Lady Buffs swept by Great Bend; lose shot at WAC title

Garden City, Kan. (Western Kansas News) – Garden City High School Softball had a rough week against Great Bend, losing all three games of the series to the Lady Panthers. The three consecutive losses represent the first time that GCHS has lost three consecutive games this year, and the sweep completed a perfect WAC slate for Great Bend, who finished 18-4 (12-0) yesterday at John Ford Field with a WAC crown in hand.

The first of the doubleheader Thursday went poorly for Garden City, with the pitching staff unable to retire the necessary batters to keep any kind of momentum within reach. The contest turned into a blowout that resulted in fewer innings, with the game being called at 16-4 after five.

The second matchup saw a gritty performance from the Lady Buffs, but the class of Great Bend and their batting resulted in a 7-1 game in the top of the fifth inning. The Lady Buffs showed life in the bottom of the fifth with two runs being scored and Piper Harris doing her best Superman impersonation to reach home plate, but the 7-3 deficit was blown open in the top of the 6th with a two-run homer from the Lady Panthers that sealed the deal.

GCHS falls to 11-5 (4-4) after the series sweep.