BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
On a Senior Night when Great Bend softball pitchers Chayla Prendergast and Braelyn Turner struggled, relief pitcher Alyssa McCauley rose to the rescue.
The Panthers (23-1) worked hard to rally past McPherson 9-6 after beating Junction City 11-5.
PANTHERS 9, MCPHERSON 6 — McPherson (17-7) tagged Prendergast (12-1, 1.34 ERA) for nine hits and five runs. She has 93 strikeouts in 781/3 innings.
McCauley worked 21/3 effective innings, yielding a homer to Rylie Whitfield after Prendergast departed.
"Alyssa McCauley was our MVP on Senior Night," said Great Bend coach Shawn Behr. "Immediately, she still had her stuff. She has a great drop, and curve, and groundballs. McCauley was huge tonight. Turner was out of gas from Junction so we had to go with Alyssa."
McPherson's Brooke Doile delivered an RBI single, Whitfield scored on a wild pitch and Kadence Zaharis scored on an error for a 3-0 lead.
Katherine Mazouch hit a 2-run homer, Kya Behr scored on an error and Denver Ringo hit an RBI single for a 4-3 lead.
The Panthers rallied from a 5-4 deficit with a 4-run fifth inning. Behr homered, Koelsch hit an RBI single and Kamryn Koelsch and Mikala Minton scored on passed balls for an 8-5 lead.
Behr homered for the Panthers' final run.
"Mac had a flamethrower to start, and it took a time through the lineup, to crank up the timing," Behr said. "When we did, Mac brought in a girl that spun the ball and had a good rise. We adjusted to the speed. It took longer than wed have liked."
PANTHERS 11, JUNCTION CITY 5 — The Blue Jays chased Turner (11-0, 2.98 ERA) with five runs, only one earned. Prendergast threw two shutout innings.
Denver Ringo led the offense with four runs batted home. Super-sub Rydlie Swanson blasted a 2-run pinch-hit homer. Camdyn Post, Mazouch, Behr, Callie Umphres and Turner each drove in one run.
"Our bats had a tough time with the various pitchers. Junction's lefty threw off-speed and outside corner," Behr said. "It took some looks to adjust."
Swanson continues success as a pinch-hitter.
"Rydlie delivers in tough spots," Behr said. "When she enters the lineup next year, she's going to be a top player."
Coach Behr appreciated the hometown support.
"The Great Bend High band did an amazing job of the National Anthem, and stayed to play between innings," he said. "The atmosphere was truly amazing -- Band Night at the Ballpark. Senior Night at the Complex did not disappoint."
Junction City 004 001 0 — 5 4 1
Great Bend 200 034 — 11 14 1
Delory and Nabs. Turner, Prendergast (6) and Koelsch. W—Turner, 11-0. L—Delory. 2B—GB—Behr, Mazouch. HR—Swanson.
McPherson 210 020 1 — 6 11 4
Great Bend 004 041 — 9 9 2
Evans, Schroeder (3) and Jones. Prendergast, McCauley (5) and Koelsch. W—Prendergast, 12-1. L—Evans. 2B—GB—McCauley; M—Whitfield. HR—GB—Behr 2, Mazouch; M—Whitfield.
5A GREAT BEND PROJECTED (5-18 to 5-21)—1 Great Bend (22-1) vs. 16 Hutchinson (8-18); 8 Goddard (15-7) vs 9 Valley Center (14-10)
