American Legion Class A State Baseball Championship Game 1 Arkansas City vs Buhler 7-23-16

With a win earlier in the morning, the Arkansas City Grays advanced to face the Buhler Nationals for the Kansas American Legion Class A State Baseball Championship.

The Grays quickly put four runs on the board. Buhler struggled at the plate to respond as Arkansas City kept rounding the bases. The game ended in the bottom of the Fourth Inning with a score of 12 to 2 for the Grays.

This game gave Buhler their first loss. Because of this, both teams will meet again for the decisive game for the 2016 State Baseball Championship.

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

Click here to purchase prints or downloads of these pictures.

Arkansas City Grays #2 Chase Watkins catches a deep fly ball. The Arkansas City Grays defeated the Buhler Nationals 12 to 2 to win the first game of the American Legional Class A Baseball State Tournament Championship Final at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 23, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Buhler Nationals #25 Colton Goans swings at a pitch. The Arkansas City Grays defeated the Buhler Nationals 12 to 2 to win the first game of the American Legional Class A Baseball State Tournament Championship Final at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 23, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Arkansas City Grays #2 Chase Watkins snags another fly ball to center field. The Arkansas City Grays defeated the Buhler Nationals 12 to 2 to win the first game of the American Legional Class A Baseball State Tournament Championship Final at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 23, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Buhler Nationals #21 Tanner Schrag throws a pitch. The Arkansas City Grays defeated the Buhler Nationals 12 to 2 to win the first game of the American Legional Class A Baseball State Tournament Championship Final at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 23, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Teammates mob Arkansas City Grays #2 Chase Watkins after he hit a two run home run in the bottom of the Second Inning. The Arkansas City Grays defeated the Buhler Nationals 12 to 2 to win the first game of the American Legional Class A Baseball State Tournament Championship Final at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 23, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Buhler Nationals #11 Ben Epp throws a pitch from the mound. The Arkansas City Grays defeated the Buhler Nationals 12 to 2 to win the first game of the American Legional Class A Baseball State Tournament Championship Final at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 23, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Arkansas City Grays #9 Caden Gonzales looks back at a runner on First Base. The Arkansas City Grays defeated the Buhler Nationals 12 to 2 to win the first game of the American Legional Class A Baseball State Tournament Championship Final at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 23, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Arkansas City Grays #23 Austin Hensley swings at a pitch. The Arkansas City Grays defeated the Buhler Nationals 12 to 2 to win the first game of the American Legional Class A Baseball State Tournament Championship Final at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 23, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Buhler Nationals #9 Adam Schrag tries to tag out Arkansas City Grays #12 Mikeal Segree at Second Base. The Arkansas City Grays defeated the Buhler Nationals 12 to 2 to win the first game of the American Legional Class A Baseball State Tournament Championship Final at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 23, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Arkansas City Grays #8 Hunter O’Toole watches a pitch go by him. The Arkansas City Grays defeated the Buhler Nationals 12 to 2 to win the first game of the American Legional Class A Baseball State Tournament Championship Final at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 23, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Arkansas City Grays #8 Hunter O’Toole crosses home as Buhler Nationals #11 Ben Epp looks away after a wild pitch. The Arkansas City Grays defeated the Buhler Nationals 12 to 2 to win the first game of the American Legional Class A Baseball State Tournament Championship Final at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 23, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Arkansas City Grays #9 Caden Gonzales throws a pitch. The Arkansas City Grays defeated the Buhler Nationals 12 to 2 to win the first game of the American Legional Class A Baseball State Tournament Championship Final at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 23, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Arkansas City Grays #9 Caden Gonzales throws a pitch. The Arkansas City Grays defeated the Buhler Nationals 12 to 2 to win the first game of the American Legional Class A Baseball State Tournament Championship Final at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 23, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Buhler Nationals #6 Chandler Eaton swings at a pitch. The Arkansas City Grays defeated the Buhler Nationals 12 to 2 to win the first game of the American Legional Class A Baseball State Tournament Championship Final at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 23, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Buhler Nationals #21 Tanner Schrag slides into home to score a run as Arkansas City Grays #20 Steele Sarnacki gathers in the ball. The Arkansas City Grays defeated the Buhler Nationals 12 to 2 to win the first game of the American Legional Class A Baseball State Tournament Championship Final at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 23, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Buhler Nationals #25 Colton Goans swings at a pitch. The Arkansas City Grays defeated the Buhler Nationals 12 to 2 to win the first game of the American Legional Class A Baseball State Tournament Championship Final at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 23, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Arkansas City Grays #11 Dominique Marr goes back to catch a fly ball. The Arkansas City Grays defeated the Buhler Nationals 12 to 2 to win the first game of the American Legional Class A Baseball State Tournament Championship Final at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 23, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Arkansas City Grays #2 Chase Watkins swings at a pitch. The Arkansas City Grays defeated the Buhler Nationals 12 to 2 to win the first game of the American Legional Class A Baseball State Tournament Championship Final at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 23, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Buhler Nationals #18 Jake Brown throws a pitch. The Arkansas City Grays defeated the Buhler Nationals 12 to 2 to win the first game of the American Legional Class A Baseball State Tournament Championship Final at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 23, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Members of the Arkansas City Grays and the Buhler Nationals shake hands following the game. The Arkansas City Grays defeated the Buhler Nationals 12 to 2 to win the first game of the American Legional Class A Baseball State Tournament Championship Final at the Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on July 23, 2016. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)

Click here to purchase prints or downloads of these pictures.