By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Even with a chance of rain and thunderstorms the rest of the week, the Great Bend Recreation Commission is committed to serving the Kansas Collegiate Athletics Conference (KCAC). Getting the conference to host their softball and baseball championships at the Great Bend Sports Complex for 11 straight years has been a joint effort with the Rec and the City of Great Bend.
Rec Executive Director Chris Umphres said hospitality and hotel availability is pivotal with keeping tournaments.
"The hotels are full," said Umphres. "We try to get these teams some rooms early. That's always one of the biggest concerns...where do they stay when the come. You figure a 40-man roster in baseball and 25 in softball. There are 16 teams coming. They pack four players to a room. That takes up a lot of rooms."
Later this month the Sports Complex will be the site of the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) Class 2-1A State Baseball Championships.
With the 14 KCAC colleges all to the east of Great Bend, Umphres said another selling point at the Sports Complex is to host both the softball and baseball tournaments at the same location.
"The KCAC Commissioner helps run the tournament, puts scores in and do their media releases in one spot," said Umphres. "With KSHSAA, they want double gate, so they moved softball to Pratt for the 2-1 State Championship. They like to have it separated more, but KCAC loves that we're in the same location."
The softball tournament will conclude their championship game on Friday. The baseball tournament will finish their championship game on Sunday. Find updated results and schedules on Great Bend Post.