The Junction City Brigade completed a three-game weekend sweep of the Liberty Monarchs at Rathert Field with a 12-4 victory Saturday night.

The Monarchs jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning but powered by a Bret Nickle home run, four other hits, and three walks in the bottom of the first, Junction City scored five runs to take the lead. They never trailed again in the ballgame.

Brigade coach Seth Wheeler feels his team is playing their best baseball in several weeks as they prepare to head into the Mid-Plains League Tournament this next week. Wheeler noted the Brigade have finished second in the seven-team conference regular season standings — behind the Midwest Athletics .

A year ago Junction City had the second best regular season mark and went on to win the league tournament, and capture the Cowdin Cup that goes to the champion.  Wheeler knows his team is aware of that heading into the tournament this year. “I think the guys know it. I think we only have three or four returners from last year. It’s not like these guys were necessarily here, the majority of them. But they know about it.”

Tournament pairings have not yet been released.