DODGE CITY — Facing elimination, Great Bend’s Class AAA American Legion baseball team blasted Buhler 12-2 in a Zone Tournament game on Tuesday.
With the win, Great Bend advanced to an elimination game against Garden City, falling 4-3 to end the season.
The Chiefs scored runs in all but two innings, amassing 12 hits and only one error against Buhler.
Great Bend scored two runs in the first, three runs in the second and two runs in the third to build a quick 7-2 lead.
The Chiefs added a run in the fifth and four runs in the seventh to put Buhler away.
Bryce Beck, who took pitched a complete game, went 4-for-5 at the plate. He had four RBIs.
Beck allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits. He had six strikeouts.
Shade Wondra went 2-for-3 with three RBIs for the Chiefs.
Tristan Hall had a pair of RBIs, and Jared Maneth drove in one run.
Against Garden City, Great Bend took a quick lead for the second time on Tuesday.
The Chiefs scored two runs in the top of the first inning.
Garden City scored a run in the bottom of the second inning to close the gap to 2-1.
After four scoreless innings, Garden City plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh to make it 3-2.
The Chiefs tied things up at three runs apiece in the top of the eighth, forcing the game into extra innings.
Garden City drove in a run in the bottom of the 10th to secure the victory.
Wondra was the starting pitcher for the Chiefs, giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits and four walks. He had two strikeouts in six innings pitched.
Beck came on in relief, going 3 1/3 innings. He gave up one earned run on four hits and one walk.
Beck had two strikeouts.
Tristan Hall had Great Bend’s two RBIs in the game.
 
                                                     — Kevin Price