Hagerman, Lemuz. 3B—L—Brooke Simmons Larned 240 2(10) — 18 17 4 Ellis 00 14 — 5 6 2 Crosby and Hedding. Rome and Jimenez. W—Crosby, 2-0. L—Rome, 0-4. 2B—L—Hedding, Walker; E—Rome, Jimenez. 3B—L—Walker
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