BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
When Great Bend pitcher Alyssa McCauley yielded four runs to prevent a run-rule softball victory, hitter McCauley took matters into her own hands.
McCauley bombed a 3-run homer to left field that ignited a celebration that capped a 17-6 opening victory over Liberal.
"I wanted to end it because there's no point throwing another inning. As long as I get a base hit, I'm good. I thought a home-run would be nice and it ended up being a home run," McCauley said. "That was my first one. Hopefully, there's many more."
McCauley's hopeful home run prediction came true when she homered in a 10-6 second-game victory.
PANTHERS 17, LIBERAL 6 (G1) — All-WAC DeShawnna Bryant delivered a 2-run homer, RBI triple and two singles while scoring four runs. Bryant got the party started with a first-inning homer.
In a 5-run third inning, Kya Behr drilled a 2-run double and Bryant, Kamryn Koelsch and Denver Ringo added RBI for a 7-0 lead. Liberal's Miley Janko homered and Lexi Miller hit an RBI double for a 7-2 score.
The Panthers approached run-rule territory with a 6-run fourth inning. Bryant, Callie Umphres and Chayla Prendergast delivered RBI. Ava Carter scored on an error. Bryant and Post scored on wild pitches for a 13-2 lead.
Torres' 2-run homer keyed Liberal's 4-run fifth inning. McCauley's 3-run homer came after Post scored on an error.
McCauley (2-0) yielded six earned runs after three shutout innings. She complimented her patented screwball with an effective changeup. Coach Tracie Haselhorst, catcher Koelsch or McCauley take turns calling pitches.
"I'm getting better with my changeups, but I don't throw a bunch of them. It was very effective today," McCauley said. "My screwball was good today too. It's a pitch the right-handed batter thinks is going outside, but it moves inside."
PANTHERS 10, LIBERAL 6 (G2) — Lead-off batter Katherine Mazouch delivered a pair of home runs with a trio of runs batted in. McCauley homered and drove in two runs. Behr singled four times and drove in two runs.
Liberal's Janko homered and drove home three runs. Brooklyn Stout also homered.
The Panthers (10-1, 5-0 WAC) lead Hays High (7-0, 3-0 WAC) by two wins.
Liberal 000 24 — 6 12 3
Great Bend 205 64 — 17 13 1
Lyon and Torres. McCauley and Mazouch. W—McCauley, 2-0. L—Lyon. 2B—GB—Post, Behr, Koelsch; L—Champion. 3B—GB—Bryant. HR—GB—Bryant, McCauley; L—Janko, Torres
Liberal 200 130 0 — 6 4 0
Great Bend 051 103 x — 10 14 1
Champion, Torres (6) and Harding. Prendergast and Mazouch. W—Prendergast, 5-0. L—Champion. 2B—GB—Ringo, Prendergast, Ringo; L—Stout, Janko. HR—GB—Mazouch 2, McCauley
WESTERN ATHLETIC SOFTBALL
Great Bend 5-0 10-1
Hays High 3-0 7-0
Garden City 0-0 2-0
Liberal 0-3 3-4
Dodge City 0-5 0-7
TUESDAY—Great Bend 11, Liberal 2; Hays High 15, Dodge City 0
THURSDAY—Great Bend 17-10, Liberal 6-6; Hays High 15-15, Dodge City 0-0
FRIDAY—Goodland at Garden City (2)
GREAT BEND (5-0, 10-1)—WW Dodge City 18-17, 3-0; WW Hutchinson 7-6, 12-0; W Manhattan 16-2; L McPherson 5-11; WW Pratt 16-11, 7-5; W Liberal 11-2; WW Liberal 17-6; 10-6; 4-15—Dodge City (1); 4-17—at Newton, Maize South; 4-18—at Derby, Wichita Northwest; 4-22—Hays High (1); 4-24—at Hays High (2); 4-29—Garden City (1); 5-1—at Garden City (2); 5-9—at DH; 5-15—Newton (2)
HAYS HIGH (3-0, 7-0)—WW Olathe East 9-3, 10-5; WW Junction City 6-2, 5-0; W Dodge City 15-0; WW Dodge City 15-0, 15-0; 4-15—Garden City (2); 4-17—Wichita Northwest; 4-22—at Great Bend (1); 4-24—Great Bend (2); 5-1—Hays TMP (2); 5-6—at Liberal (2); 5-8—Liberal (1); 5-13—at Garden City (1); 5-15—Manhattan (2)
GARDEN CITY (0-0, 2-0)—WW Scott City 19-3, 15-0; 4-11—Goodland (2); 4-15—at Hays High (2); 4-17—Derby, Wichita Northwest; 4-18—Newton, Maize South; 4-22—Liberal (1); 4-24—at Liberal (2); 4-29—at Great Bend (1); 5-1—Great Bend (2); 5-6—Dodge City (2); 5-8—at Dodge City (2); 5-9—DH; 5-10—DH; 5-13—Hays High (1)
LIBERAL (0-3, 3-4)—WW Colby 17-2, 14-2; W Hesston 6-4; L Halstead 3-4; L Great Bend 2-11; LL Great Bend 6-17, 6-10; 4-15—at McPherson, Maize; 4-17—at Hugoton (2); 4-22—at Garden City (1); 4-24—Garden City (2); 5-1—Cimarron (2); 5-5—SW Heights (2); 5-6—Hays High (2); 5-8—at Hays High (1); 5-13—at Dodge City (2); 5-15—Dodge City (1)
DODGE CITY (0-5, 0-7)—LL Great Bend 3-18, 0-17; LL Salina Central 0-15, 0-15; L Hays High; LL Hays High 0-15, 0-15; 4-15—at Great Bend (1); 4-18—Wichita Northwest (1); 4-25—Hays TMP (2); 4-29—at Pratt (2); 5-1—at Wichita South; 5-2—Wichita Heights; 5-6—at Garden City (2); 5-8—Garden City (2); 5-13—Liberal (2); 5-15—at Liberal (1)
