The Great Bend Chiefs are loading up their lumber this morning and heading to Salina to take part in the Kansas Grand Slam 2011.
The Chiefs (12-9) undoubtedly will be facing their toughest baseball competition of the summer at the wood bat tournament, which runs through the Fourth of July.
Great Bend opens play at 1:30 this afternoon against the Wichita Rockies at James Matson Field.
On Saturday, the Chiefs will be playing two games, including an 11:15 a.m. date with Wichita 18 Reds, followed by a 2:45 p.m. clash at Dean Evans Stadium with Millard North, out of Omaha, Neb.
On Sunday, the teams will dip into pool play.
On Fourth of July on Monday, the championship round of the four-day tournament unfolds.
Other Class AAA (19-and-under) teams competing in the tournament include: the Salina Falcons, the Wichita 17 Reds, the Brighton Bulldogs and the Columbus Blues.
After splitting a doubleheader with McPherson on Tuesday evening at Al Burns Memorial Field in Great Bend, the Chiefs have now won seven of their last 10 outings, including seven of their last eight home games. Their seven-game home winning streak was snapped in the nightcap of the McPherson twinbill.