Marcus Gradney belted a first-inning home run and drove in six runs Friday, leading the Hutchinson Monarchs to a 14-6 win over the Haysville Aviators at Hobart-Detter Field.
The Monarchs started strong, scoring five runs in the first inning and never trailing. After first-inning one-out singles from Drew Bugner and Jackson Schaneul, Carson Umphres belted a two-run double.
Umphres then stole third base but suffered a knee injury on the play. Brice Wallar came in to run and scored on Dalton Sabathe’s sacrifice fly.
James Dagenhart next singled before Gradney homered over the left-field wall.
The Monarchs answered three Aviators runs in the third inning with a pair of runs. Dagenhart doubled home Wallar, and Gradney’s ground out scored Sabathe for a 7-3 lead.
Gradney drove in another run in the sixth inning when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and his two-run double in the seventh inning pushed the Monarchs lead to 14-5.
Kevyn Velazco was the winning pitcher, as he gave up two runs on four hits in 3 1/3 innings. Velazco struck out six. Camden Cornelius threw the final three innings to earn a save, giving up a run on four hits.
The Monarchs improved to 19-8 and will next play at 7 p.m. Monday at Haysville. Hobart-Detter Field will play host to the Jayhawk Collegiate League’s all-star game at 7 p.m. today
