Softball Game Preview: Great Bend Panthers vs. Derby Panthers

Great Bend will face off against Derby at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday. Both teams are still undefeated (Great Bend has 14 wins , while Derby has five dating back to last season).

Great Bend had to skate by with only a two-run margin when they last took the field, which might have inspired the ten-run drubbing they dealt Northwest on Friday. The Panthers never let the Grizzlies get on the board and left with a 10-0 win. Considering the Panthers have won ten games by more than five runs this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.

Alyssa McCauley was a standout: she went 2-for-3 with two runs, one triple, and one RBI. That triple was her first of the season. Katherine Mazouch was another key player, going 2-for-3 with two runs, two RBI, and one double.

Great Bend was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .481. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .304 or higher every time they've taken the field this season.

Meanwhile, it was close, but on Tuesday Derby sidestepped Valley Center for an 8-6 victory.

Great Bend's win bumped their record up to 14-0. As for Derby, their victory bumped their record up to 4-0.

Great Bend couldn't quite get it done against Derby when the teams last played back in April of 2025 as they fell 4-1. Can Great Bend avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.