Dart Sets Strikeout Record as GCHS Takes WAC Softball Crown

Garden City, KS (westernkansasnews.com) The Garden City High School Softball Team is back on top in the WAC. The Lady Buffaloes finished the regular season at 18-2 and perfect 8-0 in the WAC sweeping a doubleheader from Hays at Tangeman Field 2-0 and 9-4.

The wins guarantee Garden City host regionals next Thursday as either a number one or number two seed.

Game One Highlights

In the first game Abbie Dart was dominant again in the circle, striking out 17 and allowing just two hits on a pair of singles. The only trouble she encountered was giving up a leadoff single to Jaysa Wichers and throwing error off a Sac bunt to Kaitlyn Brown before striking out the next three batters and ending the threat.

Hays lefthander Kaitlyn Brown was doing well too in throwing four shutout innings, but suffered an injury in the fifth when Alyssa Long was caught in a rundown. Brown suffered either a leg or knee injury and was helped out off the field. Wichers took over and surrendered Jenna Greenlee’s two run triple to rightcenter in the sixth accounting for the 2-0 win.

Game Two Highlights

Game two four of the first six Garden City runs were unearned. Wichers a freshman, remained in to pitch and had trouble early. Garden thirdbaseman Laura Farmer drove in a first inning run with a single and then Abbie Dart scored from third on a failed double off throw from Shai Cartmill’s liner back to the pitcher.

The Buffaloes (18-2, 8-0) stretched the lead in the second with another two run inning on Wichers wild pitch scoring Finch and Farmer’s bases loaded walk.

Hay’s Nicole Dinkle touched up Dart for her second homer of the year. The solo blast to straight away centerfield gave the Lady Indians their first run and they were down 5-1.

Dart was in control all the way until late when Hays scored three times on four hits making it a 9-4 final. For Dart her 31 strikeouts for the doubleheader giving her 31 for the day and 205 for the season setting a new school record.

Garden used a three run fifth to pull away 9-1. Wichers served up a two run single to left from Alyssa Long and Dart added a RBI double.

Post-game Comments GCHS Head Coach Trina Moquett

Regional play begins a week from Thursday on May 19 at home for the Garden City softball team. They are looking for their first trip to state in two years and for the second time in four years under Head Coach Trina Moquett.