By John Mesh
The Hutchinson Monarchs will be the host team for the 2025 Jayhawk Collegiate League All-Star Baseball Game at 7 p.m. Saturday at Hobart-Detter Field in Hutchinson’s Carey Park.
The Monarchs placed 12 players on the Blues All-Star roster: Catcher Jeter Worthley, first basemen Jackson Legg and AJ Mustow, third baseman Tyson Vassart, shortstop Joey Senstock, outfielders Jake Gutierrez, Blake Branford and Drew Bugner and pitchers Daegan Vinduska, Bradyn McClure, Ethan Giesbrecht and Riley Dickey.
Great Bend players selected to the All-Star Team are catcher Elias Leon, shortstop T.J. Shaw, second baseman Kyle Walker, outfielder Peanut Brazzle, utility player Deacon Pomeroy and pitchers Carson Umphres, Eli Lang, Tyler Clementz, Jacob Field and Kyle Holzer.
Newton players include are third baseman Raesean Dorsey, second baseman Jerdy Lopez, designated hitter Jeffrey Neill (from Buhler and Hutchinson CC) and pitcher Alex Gillig.
Kansas Cannon representatives are outfielder Teigan Munce, designated hitters Owen Baxter and Blake Seefeldt. Third baseman/first baseman Cooper Greene and pitcher Aiden Doty.
Kingman’s representative is outfielder Owen Schmidt.
Junction City Brigade players on the team are catcher Eli Kellogg, shortstop Peyton Firgens, second baseman Chad Pantuso, outfielders Gabe Yonto, Gannon White and Kyler Horsman and pitchers Max Lialios, Keegan McDonald and Kaden Gray.
Kingman players are third baseman Gary Plummer, outfielder Carter Heim and pitcher Colby Arnesdorf.
Haysville players on the team are first baseman Braden Horn, third baseman Kayden Anderson, shortstop Owen Rush, outfielder Garn Jones and pitchers Bryson Lake, Cooper Senne and Nash Crosby.
Derby players on the team are first baseman Noah Allison, outfielder Cooper Scott, designated hitter Joel Lindahl and pitchers Peyton Walters and Brandon Enders.
Wichita Wildcats on the team are second baseman Jackson Ellison, designated hitter/pitcher Landon Haines and pitchers Luke Ethridge, Peyton Gosch, Shane Holman and Parker Chubb.
The All-Star Blues coaching staff consists of Great Bend’s Roger Ward, Hutchinson’s Casey Lippoldt, Kansas Cannons’ Phil Stephenson (College baseball Hall of Fame player at Wichita State) and Newton’s Justin Hinsley.
The All-Star Reds coaches are Kingman’s Toby Munz, Junction City’s Micah Cannon, Derby’s Kyle Flax, Wichita Wildcats’ Mark McBratney and Haysville’s Colton Flax.
Hutchinson Monarchs drop two games to Junction City
The Hutchinson Monarchs lost back-to-back seven-inning run-rule games to the Junction City Brigade.
The Brigade defeated the Monarchs 14-1 Monday night at Hobart-Detter Field and 13-3 on Tuesday at Junction City.
Hutchinson posted a 25-7 regular-season record and won the Jayhawk Collegiate League championship.
On Monday night, Junction City scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning without the benefit of a base hit and added seven runs on just three hits in the top of the sixth. The Brigade scored two runs in the first and one n the second.
Jackson Legg’s RBI single in the bottom of the first plated the only Monarchs’ run.
On Tuesday night, Hutchinson scored first on a sacrifice fly by Omare Cross. The Brigade (19-11) scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning and three runs in the third.
Hutchinson plays the Wichita Wildcats on the road Thursday and hosts the Wildcats on Friday.
Kansas City Royals draft former Hutchinson Monarchs’ pitcher Kamden Edge
Kamden Edge, a former Hutchinson Monarchs’ pitcher, was selected with the 608th pick by the Kansas City Royals in the 20th round of the 2025 MLB Draft on Monday.
Edge, a native of Soper, Okla., recently completed his freshman season at Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa, where he went 12-0 with a 3.25 earned run average in 14 appearances — 13 of them in relief.
The right-hander struck out 74 batters in 52.2 innings and posted a 1.25 WHIP.
