By Brad Hallier
Ian Regal pitched six shutout innings Tuesday, and the Hutchinson Monarchs took over first place in the Jayhawk Collegiate League with a 3-1 win at the Kansas Cannons.
The Monarchs’ league record is now 18-7, one game better than the Cannons and Derby Twins. The Monarchs, however, already have secured an NBC World Series bid as the reigning champion.
Regal allowed just two hits and struck out eight in earning the win.
Jaden Gustafson gave the Monarchs the lead with a solo home run in the fourth inning. The Monarchs tacked on two more runs in the eighth inning. Cooper Wesslund led off with a single. He stole second base and scored after two wild pitches. Gustafson later scored on Jarrett Flaggert’s sacrifice fly.
Nicky Sackett pitched 2 2/3 innings before running into a bit of trouble in the bottom of the ninth inning. With a run across and two outs, Reed Scott came in and struck out the final batter, earning a save.
The Monarchs return to Hobart-Detter Field at 7 p.m. Wednesday against the Newton Rebels.
