By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Including the COVID-19 pandemic cancellations, the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference baseball and softball championships have been hosted in Great Bend for the past 10 seasons. The two tournaments are ongoing at the Great Bend Sports Complex today and tomorrow.
Dr. Scott Crawford has been the KCAC
Commissioner since 2007 and said not only is the artificial turf beneficial at
the complex, but the number of fields available is big plus.
"It's not just about the game being played, but it's the warmup opportunity and hitting areas that make this an ideal location," said Crawford. "I would say the Great Bend Sports Complex is a unique facility that not only helps a high school tournament, but is ideal for small college baseball and softball that the KCAC brings to the table."
RELATED STORY: What Great Bend offers KCAC to host tourneys
Last April, the KCAC announced both the softball and baseball championships
will remain in Great Bend through the 2025 season.
Great Bend Recreation
Commission Director Chris Umphres said the complex is ideal for the tournaments
because both the baseball and softball games can be played at the same
facility.
"A lot of the other complexes have the turf field, but they don't have a full-sized baseball field on-site," said Umphres. "Usually it's off to the side and you have some other smaller fields. To have an actual full-sized baseball field with the smaller fields in one hub is a little bit different. We do have the advantage in that."
You can find updated brackets with game times for the rest of the tournaments
at kcacsports.com.