According to a scouring report, Edge “throws a mid-90s fastball with high-80s cutter in addition to a slider, curveball and changeup to round out his arsenal.”
This summer, Edge has been pitching for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the MLB Draft League.
Based in Niles, Ohio, the Scrappers are part of a collegiate summer league designed to showcase draft-eligible players.
Edge has made two appearances, going 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA over four innings. He has struck out seven batters and has not issued a walk.
Edge pitched for the Hutchinson Monarchs in the summer of 2024, going 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA in nine regular season appearances, including two starts. He struck out 37 batters over 20 innings and allowed just nine hits.
Edge also made one appearance in the NBC World Series, striking out four batters in 2.1 innings against the Liberal Bee Jays.
Trish Wade is the new volleyball coach at Nickerson High School
Trish Wade is Nickerson High School’s new head volleyball coach.
The USD 309 school board (Nickerson-South Hutchinson) approved Wade’s hiring at its meeting Monday night.
Wade brings to the Panthers 17 years of high school coaching experience.
“Coach Wade brings a winning tradition, deep expertise and a passion for player development,” said the Panther Athletics and Activities social media pages.
“A former four-time All-American college volleyball player, as well as a Hall of Fame athlete, coach Wade knows what it takes to compete at the highest level. She’s dedicated to instilling that same drive and excellence in her athletes.”
Wade has a resume of 420 career wins at St, John High School. She earned Coach of the Year honors in 2011 and led her teams to four state championships.
Her St. John teams have advanced to the Final Four of the state tournament in 10 of her 17 seasons and won Kansas Class 1A state championships in 2008, 2010 and 2011.
Coach Wade is known not only for her strategic mind and competitive edge, but also for her commitment to character, leadership and team unity,” said the said the Panther Athletics and Activities social media pages.
“Her players grow both on and off the court under her guidance.
Coach Wade is excited for the future of Nickerson volleyball and confident that she will elevate the program to new heights.”
As an athletes, Wade was was inducted into the Barton Community College Hall of Fame in 2011.
She was a two-time All-American for the Cougar volleyball team, which posted a 111-10 record during her two years on the squad. She also played basketball at Barton CC.
While with the Cougars, Wade played under legendary head coach Ray Bechard in 1985 and 1986, earning two All-American honors.
She then moved on to play volleyball at Florida Southern where she also won all-conference and All-American honors.
Wade is the mother of St. John High School alums Dean Wade and Teresa Wade Rush.
Dean Wade was a standout basketball player at St. John and Kansas State University. He is a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA team.
Teresa Wade Rush was a standout basketball player at St. John. She played volleyball at Hutchinson Community College and Fort Hays State University.
Chandler Henkelman named baseball coach at Halstead High School
Halstead High School announced the hiring of Chandler Henkelman as its next head baseball coach.
“Coach Henkelman brings a strong background in both playing and coaching, along with a deep passion for the game,” stated a press release by the Halstead Athletic Department.
A former first baseman and pitcher, Henkelman played collegiately at Tabor College under head coach Mark Standiford, a Wichita State University Hall of Fame player.
After graduating, he began his teaching and coaching career in Quinter, where he spent one year before returning to south central Kansas. He has since served as a special education teacher and assistant baseball coach at Halstead High School.
In addition to his role at Halstead, he coaches summer baseball for the Kansas Curve.
Henkelman is a third-generation head baseball coach, carrying on a proud family tradition,” said Halstead High School said. “His experience, baseball knowledge and strong coaching pedigree position him well to lead and develop the Halstead High School baseball program.
“Known for his compassion, competitiveness and dedication to the sport, coach Henkelman is committed to mentoring student-athletes and fostering their growth both on and off the field.
“Please join us in welcoming coach Henkelman to his new role. We look forward to an exciting future for Halstead High School baseball under his leadership.”
Henkelman is married to his wife Kylie Henkelman, a third-grade teacher at Bentley Primary School and an assistant girls basketball coach at Halstead Middle School.
Monarchs, Larks, Lonestar Kraken, Alaska Goldpanners have already qualified for 2025 NBC Tournament
The Hays Larks, Hutchinson Monarchs, Alaska Goldpanners, Seattle Studs, Santa Barbara Foresters, Seattle Blackfins, San Diego Stars, Lonestar Kraken and BTL Hornets are among the teams that have already qualified for the 91st NBC World Series, according to the NBC.
