WICHITA, Kan. - The Hutchinson Monarchs edged out Santa Barbara Foresters with a 3-2 win on Thursday night at Eck Stadium in Wichita.
The game was marked by strong pitching performances from both teams. For the Foresters, Jackson Cloud pitched 7 innings, giving up only 3 hits and 2 earned runs while striking out 7. Jake Fields pitched in relief, allowing just one unearned run over 1 inning.
Offensively, the Monarchs were led by Camden Johnson and Jaden Gustafson, each driving in a run to secure the victory. Johnson went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Gustafson contributed with a hit and an RBI as well. The Monarchs scored their two initial runs in the third inning and added an insurance run in the eighth.
For the Foresters, Andrew Semo had a standout performance, going 3-for-4 with a double. TJ Pompey scored one of the team’s runs, and Jonah Sebring added two hits. The Foresters scored in the second inning and mounted a late rally in the ninth, scoring another run, but ultimately fell short.
Bradyn McClure earned the win for the Monarchs, pitching 7 innings and allowing only one run on 4 hits while striking out 5. Reece Usselman and Ian Lanik earned the save despite allowing an unearned run in the ninth. Lanik, got out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam only allowing just one unearned run to earn the save.
The Monarchs’ victory advances them to the semifinals where they will play the Kansas Cannons, while the Foresters finish in fifth place. Hutchinson eliminated the Foresters in 2023 to win their first ever NBC World Series Championship
The other semi-final will consist of the Hays Larks versus the Lonestar Baseball team out of Texas.
Three of the four remaining teams are from Kansas. Hutchinson is the defending NBC World Series Champions.
For more NBC World Series information click here.