Play Ball

Great Bend’s ball fi elds are available for rent by individuals, groups or private tournaments.

Chris Umphres, sports director of the Great Bend Recreation Commission, coordinates the master schedule for the ball complex and is the person to call for questions or making reservations. Chris can be reached at the GBRC offi ce, 620-793-3755, ext. 114.

Th e Great Bend Sports Complex at 41 McKinley St. is the perfect place to enjoy a ball game or to schedule a tournament.

Th e 61-acre complex off ers four skinned infi elds with lights

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and a grass infi eld. However, bids were accepted in April of 2021 to install artifi cial turf on the infi elds and bullpens of the four sports complex fi elds (and at Langrehr Field). Th e cost of this $1.36 million project will be shared by the City of Great Bend, Great Bend Recreation Commission and Great Bend USD 428. Th e goal is to have the fi elds done in time for the 2022 ball seasons.

Features at the Sports Complex include state-of-theart scoreboards and “constant light level” Musco lighting, along with ample parking, seating and shade. At the hub of this complex are the concession area, restrooms, locker rooms, and air conditioned offi cials/meeting rooms. Th ere are also batting cages on either side.

Organizers of baseball and soft ball tournaments for the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, Kansas State High School Activities Association (1A/2A), National Baseball Congress and others have found the complex to their liking, and many volunteers from the community are ready to make visitors feel welcome.

BAT CATS

Barton County loves baseball, and there are several other fi elds available for local use. In 2017, Al Burns Field in Veterans Memorial Park became home fi eld for the Great Bend Bat Cats, who fi nished ninth in the NBC World Series its fi rst year.

Team organizer is Roger Ward, a former American Legion Baseball coach and longtime local baseball promoter.

Th e 2021 home schedule runs from June through July. Admission to all home games is free.

Th e Bat Cats are part of the Sunfl ower Collegiate League, which features the Andale Warhawks, Cheney Diamond Dawgs, Derby Twins, El Dorado Broncos, Haysville Aviators, Hutchinson Monarchs, Newton Rebels, Wichita’s 316 Sluggers and Dodge City A’s and the Sunfl ower Seeds.

Stop by our Great Bend location, 1706 Main Street or call 793-6412 Friendly Hometown Service! Great Bend, Lyons & Hutchinson

800-894-2532