By Adam Stewart
The Hutchinson Monarchs came up in a news meeting a couple of weeks ago, and someone talked about how good of an in-stadium experience the Monarchs provide.
I like baseball, I like live sports, and the Monarchs are good this year, as they often are. So I decided to see the Monarchs play and write about my first game at Hobart-Detter Field. The next home game was on a Saturday against the Great Bend Twins. I told my wife, Michelle, and she decided to go with me.
With the Monarchs game and an old-timey baseball exhibition beforehand, Hobart-Detter had a big crowd when we got there. It’s great that the bleachers have a roof and so much gets shade, but we had to sit in a sunny spot for the first few innings. Despite that, it only took a light breeze to be comfortable.
Even before the game started, it was apparent the Monarchs appreciate the experience of baseball. They had a couple of children throw out the ceremonial first pitch, and a live performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” As the game went on, there was a fast-food race and sing-alongs of “Sweet Caroline” and “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” between innings. Michelle had a good time sharing those kinds of details in her family group chat.
All of that was very welcome, but it wasn’t unexpected. Remember, this outing happened after somebody told me the Monarchs do a good job of these sorts of things. What was unexpected was how satisfying the hot dogs from the concessions stand were. I knew right from the start that I was going to get a hot dog. The only way I wasn’t was if they were all out.
It was the best hot dog I’ve had in years, at least since a 2016 family reunion at Kauffman Stadium, if not longer. I’m pretty sure it was one of those quarter-pound, jumbo jumbo hot dogs. Hot and juicy, it was so close to my version of the ideal hot dog.
In the early innings, the crowd was very social and chatty. Michelle and I started the game sitting behind a couple that seemed to be on a date, and one still in the getting-to-know-you stage, until some seats with better shade opened up. But everybody got real quiet in the top of the sixth, when the Monarchs had a 4-2 lead but the Twins had runners in scoring position. You could hear the bugs buzzing in Carey Park and along the Arkansas River.
Then the Monarchs got out of the jam, still in the lead after 1 run scored, and it was like all of the Monarchs fans let out a sigh of relief all at once.
There was only one part of the experience at the game that I disliked. There were just a few people in the stands who had a better view of the strike zone from their seats 50 feet away than the home plate umpire, and they were sure to let him know every time he got one wrong.
I know spectators grousing about balls and strikes is common at every level where it won’t get them kicked out, but it’s irritating and always so transparently partisan. There weren’t any complaints when a Monarchs batter took a ball, or when a Monarchs pitcher caught their opponent looking at a strike.
I just hope the spectator complaining about the ump’s eyesight heard the little boy who echoed his words and thought about the example he was setting.
One thing I appreciate about baseball compared to some other team sports is the lack of a game clock. A baseball team can’t try to run out the clock to protect a lead. Until the last out of the game, a team that’s trailing can always come back.
A bad half-inning put the Monarchs behind 10-4, but at no point could Great Bend line up in a victory formation and call it a night. The Twins had a 7-run inning themselves, so they knew a comeback was possible. The Monarchs didn’t get there, but it was possible until the very last out.
At the time I’m writing this, the Monarchs are 17-5 and on a three-game winning streak. Their schedule is packed the rest of the regular season, with 11 games in 13 days. Eight of those games are at Hobart-Detter
We are looking forward to making it to at least one more game this season, ideally with friends. (And the last I saw of the couple on the date, it looked like it was going well.)