WICHITA, Kan. - The Hutchinson Monarchs rallied late to take the lead over the Kansas Cannons to win 7-5 Friday night to advance to the NBC World Series Championship game for the second year in a row.
It will be an all Kansas Championship as the Hays Larks eliminated Lone Star Texas 7 to 3 in the late semi-final game.
Trailing 5-3 in the top of the eighth inning, Hutchinson managed to pull within a run of the Cannons as Jaden Gustafson led off with a triple and scored on a Will Edmondson squeeze bunt.
Then the ninth inning rally began.
Jarrett Flaggert led off the ninth with a single, and pinch runner Austin Coyle advanced to third base on an throwing error. Both Cooper Wesslund and Brett Smajstrla were hit-by-pitches, loading the bases with no outs.
Lead off hitter Camden Johnson singled scoring two runs and giving the Monarchs a 6-5 lead. Sam Wiese knocked in another run and Hutchinson led 7-5 going into the bottom of the ninth.
The Monarchs closer Reed Scott came in to pitch in relief of Reece Usselman in the ninth and shut down the Cannons only giving up a walk as the Cannons Mike Williamson grounded out to Jack Gardner at first for the third out.
Sam Wiese led the Monarchs in hitting going 3 for 5. Gustafson, Edmondson and Reese Ratchford each had two RBIs in the win.
Hutchinson will now appear in back-to-back NBC Championship games for the first time ever as they go up against the Hays Larks at 7pm Saturday night at Eck Stadium in Wichita.
Tonight will mark only the third time in 90 years that two Kansas teams have faced off for the NBC World Series Championship.
The others were in 2000 when the Liberal Bee Jays faced The Hays Larks, and in 1965 between the Wichita Dreamliners and Liberal Bee Jays.
2024 matches up the Hays Larks and Hutchinson Monarchs.
Gates open at 5:30pm and first pitch at 7:00pm tonight for Championship Night, with postgame fireworks.
Tickets to the Championship game start at $12.
The game can also be viewed on the NBC World Series’ YouTube channel click here.