WICHITA — The reputation of the Jayhawk Collegiate League paid dividends when the Great Bend Bat Cats joined defending champion Hutchinson and Junction City in the 16-team field. Hutchinson has won two of the past three NBC titles. Great Bend made prior NBC World Series appearances in 2017 (3-1, 9TH), 2019 (4-4, 5TH), 2021 (3-2, 5TH) and 2023 (3-2, 5TH). The Bat Cats have been eliminated by Cheney's Diamond Dawgs 5-3, Waco, Texas Missions 7-5, Cheney 10-8 and the Seattle Studs 6-1. NBC pools POOL 1—Hutchinson Monarchs, Lonestar Baseball, Seattle Blackfins, TPA Texas POOL 2—Seattle Cheney Studs, Austin Gold Sox, Junction City Brigade, Oklahoma Lookouts POOL 3—Great Bend Bat Cats, Santa Barbara Foresters, Liberal Bee Jays, BTL Hornets POOL 4—Hays Larks, San Diego Stars, Alaska Goldpanners vs Tess’s Army NBC WORLD SERIES 6-23—6 p.m.—Hutchinson Monarchs vs Lonestar Baseball; 8:30 p.m.—Seattle Cheney Studs vs Austin Gold Sox 6-24—12—Seattle Blackfins vs TPA Texas; 3 p.m.—BTL Hornets vs Liberal Bee Jays; 6 p.m.—Great Bend Bat Cats vs Santa Barbara Foresters; 8:30 p.m.—Junction City Brigade vs Oklahoma Lookouts 6-25—12—Tess's Army vs San Diego; 3 p.m.—Great Bend vs. BTL; 6 p.m.—Alaska Goldpanners vs Hays; 8:30 p.m.—Seattle Blackfins vs Lonestar Baseball 6-26—12 a.m.—BTL Hornets vs Santa Barbara; 3 a.m.—Junction City vs Seattle Cheney Studs; 6 a.m.—Great Bend vs Liberal; 12—Oklahoma Lookouts vs Austin Gold Sox; 3 p.m.—Hays Larks vs Tess's Army; 6 p.m.--San Diego Stars vs Alaska Goldpanners 6-27—12—Austin Gold Sox vs Junction City; 3 p.m.—TPA Texas vs Lonestar Baseball; 6 p.m.—Seattle Cheney Studs vs Oklahoma Lookouts; 8:30 p.m.—Hutchinson vs Seattle Blackfins 6-28—12—San Diego Stars vs Tess's Army; 3 p.m.—Great Bend vs BTL Hornets; 6 p.m.—Alaska Goldpanners vs Hays Larks; 8:30 p.m.—Liberal vs Santa Barbara 6-29—12, 3, 6, 8:30 6-30—12, 3, 6, 8:30 6-31—6, 8:30 8-1—7 p.m.