Sometimes things have to get worse before they get better.

Great Bend's Class AAA American Legion baseball team gave up a season high for runs allowed in a four-inning 22-1 run-rule loss to the Hutchinson Blue on Friday night in the opening round of the Chiefs Classic at the Great Bend Sports Complex.

Hutchinson leadoff hitter Trevor Turner, a Barton Community College signee for Cougars head baseball coach Mike Warren, finished 4-for-4 for the Blue, including two doubles, two singles and also drawing a walk. Turner also scored three runs.

Warren's son, Shane Warren, is the coach of Hutchinson High School and the Hutchinson Blue. He also was a former Cougars assistant for his father. Chiefs head coach Michael Stettinger is a former Barton player.

Hutchinson scored five runs in the first, five in the second, two in the third and capped by 10 in the fourth, where they sent 15 batters to the plate, including 10 of the first 11 reaching base, capped by Conor Gomes crushing a three-run home run over the left-field fence.

Thomas Whipp pitched a one-hitter, allowing only a second-inning single to Bryce Beck.

The Chiefs (0-9) broke a four-game scoreless drought in the seventh when Dillon Reiser, who earlier walked, scored after an overthrow at second by shortstop Gomes on a fielder's choice infield grounder by Jared Maneth.

Hutch catcher Ryan Stoecklein tripled, singled and scored a trio of runs for the Blue. They totaled 14 hits, including six for extra bases, against four Chiefs pitchers, who issued a collective nine walks.

CLASS AAA AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL

Chiefs Classic

Pool Play

At Great Bend Sports Complex

Friday

Hutchinson Blue 22, Great Bend 1 (4)

            123  4         R     H    E

Hutch  552 10  —  22   14   2

GB       000  1   —   1     1    3

     Thomas Whipp & Ryan Stecklein; Tyler Nuss, Anson Hall (1), Brett Basye (4), Gabriel Juarez (4) & Jared Maneth. 2B — Hutch (Trevor Turner 2, Colby Turner, Javi Herrera). 3B — Hutch (Ryan Stoecklein). HR — Hutch (Conor Gomes).