For the fourth time in their history, the Hutchinson Monarchs have won a league championship.
On Saturday at Hobart-Detter Field, the Monarchs defeated the Kingman Islanders 8-2, securing their 11th consecutive win and clinching the Jayhawk Collegiate League title.
The Monarchs also won league championships in 2016, 2020 and 2021.
The Monarchs were down 1-0 when they came to bat in the bottom of the first inning, and quickly mounted a rally, JJ Spafford led off and walked. Blake Bradford followed with a single, and Jake Gutierrez’s single scored Spafford and tied the game. Tyson Vassart’s sacrifice Fly scored Bradford and the Monarchs led the rest of the way.
Leading 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Monarchs broke the game open by scoring three runs. Bradford had an RBI groundout, Gutierrez had another RBI single, and Jackson Legg drove in a run when he reached on an error.
The Monarchs outhit Kingman 10-5, with Gutierrez and Jeter Worthley having two each. Legg went 1 for 2 and walked three times.
Riley Dickey was the winning pitcher, giving up two runs on three hits in five innings. Daegan Vinduska, Whit Rhodes and Russell Copous combined to pitch the final four innings, giving up zero runs on two hits.
The Monarchs, who improved to 25-5 overall, will get their first day off since Independence Day on Sunday. They will next play at 7 p.m. Monday at Hobart-Detter Field against the Junction City Brigade.
