Grizzlies Force Winner-Take-All Region 6 Title Game

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Top seeded Butler softball forced a winner-take-all Region 6 Championship game with two run rule victories on Sunday at Legends Park.

The Grizzlies (43-7) defeated Garden City 18-6 in five innings in the consolation bracket final before taking down Barton 9-1 in five innings in the first game of the championship series. The loss for the Cougars was their first of the tournament, thus the Monday winner-take-all game between the Cougars and Grizzlies that is scheduled for noon.

Butler 18, Garden City 6 (F/5)

It was a game of revenge for Butler as Garden City handed Butler a loss on the opening day of the Region 6 Tournament.

The Grizzlies wasted no time on Sunday, plating eight first inning runs to jump out to an 8-0 lead over the Broncbusters. All eight first inning runs came with two outs as the Grizzlies passed the bat, aided by a Broncbuster error.

Butler scored multiple runs in each inning, out-hitting Garden 14-5 in the game. They led by as much as 14 at 18-4 in the bottom of the fourth.

Kim Yepez, Jenna Jobe and Kyler Demel all homered in the game. Jobe finished 3-3 scoring four runs, Forney was 2-2, Kory Schoenfeld was 2-3 and Demel drove in three runs.

Ellie Randall allowed one run across her 2.0 innings getting the start. Emillee Stofferahn (W, 7-0) closed the game out tossing the final 3.0 innings allowing four earned runs, striking out one and walking two.

After she pitched a gem vs. the Grizzlies in Butler's loss, Garden City starter Yina Ballesta Vargas was pulled after an inning allowing eight runs (one earned) on six hits. Maysen Kurene-Iwikau led Garden going 2-2 with three RBI.

Butler 9, Barton 1 (F/7)

The first game of the championship series had big implications, if the Cougars won they would be crowned Region 6 champions while if the Grizzlies won they would live to see another day.

Butler ensured they would get another crack at it as they used seven fifth inning runs to grab a 9-1 run rule win.

Both teams were scoreless in the first inning, but Butler got on the board first in the second inning. Demel grounded out for an RBI to make it 1-0 and Graci Hock doubled to right center pushing the lead to 2-0.

Barton countered with a run in the fourth on a Chloe Enslinger solo home run. The next batter singled and Butler made a pitching change bringing in Addy Ewing for Ellie Randall. Ewing got two outs and the Grizzlies escaped the top of the fourth allowing just the lone run.

Butler went three up three down in the fourth and Barton did the same in the top of the fifth. The Grizzlies exploded in the bottom of the fifth, with the exclamation being a Kim Yepez grand slam. Barton head coach Carson DuBose was ejected by the home plate umpire for arguing balls and strikes and the next at bat, Yepez launched a grand slam to push the Butler lead from 2-1 to 6-1. Forney hit an RBI single, Cardona followed with a one run single of her own and Demel ended the game with a two-run single to right center.

SB vs Barton | B5

SEE YA LATER‼️

Kim Yepez with a grand slam to put the Grizzlies ahead 6-1 in the fifth

�� https://t.co/70ms6XPtdG pic.twitter.com/pnpahiXjhS

— Butler Grizzlies (@ButlerGrizzlies) May 4, 2025

Randall, (W, 15-2), earned the win throwing 3.1 innings allowing the lone run on four hits while striking out one and walking none. Ewing threw the final 1.2 allowing no hits or runs, striking out three and walking one.

Butler advances to the Region 6 "If Necessary" Championship game for a second consecutive season.