By Brad Hallier For the Hutchinson Monarchs
 
After a couple losses to open the 2018 season, the Hutchinson Monarchs rebounded with a series of resounding performances in the season's first full week. The Monarchs won five in a row, taking two games from the Haven Warhawks before rolling past the Wichita Sluggers, Salina Shock and Newton Rebels. The five wins were by a combined score of 49-17. This week started sour with a 6-3 Sunday loss at Mulvane.

 

Night to remember

Monarchs infielder and Lenexa native Dylan Nedved, who plays collegiately for Hutchinson Community College, had a franchise-record seven RBIs during the June 8 13-3 home win against Salina. Nedved helped get the Monarchs off to a good start by belting a three-run home run in the second inning. He nearly homered again the next inning, but settled instead for a two-run double off the right-center field wall. Nedved added a run-scoring fielder's choice in the fourth inning an a RBI single in the seventh inning. Nedved may have lost a chance to add to that record, as the game ended while the Monarchs batted in the bottom of the seventh, because of the 10-run mercy rule.

 

More fireworks

After scoring 13 runs on 15 hits against Salina, the Monarchs did even better Saturday night against Newton, as the Monarchs scored 16 runs on 17 hits. Six Monarchs had multi-hit games, with Taylor Barber (Argyle, Texas; Northeast Texas Community College) leading the way with four hits. Tanner Arst (Marshall, Texas; Emporia State) had three hits, while four players had two hits, including Eric Bonhert (Cypress, Texas; Sam Houston State), Skylar Black (Nacogdoches, Texas; Stephen F. Austin), Riley Metzger (Stillwater, Oklahoma; Hutchinson Community College), and Conor Craig (Hutchinson; Hutchinson Community College).

 

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Three Monarchs pitchers combined to set a franchise record with 20 strikeouts during a June 5 7-2 win against Haven. Starting pitcher Dominic Robinson (Tomball, Texas; Sam Houston State) fanned nine Warhawks in four innings. His college teammate Landon Ausley (Austin, Texas) added eight strikeouts in three innings, before their college teammate Jack Rogers (Spring, Texas) added three more strikeouts  in 1 2/3 innings.

 

Hey, you look familiar

Four former Hutchinson High School Salthawks were on the field Saturday when the Monarchs played Newton. Starting for the Monarchs were first baseman Ryan Stoecklein, right fielder Conor Craig and center fielder Trevor Turner. In the other dugout was center fielder Wyatt Akins.

 

This week

The Monarchs will continue a brief road trip with a Tuesday venture to Cheney for a 7 p.m. game with the Diamond Dawgs. The Monarchs will also play at Cheney on Thursday. The rest of the week will include home games, including Wednesday against Haven, Friday against Wichita and Saturday against Salina. All games start at 7 p.m. Sunday, the Monarchs travel to Newton.

 

Standings

Cheney has the early lead in the Sunflower Collegiate League standings with a 5-0 league mark. The Monarchs and Haven are second at 3-1. Mulvane sits at 2-1, while Wichita (0-3), Salina (0-4) and Newton (0-4) are looking for their first wins.