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Hannah Sanders, Ansley Blevins lead GPS past Baylor [photos]

Mazy Ann McKnight pitches for Baylor during the Lady Red Raiders' softball game at rival GPS on Thursday. GPS won 5-0. Mazy Ann McKnight pitches for Baylor during the Lady Red Raiders' softball game at rival GPS on Thursday. GPS won 5-0.

By Kevin Llewallyn April 12, 2019 3 min read

Photo Gallery

GPS over Baylor softball

GPS shortstop Kaitlyn Songer (11) catches a Baylor line drive for a out. The Baylor Lady Raiders visited the Girls Preparatory School Bruisers in TSSAA softball action. The Bruisers won 5 to 0.

Baylor third baseman Raven Jones (26) fields a grounder. Jones completed the play for a out. The Baylor Lady Raiders visited the Girls Preparatory School Bruisers in TSSAA softball action. The Bruisers won 5 to 0.

GPS shortstop Kaitlyn Songer (11) chases down a drive for a out. The Baylor Lady Raiders visited the Girls Preparatory School Bruisers in TSSAA softball action. The Bruisers won 5 to 0.

Hannah Sanders (34) pitched a shutout for the Bruisers. The Baylor Lady Raiders visited the Girls Preparatory School Bruisers in TSSAA softball action. The Bruisers won 5 to 0.

GPS head coach Susan Crownover shares a laugh with the home plate umpire. The Baylor Lady Raiders visited the Girls Preparatory School Bruisers in TSSAA softball action. The Bruisers won 5 to 0.

GPS's Ariana Whatley (25) slides safely into third while Baylor's Raven Jones (26) awaits the throw. The Baylor Lady Raiders visited the Girls Preparatory School Bruisers in TSSAA softball action. The Bruisers won 5 to 0.

Baylor shortstop Acelyn Sellers (10) breaks on a ball that just gets past pitcher Mazy Ann McKnight. Sellers made the put out on the play. The Baylor Lady Raiders visited the Girls Preparatory School Bruisers in TSSAA softball action. The Bruisers won 5 to 0.

GPS pitcher Mazy Ann McKnight (34) blocks the path of Baylor's Sophie Piskos (23) turning a rundown between first and second base. Piskos was out on the play. The Baylor Lady Raiders visited the Girls Preparatory School Bruisers in TSSAA softball action. The Bruisers won 5 to 0.

Syd Berzon (29) came on to pitch in relief for Baylor. The Baylor Lady Raiders visited the Girls Preparatory School Bruisers in TSSAA softball action. The Bruisers won 5 to 0.

GPS first baseman Ariana Whatley (25) catches a pop up for a out. The Baylor Lady Raiders visited the Girls Preparatory School Bruisers in TSSAA softball action. The Bruisers won 5 to 0.

GPS second baseman Chapel Cunningham (9) fields a ground ball. The Baylor Lady Raiders visited the Girls Preparatory School Bruisers in TSSAA softball action. The Bruisers won 5 to 0.

GPS head coach Susan Crownover checks on cathcer Ansley Blevins (24) was slightly injured. The Baylor Lady Raiders visited the Girls Preparatory School Bruisers in TSSAA softball action. The Bruisers won 5 to 0.

Baylor head coach Kelli Smith confers with batter Sophie Piskos (23). The Baylor Lady Raiders visited the Girls Preparatory School Bruisers in TSSAA softball action. The Bruisers won 5 to 0.

GPS left fielder Stella Henry (3) fields a low line drive. The Baylor Lady Raiders visited the Girls Preparatory School Bruisers in TSSAA softball action. The Bruisers won 5 to 0.

GPS's Brynley Oliver (4) sprawls after scoring at home just ahead of the tag of Baylor catcher Sophe Piskos (23). The Baylor Lady Raiders visited the Girls Preparatory School Bruisers in TSSAA softball action. The Bruisers won 5 to 0.

GPS catcher Ansley Blevins leaps as she celebrates teammate Brynley Oliver's score against visiting Baylor on Thursday. Also celebrating are Elizabeth Warwick (14) and the rest of the Bruisers, who beat Baylor 5-0. Blevins hit a grand slam earlier in the game.

GPS centerfielder Elizabeth Warwick gathers in a Baylor hit. The Baylor Lady Raiders visited the Girls Preparatory School Bruisers in TSSAA softball action. The Bruisers won 5 to 0.

GPS's Brynley Oiver (4) makes contact for a single. The Baylor Lady Raiders visited the Girls Preparatory School Bruisers in TSSAA softball action. The Bruisers won 5 to 0.

Girls Preparatory School senior pitcher Hannah Sanders was all smiles after Thursday’s softball game against rival Baylor.

She had every reason to be after what both she and her coach, Susan Crownover, described as easily her best pitching performance of the year – a three-hit shutout against the four-time reigning state champs.

Sanders’ dominance and a grand slam from freshman Ansley Blevins led the host Bruisers to a 5-0 victory over the team that has been the thorn in their side for the past few seasons. Baylor (17-2) and GPS (9-3) have met for the Division II-AA state championship five years in a row.

“We wouldn’t have been able to win without my defense behind me,” a humble Sanders said. “The key today was just to keep the ball low. They’re a great hitting team, and I just needed to have confidence to hit my spots.”

Sanders never was challenged by the typically potent Baylor offense. Despite striking out just two, the Bruisers’ ace never allowed a runner past second base as she generated weak contact most of the afternoon.