Jaxon WondraBY JIM MISUNAS jmisunas@gbtribune.com WICHITA — Two-time defending state champion St. Thomas Aquinas shut down Great Bend 4-0 in Friday's 5A state baseball semifinal. Aquinas starter Nicholas Sabers (7-1) struck out six batters and kept Great Bend (18-11) off balance through six shutout innings. The Panthers delivered four singles, but two of those runners were picked off base. Koehn Ribordy and Jaxon Wondra singled to chase Sabers in the seventh inning. Aquinas reliever James Forgy picked off Ribordy at second base before throwing a pitch. Forgy struck out Trenton Kern and Kale Kern to end the game. Daxton Minton drilled a fourth-inning single and Gavin Wondra delivered a sixth-inning single. Wondra was picked off first base by Sabers. Aquinas defeated the Panthers 7-4 in last year's 5A state championship game. Great Bend won state baseball titles in 1955, 1995 and 1998. Panther starter Jaxon Wondra (7-3, 2.50 ERA) threw a competitive game against a high-powered Saints offense. Great Bend's reliable infield turned a pair of nifty double plays. Third baseman Rafael Chavez and second baseman Gavin Wondra converted a 5-4-3 double play in the fourth inning. Shortstop Daxton Minton and Gavin Wondra finished off a sixth-inning double play. WIlliam Ray drilled a second-inning home run. James Forgy scored after Jett Wood's single to left field was misplayed for a 2-0 lead. Jaxon Wondra had worked 42/3 inning when a hit batter and walk led to a 2-run double by Lincoln Boyle for a 4-0 lead. The Panthers defeated Andover Central 2-1, Andover 2-0 and Salina Central 5-1 to reach the 5A semifinal game. Great Bend 000 000 0 — 0 4 1 St. Thomas Aquinas 020 020 x — 4 6 0 Jaxon Wondra, Chavez (5) and Trenton Kern. Sabers, Forgy (7) and Forgy. W—Sabers, 7-1. L—J. Wondra, 7-3. SV—Forgy. 2B—STA—Boyle. 3B—STA—Kitts. HR—STA—Ray.