The only thing to stop the Great Bend American Legion baseball team over the weekend was the weather.
After a perfect 3-0 record in pool play, rain took care of the championship bracket Sunday afternoon. Great Bend was set to play in the semifinals of the bracket but that never took place as the remainder of the bracket was cancelled.
Great Bend was one of two unbeaten teams through pool play. Both the Chiefs and Paolo were 3-0 and earned byes into the semifinals. Great Bend was set to play the MoKan Giants while Paola was slated to play host McPherson.
By going 3-0 the Chiefs ran their current winning-streak to five games and have now won 13 of their last 14 games. Great Bend is 21-7 overall this season. The Chiefs defeated Marion, 9-1, Newton, 6-4, and Junction City, 5-3, in their three games.
The Chiefs opened play Thursday with the 9-1 win over Marion. Great Bend received a good pitching performance from Tyler Hanzlick in the win. Hanzlick went all five innings in the run-rule win, allowing just two hits.
Hanzlick also had a big day at the plate, going 2-for-2 with two RBI, two runs scored and a pair of stolen bases.
Anson Hall added two hits, including a triple and an RBI. Payton Mauler stole a base and drove in a run for the Chiefs.
Saturday Great Bend returned to McPherson and picked up a pair of wins. Brady Michel went into the sixth inning to pick up the win over Newton before Brett Basye came in to end the game. With the bases loaded and one out, Basye threw one pitch and enticed a double play to end the game and preserve the 6-4 win.
Hall drove in the go-ahead run with a 2-out RBI in the sixth and Michel added some insurance with a solo home run. The game would prove to the pool title game as Newton finished 2-1 in pool play.
Jacob Milton and Hall combined to hold Junction City to just three runs in the final game Saturday, putting the Chiefs in the championship bracket.
Great Bend and Paola received byes in the bracket with the Chiefs set to play the winner of the MoKan Giants and Arkansas City game early Sunday. MoKan won that game 10-2 but before the Chiefs could play the semifinal game, rain took over and eventually ended the Hooper Showcase.
Great Bend will look to keep the wins coming when its head to Russell Tuesday for a pair games. The twinbill will start at 6 pm.