American Legion Baseball AAA Zone 1&2 Tournament Great Bend vs Garden City 7-18-16

With the end of July nearing, American Legion Baseball teams travel to their Zone Tournaments for a chance to play in the State Championship. Great Bend provided the host site for the Zone 1 & 2 Tournament.

The Garden City Elite entered the day with a 27 and 2 record but fell to McPherson in the early game. This set up a matchup with the Great Bend Chiefs on a hot and sunny July evening.

Both teams scored a pair of runs in the First. Great Bend tacked on two more in the Second and Fifth Innings. In the Sixth, Garden City tried to rally behind a two run Home Run, but the rally fell short. The Chiefs added four more insurance runs in the Seventh and final Inning.

Great Bend advanced along with McPherson to the AAA State Tournament which will also be held in Great Bend on the last week of July.

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

Click here to purchase prints or downloads of these pictures.

Great Bend Chief Jared Maneth (#17) fouls back a pitch in the top of the First Inning. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Garden City Elite Sloan Baker (#33) throws a pitch in the top of the First Inning. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Hunter Hanzlick (#7) congratulates Konner Ireland (#11) on scoring in the top of the First Inning. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Garden City Elite Syrus Schwartz (#15) catches a fly ball to end the First Inning. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Brayden Smith (#9) throws a pitch in the bottom of the First Inning. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Payton Mauler (#12) tracks a fly ball in the outfield during the First Inning. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Garden City Elite Levi Whaler (#9) bunts the ball in the bottom of the Third Inning. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Garden City Elite Matt Armstrong (#20) watches a pitch pass by in the Third Inning. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Payton Mauler (#12) catches a fly ball for an out in the bottom of the Fourth Inning. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Payton Mauler (#12) rounds second after stealing the base in the Fourth Inning. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Garden City Elite Christian Merz (#2) tracks the ball as Great Bend Chief Payton Mauler (#12) waits to tag up at Second in the top of the Second Inning. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Payton Mauler (#12) slides to score a run in the Second Inning. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Garden City Elite Orlando Hernandez (#13) dives back for First Base in the bottom of the Second Inning. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Garden City Elite Derek Cook (#8) slides towards second to try and break up Great Bend Chief Bryce Lytle’s (#20) attempt at an inning ending double play in the Second. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Garden City Elite Aric Rowland (#1) catches a foul ball at the backstop. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Hunter Hanzlick (#7) fouls off a pitch in the top of the Third Inning. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Brayden Smith (#9) throws a pitch in the Fourth Inning. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Konner Ireland (#11) lines up to catch a fly ball. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Garden City Elite Sloan Baker (#33) looks for the pitch selection from his catcher in the Fifth Inning. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Garden City Elite Sloan Baker (#33) throws a pitch in the bottom of the Fifth Inning. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Jared Maneth (#17) gets the out at First on Garden City Elite Casey English (#14) in the Fourth Inning. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Payton Mauler (#12) bends over to catch a fly ball in the bottom of the Fourth Inning. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Garden City Elite Sloan Baker (#33) winds up to throw a pitch. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Garden City Elite Head Coach Lyle Befort calls his players in for a huddle. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Garden City Elite Head Coach Lyle Befort discusses a call with an umpire. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Jared Maneth (#17) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a run in the top of the Fifth Inning on a wild pitch. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Garden City Elite Sloan Baker (#33) tags Great Bend Chief Jaxx Hillman (#3) out at home plate as he tried to score on a wild pitch. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Anson Hall (#14) catches a pitch. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Jared Maneth (#17) jumps to catch a fly ball in foul territory. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Kody Lang (#13) watches Garden City Elite Pitcher Sloan Baker (#33) for an opening to steal Second. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Teammates of Garden City Elite Casey English (#14) greet him at home plate after he hit a two run home run in the bottom of the Sixth Inning. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Head Coach Roger Ward talks to his pitcher Brayden Smith (#9) in the bottom of the Sixth Inning. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Garden City Elite Sloan Baker (#33) runs to steal Third Base in the bottom of the Sixth Inning. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

An umpire stands between Great Bend Chief Head Coach Roger Ward and Garden City Elite Head Coach Lyle Befort as they discuss each other’s teams. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Umpires check on the Home Plate umpire after he to a ball off his body in the bottom of the Sixth Inning. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Garden City Elite Head Coach Lyle Befort talks to his players to calm down rhetoric on the field. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Payton Mauler (#12) watches the pitching motion of Garden City Elite Sloan Baker (#33) for an opening to run. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Garden City Elite Christian Merz (#2) throws a pitch in the top of the Seventh Inning. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Garden City Elite Christian Merz (#2) throws a pitch in the top of the Seventh Inning. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Kody Lang (#13) slides into Third Base on a double steal. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Garden City Elite players huddle up in the dugout. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Members of the Great Bend Chiefs and Garden City Elite shake hands at the end of the game. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

The Great Bend Chiefs huddle up to listen to their coach Roger Ward’s comments following the game. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Head Coach Roger Ward addresses his players after the game. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Head Coach Roger Ward hands the Zone Tournament Trophy to his players. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

The Great Bend Chiefs hoist up the Zone Tournament Trophy. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

The Great Bend Chiefs hold up the Zone Tournament Trophy. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

The Great Bend Chiefs line up for a team photo with the Zone Tournament Trophy. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

The Great Bend Chiefs line up for a team photograph with the Zone Tournament Trophy. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

The Great Bend Chiefs Line up for a team photograph with the American Legion Representative and the Zone Tournament Trophy. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Head Coach Roger Ward gets doused with water by his players. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Head Coach Roger Ward takes a moment to catch his breath after getting splashed with ice cold water. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Great Bend Chief Head Coach Roger Ward addresses his players after the game. The Great Bend Chiefs won the AAA Lower Zone 1 & 2 Tournament by defeating the Garden City Elite 10 to 4 at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 18, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Click here to purchase prints or downloads of these pictures.