American Legion AAA Zone 8 Championship McPherson vs Great Bend 7-15-17

The math for the first day of a zone tournament is fairly simple, win twice and you go on to the state tournament. Getting to those two victories can me a winding road.

Both the McPherson Seniors and Great Bend Chiefs advanced to this game. Each team knew that their pitching depth was going to be challenged.

A pitcher cannot pitch more than 120 pitches in a day and then must rest a minimum of two days.

McPherson sent two pitchers up to the mound, Great Bend used a total of five over seven innings.

The Seniors jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first. The Chiefs pulled back two in the bottom half of the inning and in the next inning.

Both teams continued to tack on runs and keep with in contact of each other. Going into the bottom of the seventh inning, Great Bend needed one run to tie and send the game into extra innings. Instead they got two on the same play, a single by Payton Mauler to win the game.

The Great Bend Chiefs now will play in the State Tournament in Ottawa. McPherson still has a chance to reach State, they have to win one more game tomorrow.

Below are some of the pictures I took at the game:

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Members of the McPherson Seniors hold their caps over their hearts during the playing of the National Anthem prior to the start of the game. The Great Bend American Legion Post 180 AAA Chiefs defeated the McPherson American Legion Post 24 AAA Seniors 9 to 8 to win the AAA Zone 8 Championship at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 15, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

McPherson Senior Head Coach Mark Reifschneider (#36) and Great Bend Chief Head Coach Mike Perry (#26) meet with the Umpire crew at home plate prior to the start of the game. The Great Bend American Legion Post 180 AAA Chiefs defeated the McPherson American Legion Post 24 AAA Seniors 9 to 8 to win the AAA Zone 8 Championship at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 15, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Koy Brack (#27) throws a pitch in the top of the first inning. The Great Bend American Legion Post 180 AAA Chiefs defeated the McPherson American Legion Post 24 AAA Seniors 9 to 8 to win the AAA Zone 8 Championship at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 15, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Koy Brack (#27) tries to tag out McPherson Senior Dylan Werries (#23) at home plate but was unsuccessful in the top of the first inning. The Great Bend American Legion Post 180 AAA Chiefs defeated the McPherson American Legion Post 24 AAA Seniors 9 to 8 to win the AAA Zone 8 Championship at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 15, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

McPherson Senior Jack Reifschneider (#18) starts to swing as a pitch comes towards him in the top of the first inning. The Great Bend American Legion Post 180 AAA Chiefs defeated the McPherson American Legion Post 24 AAA Seniors 9 to 8 to win the AAA Zone 8 Championship at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 15, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Teammates greet McPherson Senior Jack Reifschneider (#18) at home plate after he hit a three run homer in the top of the first inning. The Great Bend American Legion Post 180 AAA Chiefs defeated the McPherson American Legion Post 24 AAA Seniors 9 to 8 to win the AAA Zone 8 Championship at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 15, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

McPherson Senior Nathan (#14) catches the ball after Great Bend Chief Konner Ireland (#11) swung at it in the bottom of the first inning. The Great Bend American Legion Post 180 AAA Chiefs defeated the McPherson American Legion Post 24 AAA Seniors 9 to 8 to win the AAA Zone 8 Championship at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 15, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Konner Ireland (#11) slides into third base before McPherson Senior Alex Kalkhorst (#22) can tag him in the bottom of the first inning. The Great Bend American Legion Post 180 AAA Chiefs defeated the McPherson American Legion Post 24 AAA Seniors 9 to 8 to win the AAA Zone 8 Championship at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 15, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Logan Perry (#13) throws a pitch in the top of the second inning. The Great Bend American Legion Post 180 AAA Chiefs defeated the McPherson American Legion Post 24 AAA Seniors 9 to 8 to win the AAA Zone 8 Championship at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 15, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Payton Mauler (#12) gets a lead off from second base in the bottom of the second inning. The Great Bend American Legion Post 180 AAA Chiefs defeated the McPherson American Legion Post 24 AAA Seniors 9 to 8 to win the AAA Zone 8 Championship at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 15, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Brice Kaiser (#19) slides into third base behind McPherson Senior Alex Kalkhorst (#22) in the bottom of the second inning. The Great Bend American Legion Post 180 AAA Chiefs defeated the McPherson American Legion Post 24 AAA Seniors 9 to 8 to win the AAA Zone 8 Championship at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 15, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

McPherson Senior Jack Reifschneider (#18) throws a pitch in the bottom of the second inning. The Great Bend American Legion Post 180 AAA Chiefs defeated the McPherson American Legion Post 24 AAA Seniors 9 to 8 to win the AAA Zone 8 Championship at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 15, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

McPherson Senior Jack Reifschneider (#18) throws a pitch in the bottom of the second inning. The Great Bend American Legion Post 180 AAA Chiefs defeated the McPherson American Legion Post 24 AAA Seniors 9 to 8 to win the AAA Zone 8 Championship at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 15, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Payton Mauler (#12) throws a pitch in the top of the third inning. The Great Bend American Legion Post 180 AAA Chiefs defeated the McPherson American Legion Post 24 AAA Seniors 9 to 8 to win the AAA Zone 8 Championship at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 15, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Jared Maneth (#7) slides into home to score a run in the bottom of the third inning. The Great Bend American Legion Post 180 AAA Chiefs defeated the McPherson American Legion Post 24 AAA Seniors 9 to 8 to win the AAA Zone 8 Championship at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 15, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Jared Maneth (#7) watches the pitch go to the batter from his lead off position near second base in the bottom of the third inning. The Great Bend American Legion Post 180 AAA Chiefs defeated the McPherson American Legion Post 24 AAA Seniors 9 to 8 to win the AAA Zone 8 Championship at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 15, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

McPherson Senior Corbin Steinert (#26) throws a pitch in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Great Bend American Legion Post 180 AAA Chiefs defeated the McPherson American Legion Post 24 AAA Seniors 9 to 8 to win the AAA Zone 8 Championship at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 15, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Brice Kaiser (#19) throws a pitch in the top of the fifth inning. The Great Bend American Legion Post 180 AAA Chiefs defeated the McPherson American Legion Post 24 AAA Seniors 9 to 8 to win the AAA Zone 8 Championship at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 15, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Konner Ireland (#11) throws a pitch in the top of the sixth inning. The Great Bend American Legion Post 180 AAA Chiefs defeated the McPherson American Legion Post 24 AAA Seniors 9 to 8 to win the AAA Zone 8 Championship at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 15, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Members of the Great Bend Chiefs rush the field to greet Koy Brack (#27) after he scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Great Bend American Legion Post 180 AAA Chiefs defeated the McPherson American Legion Post 24 AAA Seniors 9 to 8 to win the AAA Zone 8 Championship at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 15, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Members of the McPherson Seniors and Great Bend Chiefs shake hand following the game. The Great Bend American Legion Post 180 AAA Chiefs defeated the McPherson American Legion Post 24 AAA Seniors 9 to 8 to win the AAA Zone 8 Championship at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 15, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

The Great Bend Chiefs line up with the Zone 8 Championship Trophy after the conclusion of the game. The Great Bend American Legion Post 180 AAA Chiefs defeated the McPherson American Legion Post 24 AAA Seniors 9 to 8 to win the AAA Zone 8 Championship at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 15, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Click here to purchase prints or downloads of these pictures.