SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
WICHITA, Kan. — The 89th NBC World Series began last Thursday with 16 teams, now the tournament is down to 12 as bracket play begins today at Eck Stadium.
You can see results from pool play here. The four pool play winners include the Hutchinson Monarchs, Santa Barbara (Calif.), Kansas Cannons and the Seattle Studs. Each of those four teams will receive a first round bye today, and will play in the quarterfinal round tomorrow at 12 p.m.
The Monarchs finished pool play with a 3-0 record, beating the Hays Larks, Seattle Blackfins and the GPS (Tex.) Legends. Hutchinson and Santa Barbara are the only two teams that finished pool play unbeaten. The Monarchs are averaging 9.3 runs per game, while allowing 5.3 per game.
Hutchinson has four players hitting over .300 in the tournament, led by Max Buettenback who is 6-for-10 with a home run, triple, double and five RBI. Will Edmunson is 6-for-14 at the plate with two doubles and two RBI, while Jaden Gustafson is 5-for-13 with three doubles and five RBI. Cooper Harris has a team-high six RBI for the three games.
WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE
12 p.m. - Lonestar Baseball Club (Tex.) vs. Arlington Baptist (Tex.)
3 p.m. - Liberal Bee Jays vs. Denver Cougars
6 p.m. - Hays Larks vs. Five Tool Kraken (Tex.)
8:30 p.m. - Great Bend Bat Cats vs. Seattle Blackfins
THURSDAY SCHEDULE
12 p.m. - Monarchs vs. Lonestar Baseball/Arlington Baptist winner
3 p.m. - Santa Barbara Foresters vs. Liberal/Denver Cougars winner
6 p.m. - Kansas Cannons vs. Hays/Five Tool Kraken winner
8:30 p.m. - Seattle Studs vs. Great Bend/Seattle Blackfins winner
You can watch all of the games here.