The 2025 NBC World Series, powered by Evergy, will take place Thursday, July 24-Saturday, Aug. 2 at Eck Stadium-Tyler Field at Wichita State University.
The Hays Larks are the defending NBC champions. The Hutchinson Monarchs won the 2023 NBC title and lost to Hays in the 2024 title game.
The Lonestar Kraken qualified after finishing ninth in the 2022 tournament, according to the National Baseball Congress.
The Alaska Goldpanners will also return after a six-year hiatus.
The Goldpanners have a storied history with the NBC World Series, dating back to their debut in 1962 when they finished as runners-up.
Since then, they have claimed six championships (1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1980, and 2002) and have produced more than 200 Major League Baseball players, including Barry Bonds and Tom Seaver.
“The Goldpanners have been a National Baseball Congress staple ever since they stormed on to the scene in 1962, finishing second in their very first year in the NBC World Series,” said Katie Woods, NBC World Series tournament director, in an NBC article on Feb. 18.
“Fans know that the teams from Alaska bring a special brand of baseball with them, and we can’t wait to welcome the Goldpanners back to Wichita this summer.”
Goldpanners’ General Manager John Lohrke also expressed his excitement:
“We are very excited to return to Wichita for the NBC World Series in 2025, a tradition for us that dates all the way back to our first visit in 1962,” Lohrke said. “It’s been six years since we played in your prestigious tournament and it’s with great pleasure that we make our plans to compete there once again. We’re really looking forward to it.”
The 2025 NBC World Series will consist of a 16-team field.
Pool play, with four pools of four teams and each team playing three games, will take place July 24-29.
If a team plays on July 25, it also will play on July 27 and 29. If a team plays on July 26, it will play July 28 and 30 for pool play.
The top three teams from each pool advance to the single-elimination round starting July 30.
The top team in each pool receives a bye for the first game of bracket play.
Single elimination will run through Aug. 2, when the 2025 NBC World Series Champion is crowned.
2025 NBCWS Pool Play Schedule
Day 1 Thursday, July 24
6 p.m. TBD vs TBD
8:30 p.m. TBD vs TBD
Day 2 Friday, July 25
Noon TBD vs TBD
3 p.m. TBD vs TBD
6 p.m. TBD vs TBD
8:30 p.m. TBD vs TBD
Day 3 Saturday, July 26 (Baseball ‘Round the Clock)
Noon TBD vs TBD
3 p.m. TBD vs TBD
6 p.m. TBD vs TBD
9 p.m. TBD vs TBD
Midnight TBD vs TBD
Day 4 Sunday, July 27 (Baseball ‘Round the Clock)
3 a.m. TBD vs TBD
6 a.m. TBD vs TBD
10 a.m. Miracle League Game
Noon TBD vs TBD
3 p.m. TBD vs TBD
6 p.m. TBD vs TBD
Day 5 Monday, July 28
Noon TBD vs TBD
3 p.m. TBD vs TBD
6 p.m. TBD vs TBD
8:30 p.m. TBD vs TBD
Day 6 Tuesday, July 29
Noon TBD vs TBD
3 p.m. TBD vs TBD
6 p.m. TBD vs TBD
8:30 p.m. TBD vs TBD
Pool Info
Pool A
1st in pool gets a bye
2nd in pool A plays 3rd in pool C
3rd in pool A plays 2nd in pool C
4th is eliminated
Pool B
1st in pool gets a bye
2nd in pool B plays 3rd in pool D
3rd in pool B plays 2nd in pool D
4th is eliminated
Pool C
1st in pool gets a bye
2nd in pool C plays 3rd in pool A
3rd in pool C plays 2nd in pool A
4th is eliminated
Pool D
1st in pool gets a bye
2nd in pool D plays 3rd in pool B
3rd in pool D plays 2nd in pool B
4th is eliminated
Pool Tiebreakers
Won-loss Record
Head to head
Total run differential for all games played in pool play, wins and losses.
Fewest runs allowed per inning played defensively.
Total runs scored during pool play.
Top three teams in each pool will advance to single-elimination bracket play starting July 30
Bracket Play: Matchups for Bracket Play will be determined after pool play is completed.