Two big innings lead Monarchs to rout over Rebels
The Hutchinson Monarchs scored eight runs in the second inning and five in the sixth to rout the Newton Rebels 15-2 in a seven-inning run-rule game at Hobart-Detter Field in Carey Park Wednesday night.
The defending National Baseball Congress World Series champion Monarchs improved to 19-7 overall and 7-2 in Jayhawk Collegiate League play. The Rebels dropped to 4-22 overall.
The Monarchs sent 13 batters to the plate in their eight-run bottom of the second inning.
Zerick Warren (Stephen F. Austin/Elkhart, Texas) had a two-RBI single. Monarchs’ newcomer Jovan Suarez (Hesston College/Salina South High School) drove in a run with a groundout.
Jaden Gustafson (Wichita State/Wichita) had a two-RBI single, Camden Johnson (Wichita State University/Boerne, Texas) stroked an RBI single and Austin Coyle (Cloud County CC/Kamloops, British Columbia) hit a two-run double.
In the bottom of the third inning, Gustafson doubled home Brett Smajstria (Sam Houston State/Pearland, Texas) with the Monarchs’ ninth run. Johnson added the 10th Hutchinson run on a sacrifice fly that scored Cooper Wesslund (Hutchinson CC/UNO/Lincoln, Neb.).
Hutchinson’s Sam Wiese (Eastern Illinois University/Omaha) singled to center field to lead off the bottom of the fourth but the the Monarchs couldn’t capitalize.
The Newton Rebels got their first hit of the game in the top of the fifth inning and scored their first run to cut the Hutchinson lead to 10-1.
In the bottom of the fifth inning for Hutchinson, Wesslund walked and Gustafson doubled. However, both runners were stranded.
Newton scored its second run of the game in the top of the sixth to cut Hutchinson’s lead to 10-2.
Hutchinson scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning for a 15-2 lead. Wesslund singled in two runs, Gustafson singled in a run and Johnson singled in two runs.
Carson Cornelius (McPherson College/Hutchinson) retired Newton 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh (the last batter on a strikeout) to give Hutchinson a 15-2 run-rule victory.
The Monarchs defeated the Kansas Cannons 3-1 Tuesday night in Augusta and the Newton Rebels 8-6 Monday in Newton.
Gustafson scored two of the three Monarchs’ runs against the Kansas Cannons Tuesday night. He went 2-for-4, including his third home run of the season. Flaggert added another RBI.
Monarchs’ starting pitcher Ian Regal (University of Nebraska/Rochester, Minn.) allowed two hits over six innings to get the win. He improved his summer baseball earned run average to 1.51.
Hutchinson will play six of their final eight regular-season games at Hobart-Detter Field over the next 10 days. Hutchinson plays the Derby Twins on the road Thursday and hosts the Diamond Kings Friday and Saturday.
Before the 7 p.m. Saturday game, a vintage “Base Ball” game will be played at 5:15 p.m. between the Salt Packers against the Prairie Dogs.
There will be a youth equipment drive at Hobart-Detter Field. Fans are encouraged to bring new or gently used baseball equipment to provide gear for young players in need.
Remaining Hutchinson Monarchs 2024 Schedule
Thursday — Derby Twins, Panther Field, Derby.
Friday — Diamond Kings, Hobart-Detter Field, Carey Park.
Saturday — Vintage Baseball Game, Hobart-Detter Field, Carey Park, 5:15 p.m.
Saturday — Diamond Kings, Hobart-Detter Field, Carey Park.
Monday — Wichita Black Sox, Hobart-Detter Field, Carey Park.
Tuesday — Wellington Heat, Hibbs Hooton Stadium, Wellington.
July 18 — Kansas Cannons, Hobart-Detter Field, Carey Park.
July 19 — Kingman Islanders, Hobart-Detter Field, Carey Park.
July 20 — Hutchinson Monarchs NBC Autograph Session, 11 a.m. Scheel’s Sporting Goods Store, Wichita.
July 25-Aug. 3 — 90th National Baseball Congress Tournament, Wichita State University’s Eck Stadium (‘Round the Clock Baseball July 27).
CMSU wrestling coach, Salthawk alumnus Cody Garcia will guide Buhler Team Camp
The Crusader Wrestling Team Camp is scheduled for July 19-20 (three on Friday and two on Saturday) at the Buhler High School Wrestling Room.
