There is a lot that goes into playing softball. It takes a lot of hard work and commitment to your coaches as well as your teammates. You have to be able to be coachable and realize when you make a mistake and what it is going to take to fix it without beating yourself up about it too much. You can’t allow yourself to get in your head, like all sports softball is a mental game as well as physical. You have to be able to understand your goals and what it is going to take to reach those goals and be a team player.

Great Bend High School senior Paige Thexton, is committed to play softball at Fort Hays State University as of this past fall. Thexton has played under Coach Carrie Minton since her freshman year of high school. Jersey number three has been her number since she started playing in her high school career and hopes to have this number in her last season before college. 

“The hardest part about playing my last year of high school softball is the fact that I won’t be stepping on the softball field as a panther with this amazing group of girls ever again. It will also be hard as I love playing under Coach Minton and this is my last time I will get to do that. I plan to make the most of my last season,” stated Thexton. 

Thexton has high expectations for this season she stated, “Each year we just keep getting better and I just want everyone to come out and have fun and just want to win this year. I think we can go on a run this year and achieve some big things.”

She continued, “My biggest goal for myself is to enjoy the most out of my last season here. For the team I want us to strive to finish the season as WAC champions and to make a trip to the state tournament.”

Sophomore, Adelis Bujanda believes that Manhattan is going to be one of the more difficult teams the girls will play this season. Bujanda’s expectations for the season are to have fun and like Thexton hopes for the team to make it to WAC. She proudly wears the number 17 and hopes to wear it again. She plays anywhere in the outfield and also first base. She stated, “My biggest goal is just to have a really good season with my teammates and to not have any injuries.”

There are high hopes for our lady panthers softball team this season. Come out and support the Lady panthers at their first game coming up on March 26th for a tri against Manhattan and McPherson, and throughout the rest of the season as well. Good luck this season to our lady panthers as well as the rest of the spring sports.