The seventh time was the charm for the Hays Larks in the 90th National Baseball Congress World Series as they defeated the Hutchinson Monarchs 7-3 in the championship game Saturday night at Wichita State University’s Eck Stadium.
Hays scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning and three in the ninth to captured the Larks’ first NBCWS title. The Larks placed second in 1995, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2016 and 2022.
For the first time in 24 years, two Kansas teams played for the National Baseball Congress World Series title. Hays lost to the Liberal Bee Jays in the 2000 title game.
The only other time it happened was in 1965 when the Wichita Dreamliners defeated the Liberal Bee Jays in the championship.
The Larks posted a 34-8 record during the 2024 season, including a 6-0 record in the NBCWS. Frank Leo has been the Larks coach for 40 years and he has brought the Larks to the NBCWS 39 consecutive years. The Larks have won 125 NBCWS games.
Hutchinson finished with a 32-10 record. Hutchinson, which won the 2023 NBCWS title, posted a 4-3 record in the 2024 tournament. The Monarchs battled back from a 1-2 record in pool play.
The Monarchs and Larks have played seven times in history — each time in the NBCWS. Hays leads the series 4 games to 3.
Left-handed pitcher Ian Regal (University of Nebraska/Rochester, Minn.) got the start for the Monarchs, who were the home team on the Eck Stadium scoreboard. He allowed two baserunners but held the Larks scoreless in the top of the first inning.
Hutchinson got singles by Will Edmundson (Hutchinson CC/University of Arkansas) and Sam Wiese (Eastern Illinois University/Omaha) in the bottom of the first, but could not score.
After Regal retired the Larks 1-2-3 in the top of the second inning, the Monarchs scored three runs in the bottom of the second to take a 3-0 lead. Camden Johnson (Wichita State University/Boerne, Texas) stole his Monarch-record 29th base in 29 attempts.
The Larks scored one run in the top of the third inning to cut Hutchinson’s lead to 3-1. Hutchinson did not score in the bottom of the third inning. Neither team scored in the fourth.
The Hays Larks scored one run in the top of the fifth inning to cut Hutchinson’s lead to 3-2.
Hutchinson’s Jack Gardner (Hutchinson CC/Warsaw, Mo.) walked and Jarrett Flaggert (Cowley County) singled to put the runners at first base and second base on the bottom of the fifth inning. Gardner advanced to third base on a fly ball out.
Brett Smajstria (Sam Houston State/Pearland, Texas) walked to load the bases, but the Monarchs left three runners stranded. Hutchinson has left 10 runners on base through five innings.
Ian Lanik (Emporia State/Waverly High School/Eagle, Neb.) replaced Regal on the mound for the Monarchs in the top of the sixth inning. Lanik hit a batter but Flaggert made a great diving catch to end the frame.
With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Hutchinson’s Will Edmundson (Hutchinson CC/University of Arkansas) walked, stole second base (the 34th stolen base of his career) and Sam Wiese walked to put runners at first base and second base.
The Hays Larks brought in their fourth pitcher of the game. The Monarchs did not score in the bottom of the sixth inning and stranded their 11th and 12th runners.
The Larks got a leadoff single in the top of the seventh but Lanik got out of the inning with a defensive web gem and a strikeout.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Hutchinson’s Smajstria doubled to the gap in left center field. Hays ended the bottom of the seventh inning with a great defensive play.
The Larks took a 4-3 lead in the top of the eighth inning on a leadoff single, two-out double and a single. The Monarchs went quietly in the bottom of the eighth.
Hays loaded the bases in the top of the ninth inning and scored its fifth run on an error. Reed Scott recorded a strikeout for the first out of the inning.
Hays got a two-run ground-rule double by Wilbert Espinal to make the score 7-3. Espinal also had an RBI double in the eighth inning.
Hays scored its seven runs on nine hits and played errorless baseball. The Monarchs scored three runs on 10 hits and committed one error.
In their 16th season, the Monarchs played in their 13th NBCWS. There are 11 Monarchs who played on the 2023 NBCWS championship team.
Hutchinson returned 11 players from last year’s championship team.
2024 NBCWS bracket play
Wednesday, July 31
• Kansas Cannons 6, Haysville Aviators 3
• Hutchinson Monarchs 15, Liberal Bee Jays 4 (7 innings run rule)
• Lonestar Baseball Club North 10, GPS Legends 7
Thursday, Aug. 1 Quarterfinals
• Kansas Cannons 9, Derby Twins 8
• Tulsa Sandlot 9, San Diego Stars 7
• Hays Larks 4, Tulsa Sandlot 2
• Hutchinson Monarchs 3, Santa Barbara Foresters 2
• Lonestar Baseball Club North 6, Seattle Cheney Studs 2
Friday, Aug. 2 Semifinals
Hutchinson Monarchs 7, Kansas Cannons 5
Hays Larks 7, Lonestar Baseball Club North 3
Saturday, Aug. 3 Championship Game
Hays Larks 7, Hutchinson Monarchs 3