HUTCHINSON, Kan. - The Hutchinson Monarchs (25-5) spotted the league leading Cheney Diamond Dawgs 3 runs in the top of the 1st inning capped by a Tresten Kennard blast with 2 Dawgs on base to take an early 3-0 in Thursday nights Sunflower League game at Hobart-Detter Field in Carey Park.
Hutchinson got the last laugh winning the game 9-6 to jump back to tie the Sunflower League race with the Diamond Dawgs. When all the dust settled, the Monarchs showed that they had home run hitters also. Hutchinson stormed back with 1 run in the 3rd, 2 in the 4th and 5 runs in the 5th as the Monarchs hit 3 home runs in the 5th to regain the lead 8-5. Dylan Nedved led off the bottom of the 5th inning with a solo shot to right center on a 3-2 pitch to get everything going for Hutch. Fielder's choice, a Cheney error led to a Luke Sartori 3 run shot over the left field fence as well as a Clayton Chadwick solo shot to right that might be in Burrton by now. Hutch finished the bottom of the 5th with 5 runs on 4 hits, 2 Cheney errors and 1 left on base to take control of the game.
Chadwick was outstanding at the plate and in right field as he made a sliding catch in foul territory that brought the fans to their feet in the middle innings. He was 3 for 4 at the plate with 2 homers and 2 RBI's on the night. Sartori also had a great night at the plate going 3 for 4 with a homer and 4 RBI's while scoring 3 runs.
In the Monarch 7th, Sartori singled by legging out an infield hit, stole 2nd to tie a team record 93 steals. Then stole 3rd for a team record 94 steals. That was Sartori's 21st steal of the season. That set up the final run for the Monarchs as Tanner Schrag flied out to right for a sacrifice fly and RBI
Hutchinson's Ryan Stuempfig from Wichita State by way of Flower Mound, Texas got the win going 3 innings in relief, giving up 4 hits, 0 runs and struck out 3 in a great effort after joining the club just last week. Aaron Haase got the save after 2 spectacular innings pitched in the 8th and 9th innings to shut the door on Cheney only giving up 1 run on 2 hits, striking out 4.
The Monarchs have a few days off as the Sunflower League All-Star game is Saturday night at Eck Stadium in Wichita.
Hutchinson begins a 4 game series with the Sunflower Seeds on Monday, July 17 at Hobart-Detter. Hutchpost.com will video stream the final game of the series on Thursday, July 30th.
Saturday's All-Star game will be video streamed on the Sunflower League YouTube channel with the home run derby beginning at 6 pm.