Broncbusters Close Season in Tournament Loss to Seward County

Photo by: Adam Shrimplin/Garden City Athletics

DODGE CITY, KS – Garden City Community College battled offensively throughout the night but could not keep pace with Seward County Community College, falling 20-10 in Game 2 of the 2026 NJCAA Division I Softball Plains District Tournament Friday at Legends Park.

The Broncbusters (28-28) scored in six different innings and finished with 12 hits, but Seward County answered with consistent offensive production throughout the game, including four-run innings in the first, second and fourth before adding five more runs in the seventh to pull away.

Garden City answered quickly after Seward County opened the game with four runs in the top of the first. Maiarangi Waipara delivered an RBI double before Zoey Torres added a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 4-2 heading into the second inning.

The Saints extended their lead in the second with four more runs, but the Broncbusters responded again in the third. After Danna Viera reached on an error and Jade Hendrix doubled down the left field line, Torres lined a two-run single through the left side to bring Garden City back within 8-4.

Seward County continued to apply pressure in the fourth inning. Ella Doxey highlighted the frame with a grand slam to left center as the Saints pushed the advantage to 12-4.

Garden City answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Viera drove in a run with a single through the right side before Waipara followed with an RBI single up the middle to trim the deficit to 12-6.

The Broncbusters added two more runs in the fifth when Izzy Foster ripped a two-run double to right field, scoring Averie Ashford and Valeria Mandujano. Garden City added another run in the sixth after Maysen Kurene-Iwikau scored on a groundout by Torres.

Seward County broke the game open in the seventh inning with five runs on four hits and four walks. Jewell Carleton delivered a two-run single while Doxey added another RBI as the Saints extended the lead to double digits.

Garden City added one final run in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI groundout from Foster, but could not complete the comeback effort.

Torres finished with four RBI to lead the Broncbusters offensively while Waipara went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Foster added three RBI, and Viera scored twice in the loss.

Key moment
Seward County's four-run fourth inning, capped by Doxey's grand slam, helped the Saints create separation after Garden City had cut the deficit to four runs.

Key stat
Seward County finished with 16 hits and 10 walks while scoring 20 runs across six different innings.

Up next
Garden City concludes the 2026 season with a 28-28 overall record after competing in the NJCAA Division I Softball Plains District Tournament.