The Great Bend Chiefs are preparing for the final week of the regular season for Class AAA American Legion baseball.
In between a road trip to Dodge City’s Demon Field for a doubleheader tonight at 6 and the home finale on Thursday night against Thomas More Prep (Hays) at the Sports Complex, there will be a signing ceremony taking place at the Barton Community College Lawson-Biggs Field clubhouse on Wednesday morning at 10.
Great Bend High School product and Chiefs outfielder/pitcher Mitch Kottas is officially signing to play baseball for longtime  Barton head coach Mike Warren.
“I think Mitch has a ton of potential that I think Coach Warren out at Barton is going to get out of him,” GBHS head coach Randy Beck said.
Kottas, who had a team-leading 5-0 record and a 1.91 earned run average for GBHS this past spring, was named as a first-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection in a vote by league coaches.
“He definitely was our No. 1 pitcher on the mound this past spring and he was very consistent,” Beck said. “He’s a smart player and understands the game.
“He understood how to control the game on the mound.”
Kottas also had team highs in innings pitched (44) and strikeouts (23) while not allowing a home run.
Kottas batted .273 while playing left field, driving in 14 runs, several in clutch situations.
“That’s why he batted in the four or five hole for us,” Beck said. “He’s a big RBI guy and that was one of his roles on the team.
“He’s a good defensive player, as well. He had good jumps on the ball and when he got there, he caught it.”
Kottas has been one of the standouts for the Chiefs this summer under head coach Michael Stettinger.
The Chiefs take a 9-12 record into tonight’s twinbill. Thursday’s home doubleheader against TMP also starts at 6.