SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
WICHITA, Kan. — The Hutchinson Monarchs jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, en route to a 12-1 run-rule win in seven innings over the Seattle Blackfins on Sunday night at Eck Stadium.
The Monarchs are now 2-0 in pool play in the 89th annual NBC World Series with one game remaining before bracket play.
Max Buettenback, a Nebraska signee, had a night to remember, going 2-for-4 at the plate and driving in five runs. Buettenback recorded a three-run home run in the top of the first inning and then a two-run triple in the seventh inning. The five RBI recorded are tied for the most in an NBC World Series single-game in Monarchs history.
Hutchinson (22-17) set a new single-game record in program history with 17 hits recorded as a team.
The Monarchs plated three in the first, one in the third, four in the fourth, one in the sixth and three more in the seventh. The lone Blackfins run came in the bottom of the first.
The nine Monarchs in the batting order recorded at least one hit, including six of the nine recording a multi-hit game.
Cooper Harris (2-for-4, 2 RBI), Sam Wiese (2-for-4, 2 RBI), Will Edmunson (3-for-5, RBI), Jaden Gustafson (3-for-5, RBI) and Drew Bugner (2-for-4) all had at least two hits in the victory. The Monarchs had seven extra base hits out of their 17 total.
Brady Pacha got the start and earned the win on the mound, going six innings, striking out eight and walking just one. Noah Kelley worked a scoreless seventh inning in relief.
The Monarchs will finish pool play on Tuesday against the GPS Legends (Tex.) with game time still to be determined.
Notes: The Monarchs are now 21-20 all-time in the NBC World Series, and 1-0 against the Blackfins. Blake Bradford was HBP in the fifth inning, marking the 17th time he has been hit by a pitch this summer, second most in a single-season in program history. Noah Kelley made his 43rd all-time appearance in program history with a scoreless seventh, marking the most appearances in program history. The run-rule win is the sixth NBC World Series run-rule win in 41 career games for the Monarchs.
Hutchinson - 301 401 3xx - 12 17 2
Seattle - 100 000 0xx - 1 5 3
W: Pacha (1-0). L: Wetzel (0-1). HR: Buettenback (4, 1st inning). Time: 2:03. Attendance: 0.