SEAN BOSTON
HUTCH POST
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Monarchs opened the second half of their season with a 15-3 thumping of the Wichita Black Sox on Thursday evening at Hobart-Detter Field.
The Monarchs scored one in each of the first two innings, and then exploded for nine runs in the third. The big blow in the third inning was a grand slam hit by Jarrett Flaggert down the left field line to extend the lead. Hutchinson sent 13 to the plate in the inning and did so on only four hits.
The Black Sox scored all of its runs on one swing of the bat, a three-run home run to left from Chris Pate. Pate, Mitch Loucks and Kyle Elliott each had two hits to account for the six total team hits.
Hutchinson (8-11) tallied seven hits in the game, led by Will Edmunson with two hits. Flaggert had a team-high four RBI, while Edmunson, Caleb Cotton and Jaden Gustafson each had two RBI.
Alec Stanfield made his debut on the mound for the Monarchs, earning the start and the win. He went two innings, striking out four and only allowing one baserunner, a hit batter. Camden Cornelius, Brady Bell, Cole Tourreau, Reed Scott, and even Monarchs manager Casey Lippoldt each threw an inning of relief each.
The Monarchs return to the diamond on Friday night, when they open a three-game series against the Great Bend Bat Cats. The series opens at Al Burns Memorial Field in Great Bend, and then switches to Hobart-Detter on Saturday and Sunday. The games will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Wichita - 000 300 0xx - 3 6 4
Hutchinson - 119 103 xxx - 15 7 0
W: Stanfield (1-0). L: Nunez. HR: Flaggert (Hutchinson, 2nd), Pate (Wichita). Time: 2:26. Attendance: 371.