SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
WICHITA, Kan. — Behind a record breaking offensive performance, the Hutchinson Monarchs punched their ticket to the NBC World Series championship game following a 17-0 win in five innings over the Five Tool Kraken (Tex.) on Friday evening at Eck Stadium.
The Monarchs will play in the NBC World Series championship game for the first time in the programs 15th season of existence.
Hutchinson (25-17) put on an offensive clinic in the semifinal. The Monarchs set numerous program single-game records in the win, including margin of victory (17 runs, previously 12), runs scored (17, previously 13), runs scored in an inning (10 in 3rd, previously 8), doubles (8, previously 5), and RBIs (17, previously 13) to name a few.
The Monarchs sent 14 to the plate in the third inning and scored 10 runs on eight hits to lead 12-0 after three innings. The 10 runs scored in the inning are the most scored by the Monarchs in the NBC World Series for a single inning, and tie the most scored in a single inning for any Monarchs game in program history.
Hutchinson kept it going in the fourth inning, sending nine to the plate and scoring five more runs on four hits.
The Monarchs saw all nine starters record at least one hit in the game. Max Buettenback finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate with four RBI, a triple and two doubles. Sam Wiese finished 2-for-3 at the plate with a home run and three RBI.
Will Edmunson finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Jaden Gustafson went 2-for-4 with three RBI and two doubles. Caleb Cotton (1-for-3, 2 RBI), Paris Pridgen (1-for-1, RBI), Jarrett Flaggert (1-for-2, 2 RBI) and Blake Bradford (2-for-2) all had a double, as well.
Brady Pacha earned the win on the mound, going all five innings, striking out eight and allowing just one hit and no walks.
The Monarchs advance to the championship game of the 89th NBC World Series, which will be played on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. The Monarchs will play the defending NBC World Series Champion Santa Barbara Foresters who shut out the Seattle Studs in the other semi-final game on Friday night.
YOUTUBE STREAM OF NBC WORLD SERIES
Five Tool (Tex.) - 000 00x xxx - 0 1 3
Hutchinson - 02(10) 5xx xxx - 17 16 0
W: Pacha (2-0). Rowley (0-1). HR: Wiese (2nd, 2nd inning). Time: 1:26.
Full Box Score here