SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
WICHITA, Kan. — The Hutchinson Monarchs received word on Friday that it would be an at-large selection in the upcoming 89th annual NBC World Series next week in Wichita.
The Monarchs will be in Pool D with the GPS Legends, Hays Larks and the Seattle Blackfins.
Hutchinson will play the Hays Larks in the first game of pool play on Friday, August 4 at 6 p.m. at Eck Stadium on the campus of Wichita State University. The game will be the "feature game" of the day.
The Monarchs end the regular season tonight with a make-up game in Derby against the Twins. Hutchinson is currently 19-17 overall, but have been playing much better baseball since the all-star break. They are 12-6 in the second half of the Jayhawk Collegiate League season.
This marks the 12th NBC World Series appearance for the Monarchs, and their sixth straight. The Monarchs are 20-19 all-time in the tournament.
Hutchinson has faced the Hays Larks five times in the NBC World Series and are 2-3 in those games. The Monarchs have never played the Seattle Blackfins or the GPS Legends in program history.
The first six days of the NBC World Series will be pool play, with four pools of four teams. Three teams from each pool will advance to single elimination play, which begins on Wednesday, August 9.
Pools A & C will play Thursday/Saturday/Monday Pools B & D will play Friday/Sunday/Tuesday.
POOL A
Denver Cougars
Kansas Cannons
Lonestar Baseball Club
Sedgwick County Blues
POOL B
Great Bend Bat Cats
Lonestar Kraken
Sandlot Tulsa, OK
Santa Barbara Foresters
POOL C
Arlington Baptist
Liberal Bee Jays
D-BAT Collegiate League
Seattle Studs
POOL D
GPS, TX Legends
Hays Larks
Hutchinson Monarchs
Seattle Blackfins
Tickets start at $10 for general admission, or $15 for reserved seating, and tickets are good for the full day's slate of games. They can be purchased online at nbcbaseball.com or at the Eck Stadium Box Office on game days.