The camp is for wrestlers going into grades 7-12 during the 2024-25 school year.
The camp will be taught and ran by Central Missouri State University wrestling coach Cody Garcia.
Garcia is a 2004 Hutchinson High School graduate. He won three Kansas state titles while being coached by his father Mike at Hutchinson (Kan.) High School.
Garcia attended the University of Nebraska-Omaha (UNO) from 2006 to 2011 where he competed on the wrestling team. UNO won NCAA Division II national titles in 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2010.
During his time as a student-athlete, Garcia was a four-time All-American and a four-time Academic All-American.
Garcia won two national iitles at 125 pounds in 2006 and 2008 and was also named the NCAA Division II Most Outstanding Wrestler in 2008. He finished third at 133 pounds in 2009 and second at 133 pounds in 2010.
Garcia ended his college career with a 147-18 record, which solidified the fourth-highest number of all-time career wins at UNO since 1966. With 84 career pins and 31 single-season pins, Garcia broke two UNO wrestling records.
Garcia was hired as Central Missouri State wrestling coach in 2022 after seven seasons as head coach for the NAIA powerhouse program at Baker University. He also served three years as an assistant and one season as head wrestling coach at Bethany College.
Garcia was inducted into the Jim Koch Division II Hall of Fame in February 2022. He is a member of the UNO Athletic Hall of Fame.
“Coach Cody Garcia is a local wrestler who has a long history of success on the mat and coaching,” said Buhler wrestling coach Travis Mullen. “We are lucky to have him come and help us as a team improve our technique.”
The cost is $50 a camper. Lunch will not be provided but kids are free to stay during the lunch hour.
There is still time to sign up. Email Mullen at tmullen@usd313.org.
https://www.jotform.com/build/241175730772154
Bethel College football coach resigns, interim named as replacement
Bethel College Threshers head coach A.B. Stokes has resigned, the school announced Monday.
Following his departure less than two months before the season begins, the school has tabbed defensive coordinator Daylon Markham as interim head coach.
Stokes spent two seasons at the helm of the Threshers program, posting an overall record of 14-6. The team went 9-1 his first season and 6-5 in 2023.
Markham has been with the program for three seasons, with last year being the first as defensive coordinator.
Bethel’s 2024 football recruiting class includes Hutchinson High School’s Zion Burgess, who rushed for 1,017 yards for the Salthawks during the 2023 season. Burgess scored 12 rushing touchdowns.
Burgess helped lead the Salthawks to a 7-3 record in 2023.
Blue Dragon Softball Showcase Camp set for Sept. 8
The Blue Dragon Showcase Camp for 2025-2028 graduates interested in playing softball at Hutchinson Community College will take place on Sept. 8 at the Fun Valley Sports Complex.
Sessions for hitting and defense will take place from 9:30 a.m. to noon, followed by scrimmages at 1 p.m.
The cost is $100.
Registration can be done on the HutchCC softball website at https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/Forms/2024_Softball_Camp_Registration?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1CtjoC-PWv3bo04nW3Lj0LRvkx8mL9ibElbobPKqKAaFmDY_Dvia9cFSA_aem_BLgAOOPUKvHaImz8JCv8tg
Central Kansas Crushers baseball, softball tryouts set
Tryouts for the 2025 Central Kansas Crushers 12 and under and 14 and under baseball teams are scheduled for Saturday at the 365 Sports Complex at 453 K-61 in Inman.
The 12 and under tryouts are from noon-2 p.m., followed by the 14 and under tryouts from 2-4 p.m.
Tryouts for the 2025 Central Kansas Crushers 18 and under baseball and softball teams are scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon July 27 and 2-4 p.m. July 28 at Grant B Field in McPherson.
The sign up forms can be found at https://centralkansascrushers.sportngin.com/register/form/072332561 and https://centralkansascrushers.sportngin.com/register/form/815309699
CWS MOP Dylan Dreiling ranked 53rd, 63rd on MLB Draft prospect lists
Dylan Dreiling, the Most Outstanding Player in the College World Series for the champion Tennessee Volunteers, is listed by The Athletic’s draft expert Keith Law as 53rd on his draft prospect list for the 2024 MLB Draft.
Dreiling is rated No. 63 in ESPN’s latest and last mock draft released on Tuesday.
The real MLB Draft takes place Sunday through Tuesday at Globe Life Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as part of the MLB All-Star events.
