DODGE CITY — It was a marquee day for the Great Bend Class AAA American Legion baseball team.
At the Dodge City tournament, the Chiefs blasted both opponents in pool play to advance to today’s semifinal round.
Great Bend scored 36 runs in two games, bruising Hooker, Oklahoma 18-4 in five innings and crushing Little River 18-2 in three innings.
“I was really happy with our approach at the plate,” said head coach Randy Beck, who stepped in for skipper Michael Stettinger while he was with his family.
“They didn’t try to do too much and hit the ball well.”
Tristan Hall worked the mound for the Chiefs against Hooker. He went four innings, scattering seven hits and giving up four runs (two earned) with three walks and two strikeouts.
Anson Hall came on in relief, getting a strikeout in his one inning.
Tristan also had a big day at the plate, hitting a triple on his way to going 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
“Tristan had a couple of triples today,” Beck said, “and some RBIs. He had some big hits for us. He also threw a solid game for us.”
Tristan was one of three Chiefs players with three RBIs. Shade Wondra, who had a double and went 1-for-2, and Matt Zecha, who went 1-for-5, each had three RBIs.
Things went even smoother against Little River.
Great Bend scored eight runs in the first and 10 runs in the second to put things out of reach quick.
Brady Michel pitched all three innings for Great Bend, scattering six hits and allowing two earned runs and one walk, while striking out four.
“Brady went three innings for us in the second game,” Beck said. “I was very pleased with his outing. He had a lot of first-pitch strikeouts, which is so helpful.”
Tristan Hall had another three RBIs, going 2-for-2 with a triple.
Jack Westhoff led the team with four RBIs, going 2-for-3.
All nine batters had at least one RBI in the game for Great Bend.
The Chiefs face Dodge City in a semifinal game today at 11 a.m.
The other two teams in the semifinal round is Butler County and Liberal.
 
                                                       — Kevin Price