BY JIM MISUNAS
Great Bend’s Carson Umphres was one swing away from securing his place in Panther baseball history after delivering an opening game-winning triple against rival Hays High.
Umphres nearly doubled his fun when he launched a long fly ball to left field that would’ve scored Hunter Herrman with the go-ahead run. But Hays’ left fielder Will Cadoret spoiled the celebration with a running catch to save the Indians.
After the Panthers won the opener 5-4 on Umphres’ game-winner, Hays edged the Panthers 5-4 in the nightcap. The Indians (5-1, 5-1 WAC) maintain a 2-game lead on Great Bend. Hays will clinch the WAC baseball title April 18 with a sweep over Dodge City.
"It reminded me of typical Great Bend/Hays battles,' said Great Bend coach Randy Beck. "They were two really good baseball games. I liked our energy and fortitude to win game 1. I was proud of our guys battled."
Great Bend (4-4, 2-2 WAC) plays at McPherson (4-2) Tuesday, and against either Rose Hill (7-1) or Emporia (0-8).
PANTHERS 5, HAYS 4 (G1) – After trailing 4-1, the Panthers staged a sixth-inning rally. The Panthers chased Hays starter Carson Spray with an Umphres triple followed by an RBI single by Owen Kaiser and a single by J.J. Grove. Hays reliever Tanner Boxberger recorded two outs when Edwin Chavez singled home Kaiser and Grove for a 4-4 tie.
Ian Premer singled to lead off the seventh inning. Umphres’ sacrifice bunt rolled foul before he squared up a pitch by Boxberger over right fielder Corbin Werth to score Premer. Umphres is batting .634 (17 for 27). Tyler Stuhlsatz is batting .515 (17 for 33).
"Carson has been swinging the bat well all season, and he enjoyed a good outing on the mound," Beck said.
Hays led 4-1. Bradyn Dreher scored on a first-inning wild pitch. Cooper Sanders scored on Carson Spray's third-inning single. Lex Lummus scored on a sixth-inning sacrifice fly and Carter Graham scored on an error.
HAYS 5, PANTHERS 4 (G2) – Great Bend was poised to sweep the twin bill when Owen Kaiser singled home Premer with the tying sixth-inning run for a 4-4 tie. But Hays reliever Cooper Johnson retired Grove, Bradley Hopkins and Chavez to preserve a 4-4 tie.
Sanders scored the game-winning seventh-inning run after Dreher's single was misplayed in left field. Herrman struck out two batters to preserve the 5-4 score.
"We made a few mistakes, but were in position to win the ballgame," Beck said. "We're growing as a baseball team. Good to see us battle from start-to-finish."
For the second straight game, Hays led 4-1 after 31/2 innings. Sanders scored on a first-inning groundout. Sanders scored on a Derrik Riggs third-inning double. Toby May ripped an RBI double and May scored on a Sanders’ groundout for a 4-1 lead.
Panther Koehn Ribordy scored on a double steal with Tyler Stuhlsatz in the third inning. Ribordy’s clutch double scored Grove and Chavez in a 2-run fourth inning for a 4-3 score.
Hays High 101 002 0 – 4 10 2
Great Bend 000 013 1 – 5 10 2
Spray, Boxberger (6) and Riggs. Stuhlsatz, Herrman (6) and Kaiser. W—Herrman, 2-1. L—Boxberger, 2-1. 2B—3B—GB—Umphres 2.
Hays High 101 200 1 – 5 8 1
Great Bend 001 210 0 – 4 9 5
Graham, Johnson (5) and Umphres, Herrman (7) and Kaiser. W—Johnson, 1-0. L—Umphres, 1-1. 2B—H—May, Sanders. 3B—GB—Umphres
Hays High 5-1 5-1
Great Bend 2-2 4-4
Dodge City 0-0 3-4
Liberal 1-2 4-3
Garden City 0-3 3-4
HAYS (5-1, 5-1)—WW Liberal 9-8, 5-3; WW *Garden City 5-0, 11-3; WL *Great Bend 5-4, 4-5; 4-18—*Dodge City (2); 4-19/22—at DeSoto; Lenexa St. James; Spring Hill, Gardner-Edgerton (4 games); 4-27/28—at Bonner Springs (Basehor-Linwood); 5-4/6—at Hays Tournament (4 games); 5-10—Washburn Rural
GREAT BEND (2-2, 4-4)—LL Kapaun 7-8, 1-7; WW Hutchinson 13-3, 16-6; WL Liberal 15-1, 4-7; WL *Hays High 5-4, 4-5; 4-18—at McPherson; 4-21—*at Garden City; 4-25—Hays TMP; 4-28—*Dodge City; 5-5—at McPherson; 5-10—Manhattan
