Lady Buffaloes Take Senior Day Thriller over Dodge City
GARDEN CITY, Kan. – The Lady Buffaloes have faced adversity all season. Their resiliency showed on Thursday, a perfect way to send their seniors out.
The Garden City Lady Buffaloes were victorious on Senior Day, defeating the Dodge City Red Demons, 15-12, at John Ford Field. The Buffaloes scored 12 of the final 17 runs to clinch the sweep over the Lady Demons.
GCHS won the first two games of the series, 11-1 and 7-3, on Tuesday.
“We’ve had adversity the whole season,” Trina Mai, Garden City head coach, said. “I think just their attitude of just‘don’t give up‘, and just keep competing.”
Garden City (8-10, 5-5 WAC) started the game behind, giving up an immediate three runs in the top of the first. Kyleigh Whitehurst, Yasmim Angeles, and Piper Harris battled back to tie the game in the bottom of the second.
Angeles scored two of the first three runs for GCHS.
“If [Angeles] gets on, it gives us a chance,” Mai said. “It puts more pressure on the defense. If she keeps doing that, and continuing to grow, I’ll be one happy coach.”
Whitehurst smacked a double to left-center field in the bottom of the first to get GCHS on the board. Whitehurst, who had a 3-run HR on Tuesday, leads Garden City with 21 RBI.
The Buffaloes hung a two-run second to bring the game level in the home second. Angeles corked a run-scoring double before Harris brought the game back with a game-tying single.
Harris closed the series hitting 5-for-9 with 5 RBI against the Demons.
Dodge City (2-19, 0-9 WAC) put up its best offensive frame to re-take the lead, plating four runs. Garden City would close the game strong from there, scoring 12 runs in their final three innings at the plate.
GCHS sent 11 hitters to the dish in their fourth, knocking in seven runs on five hits. Angeles came through again to give the Buffaloes the lead with a bases-clearing triple, making it 10-7.
“She just continues to get better and better,” Mai praised. “I’m really looking forward to having her for three more years.”
Angeles recorded a career-high 4 RBI in the win, going 4-for-5 with two extra-base hits.
The Buffaloes would get two more big hits in the late innings, with Natalie Segura and Aleeya Cruz each driving in two more runs.
“Some kids that hadn’t always come through came through today, which was huge for us,” Mai said. “We needed to see that.”
Garden City scored 15 runs on 15 hits to secure the win.
The Buffaloes finish up a busy week on the road against Scott City Lady Beavers. The doubleheader begins tomorrow at 4:00 PM.
Trina Mai interview
