By John Mesh
The first 1,000 fans at Eck Stadium when the gates open at 5 p.m. Thursday receive a custom NBC World Series bobblehead of Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Satchel Paige.
Members of Paige’s family will throw out the honorary first pitch before a 6 p.m. game between Top Prospects Academy Texas, and the Hutchinson Monarchs.
The Monarchs, from the Jayhawk Collegiate League in Kansas, earned an at-large bid to be the defending champions.
This is the Monarchs’ 13th appearance in the NBC World Series and their record is 28-21. Some key players to watch for the Monarchs are infielder Cooper Wesslund, (Hutchinson CC/UNO); outfielder Jaden Gustafson, Wichita State; and pitcher Ian Regal.
Top Prospects Academy is making their first NBC World Series appearance, they earned their way to Wichita after winning the AABC Stan Musial Texas World Series held in Richardson, Texas.
First-round team previews — https://nbcbaseball.com/opening-weekend-preview-2024/
2024 NBC College World Series Pool Play Schedule
Pool A
• Hutchinson Monarchs
• Seattle Cheney Studs
• TPA Texas
• Tulsa Sandlot
Pool B
• GPS Legends
• Haysville Aviators
• Santa Barbara Foresters
• Seattle Blackfins
Pool C
• Boulder Collegians
• Derby Twins
• Liberal Bee Jays
• San Diego Stars
Pool D
• Air Capital Flyers
• Hap Dumont League
• Kansas Cannons
• Lonestar Baseball Club
Thursday, July 25
• 6 p.m.: TPA Texas vs Hutchinson Monarchs
• 8:30 p.m.: Tulsa Sandlot vs Seattle Cheney Studs
Friday, July 26
• Midnight: Lonestar Baseball Club vs Kansas Cannons
• 3 p.m.: Seattle Blackfins vs Haysville Aviators
• 6 p.m.: GPS Legends vs Santa Barbara Foresters
• 8:30 p.m.: Air Capital Flyers vs. Hays Larks
Saturday, July 27 (Baseball ‘Round the Clock)
• Noon: Boulder Collegians vs San Diego Stars
• 3 p.m.: Liberal Bee Jays vs Derby Twins
• 6 p.m.: Seattle Cheney Studs vs TPA Texas
• 9 p.m.: Santa Barbara Foresters vs. Seattle Blackfins
• Midnight: Hutchinson Monarchs vs. Tulsa Sandlot
Sunday, July 28 (Baseball ‘Round the Clock)
• 3 p.m.: GPS Legends vs. Haysville Aviators
• 6 am: Air Capital Flyers vs. Lonestar Baseball Club
• 9 am: Derby Twins vs. Boulder Collegians
• Noon: Hays Larks vs Kansas Cannons
• 3 p.m.: Liberal Bee Jays vs. San Diego Stars
• 6 p.m.: Seattle Cheney Studs vs. Doc’s Bombers
Monday, July 29
• Noon: TPA Texas vs. Tulsa Sandlot
• 3 p.m.: Santa Barbara Foresters vs Haysville Aviators
• 6 p.m.: Hutchinson Monarchs vs Seattle Cheney Studs
• 8:30 p.m.: Seattle Blackfins vs GPS Legends
Tuesday, July 30
• Noon: San Diego Stars vs Derby Twins
• 3 p.m.: Air Capital Flyers vs. Kansas Cannons
• 6 p.m.: Lonestar Baseball Club vs. Hays Larks
• 8:30 p.m.: Boulder Collegians vs. Liberal Bee Jays
The top three teams in each pool will advance to single-elimination bracket play starting July 31.
Jayhawk Conference football media day is Friday
The annual Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference football media day is set for Friday at Riverfront Stadium in downtown Wichita.
Head coaches from all seven KJCCC football-playing institutions will be present at the event which will get underway inside the Fidelity Bank Room at 11:30 a.m. with a meet and greet portion followed by lunch at noon.
Hutchinson Community College head football coach Drew Dallas in his fifth season is the dean of Jayhawk Conference coaches.
The press conference will begin at 12:30 p.m. with KJCCC Commissioner Mike Saddler briefing attendees on matters concerning the conference and the upcoming season.
Each head coach will be given the chance to speak about their team for the upcoming year followed by an opportunity for all media in attendance to ask any questions.
Emceeing the event for the second-straight year is Pat Strathman, sports director and assistant program director at ESPN Wichita 92.3 FM.
2024 KJCCC Football Head Coaches
Butler: Brice Vignery, 3rd season
Coffeyville: Nick Dobler, 1st season
Dodge City: Ryan Lusby, 1st season
Garden City: Kiyoshi Harris, 1st season
Highland: DJ May, 2nd season
Hutchinson: Drew Dallas, 5th season
Independence: Keith Donerson, 2nd season
HutchCC eighth in Daktronics Cup Standings in NJCAA scholarship Division
Hutchinson Community College is ranked eighth out of 30 teams in the 2023-2024 Daktronics Cup Standings in the NJCAA Scholarship Division with 104.5 points.
Iowa Western Community College won the 2023-24 Daktronics-NATYCAA Cup for overall program excellence at the two-year college level with 181.5 points.
Among Kansas schools, Barton Community is ranked second with 173 points. Cowley College is fifth with 138.5 points, Johnson County is 13th with 90, Colby CC is 16th with 85.5 and Cloud County is tied for 24th with 73.
New Mexico Junior College is fourth in the NJCAA Scholarship Division with 162.5 points and College of Dupage is fourth with 158.5.
Iowa Central and Salt Lake CC are tied for sixth with 131.5. Indian Hills and Eastern Florida State round out the top 10 with 97.5 and 94.75.
Tyler Junior College just missed the top 10 with 94.5 points.
Rowan College South Jersey-Gloucester (RCSJ-Gloucester) and Mount San Antonio College won the 2023-24 Daktronics-NATYCAA Cups for overall program excellence at the two-year college level in the Non-Scholarship and State Association divisions.