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Great Bend Chiefs open against Hutchinson Colts
Colin Hall pitching1
Great Bend Panther Colin Hall delivers a pitch against St. Thomas Aquinas. - photo by By Jim Misunas

BY JIM MISUNAS

jmisunas@gbtribune.com


The lack of a forfeit victory cost the Great Bend Chiefs the second seed and a first-round bye at the AAA Zone baseball tournament.

When the Hays Eagles beat Great Bend 4-2 June 19, the Eagles improperly used a pitcher, but Legion rules do not penalize a team with a forfeit loss. 

Had the Chiefs received a forfeit win, they would’ve earned a bye and second seed ahead of the Salina Falcons, 64.7% to 62.7%.

The AAA Great Bend Chiefs Legion baseball team opens Zone play at 2:30 p.m. Saturday against the Hutchinson Colts at the Great Bend Sports Complex. The Chiefs (21-13) or Hutchinson (16-17) will play the Salina Falcons (18-10) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in a winners bracket game.

“We’re where we deserve,” said Travis Kurth, Great Bend Chiefs coach. “We had opportunities to win more baseball games. We had several games where we didn’t play our best baseball. When we play a solid defensive game, we’re a pretty good baseball team.” 

Great Bend’s Colin Hall (5-2), Joey Soupiset (4-1) and Townshend Kurth (6-4) lead the pitching staff.

The AAA Hays Eagles (28-6) are the top seed, and are guaranteed a spot in the AAA State Tournament July 31-Aug. 4 at Hays. Nickerson (6-6) and Beloit (10-8) meet in the first game at noon Saturday.  Great Bend’s high school baseball team handed Hays High its only two losses during the spring season.

AAA ZONES (19 under)

GREAT BEND (July 20)–G1–Beloit 10-8 vs. Nickerson 6-6, noon; G2–Great Bend Chiefs 21-13 vs. Hutchinson Colts 16-17, 2:30;  G3–Hays Eagles 28-6 vs. G1 winner, 5 p.m.; G4–Salina Falcons 18-10 vs. G2 winner, 7:30

7-21–G5–Losers games 2, 3, noon; G6–Losers games 1, 4, 2:30 p.m.;  G7–Winners games 3, 4, 5 p.m.; G8–Winners games 5, 6, 7:30  

7-22–G9–Winner G8 vs. loser G7, 6 p.m.; G10–Winners games 7, 9, 8 p.m.

7-23 (if needed)–G11–Winner G10 vs. loser G10

OTTAWA (July 23)–G1–Leavenworth vs. Oskaloosa Bandits, 6 p.m.; G2–Ottawa Arrows vs. Topeka Senators, 8 p.m.; 7-24–G3–Doniphan County vs. Leavenworth-Oskaloosa winner, 6 p.m.;  G4–losers games 1, 2

FRONTENAC (July 20)–G1–Chanute 12-10 vs. Newton Knights 13-20-1, 9 a.m.;  G2–Linn County 10-4-1 vs. Garnett 6-10, noon; G3–Emporia 27-1 vs. game 1 winner, 3 p.m.; G4–Pittsburg 23`-7 vs. game 2 winner, 6 p.m. 

AA ZONES (19 AND UNDER)

IOLA (July 19)–G1–Columbus vs. Rose Hill, 6 p.m.; G2–Yates Center vs. Fort Scott, 8 p.m.; 7-20–G3–Iola vs. G2 winner, 10 a.m.

NORTON (July 22)–G1–Cimarron 0-0 vs. Colby 1-6, 4 p.m.; G2–Otis-Bison 3-15 vs. Norton 4-14, 6 p.m.; G3–Hill City 7-11 vs. winner game 1

RUSSELL (July 20)–G1–Smith County Raiders 13-10 vs. Ellinwood 6-10, 3 p.m.; G2–Lincoln County 10-5 vs. Russell 12-8, 5 p.m.; G3–Hoisington 17-4 vs. game 1 winner, 7 p.m.

SABETHA (July 21)–G1–Silver Lake 16-8 vs. Hiawatha 2-21, 4 p.m.; G2–Corning 8-6 vs. Seneca 7-13, 6 p.m.; 7-22–G3–Marysville 20-6 vs. Silver Lake-Hiawatha winner, 6 p.m.; G4–Sabetha 27-1 vs. Corning-Seneca winner, 8 p.m.