WICHITA, Kan. — Jaden Gustafson drove in five runs on three doubles as the Hutchinson Monarchs rolled past the Lonestar Kraken 21-4 on Saturday night to claim their second National Baseball Congress World Series championship in the past three seasons.
The Monarchs, guided by head coach Casey Lippoldt, capped their summer with a 33-8 record, piling up 17 hits and 11 walks in the title game at Equity Bank Park.
Gustafson delivered a two-run double in the first inning as Hutchinson grabbed an early 3-0 lead. He added another two-run double in a six-run third and capped his night with his third two-run double during a five-run fourth.
Jake Gutierrez and Tyson Vassart each drove in three runs for the Monarchs, while Drew Bugner joined Gustafson and Blake Bradford with three hits apiece.
Pryce Bender earned the win, allowing two runs over 5 1/3 innings before Daegan Vinduska, Kyle Holzer and Aiden Benson combined to finish it off. Bender had a perfect game going into the fifth frame, before allowing back-to-back singles.
Major Brignon drove in two runs for Lonestar, which was limited to five hits.
The title is Hutchinson’s second under Lippoldt, adding to their 2023 crown and cementing another dominant summer run.