Dreiling, a Hays High School and Hays Larks alumnus played left field for the Volunteers.
The Kansas City Royals have the No. 6 overall pick in the first round. Mymlbdraft.com projects that the Royals will pick Arkansas left-handed pitcher Hagen Smith or Stanford outfielder/pitcher Braden Montgomery.
KC also picks at No. 39 and is projected to pick shortstop Kellen Lindsey.
Since St. Louis follows KC at No. 7, the Cardinals are projected to be taking Smith or Montgomery, Wake Forest’s Chase Burns or West Virginia infielder JJ Wetherholt.
Colorado at No. 3 is projected to take Wake Forest first baseman Nick Kurtz.
According to Law’s prospect list, Georgia outfielder/shortstop Charlie Condon is the No. 1 prospect in the 2024 MLB Draft, followed by Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana, Wetherholt, Montgomery, Burns, Smith, Kurtz, Florida State’s Jac Caglianone, Bryce Rainer (Harvard-Westlake School, Studio City, Calif.) and outfielder/shortstop Konnor Griffin (Jackson Prep, Flowood, Miss.).
Baseball America’s Top 10 is Condon, Bazzana, Westherholt, Burns, Caglianone, Smith, Montgomery, Kurtz, Griffin and Rainer.
University of Arkansas first baseman Ben McLaughlin, who played two seasons at Hutchinson Community College, is not listed among D1 Baseball’s prospect list for the Razorbacks.
Smith heads up the Razorbacks on D1’s list at No. 6. Arkansas second baseman Peyton Stovall (59), pitchers Brady Tygart (82) and Mason Molina (98) and catcher Hudson Smith (158) also ranked by D1.
Kansas State men’s basketball team to play GWU in Paradise Jam opener
The Kansas State University men’s basketball team will take on George Washington University to conclude the first round of the 2024 U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam on Friday, Nov. 22.
The annual Paradise Jam will run from Friday-Monday, Nov. 22-25, 2024, at the University of Virgin Islands Sports and Fitness Center in St. Thomas.
This will mark the tournament’s 24th year with K-State appearing for the third time (2002, 2018, 2024) in its existence, including a championship in 2018.
K-State and the Atlantic 10’s George Washington will meet for the sixth time in their respective histories in the final game of the first day of the tournament at 7 p.m., CT on Friday, Nov. 22.
K-State finished the 2023-24 season with a 19-15 record, including an 8-10 mark in Big 12 play, and advanced to the NIT.
Big 12 Conference launches Alumni Council
The Big 12 Conference announced on Wednesday the formation of the first-ever Big 12 Alumni Council.
The announcement was made during Big 12 football media days and posted in a release on the Big 12 website.
University of Kansas members of the Alumni Council are former men’s basketball standout Wayne Simien and Basketball Hall of Fame member Lynette Woodard.
Kansas State University members are Kindred Wesemann Orpin (former women’s basketball player at KSU and now an assistant coach) and former football standout Kevin Lockett, who played seven seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Also named to the Alumni Council are Richard Jefferson and Jennie Finch, Arizona; Lawrence Guy and Briann January, Arizona State; Whitney Canion and Robert Griffin III, Baylor; Steve Young and Ashley Hatch, BYU; Tacko Fall and Shaquem Griffin, UCF; Jordan Thompson and Kevin Youkilis, Cincinnati.
Joel Klatt and Shelley Sheetz, Colorado; Andre Ware and Natara Holloway Branch, Houston; Ashley Joens and Georges Niang, Iowa State; Tiffany Bias Patmon and Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State; Marshall Newhouse and Zahna Medley Kindred, TCU; Cody Campbell and Carolyn Thompson, Texas Tech; Stevenson Sylvester and Charmelle Green, Utah; and Georgeann Wells and Mike Gansey, West Virginia.
The Council will be overseen by Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark and VP of Communications and Strategy Clark Williams. The Council will kick off in August 2024, as the Big 12 officially becomes a 16-team league.
“The Big 12 Conference is home to thousands of student-athlete alumni who have had great success on and off the field following their time on campus,” Yormark said. “As we enter into a new chapter as a 16-team league, the insights and perspectives of the Big 12 Alumni Council will be an incredible resource.”
Young said he was thrilled to serve on the first-ever Big 12 Alumni Council.
“This is an incredibly exciting time for the Big 12,” Young said. “I look forward to being a resource for commissioner Yormark and his team as the conference continues to thrive.”
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