Category: Kansas City Monarchs

The Kansas City Monarchs scored seven runs over the first two innings to hold off the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 7-5, taking a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five game series in the American Association Finals Saturday night.

Having swept the first two games in Fargo, North Dakota, the Monarchs need only one more win for the title, and the next game will be Monday night at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas.

The Monarchs came out firing in the top of the first Saturday night, beginning with back-to-back singles by Morgan McCullough and Ryan Grotjohn off RedHawks starter Bret Helton.

Darnell Sweeney walked, then Gaby Guerrero hit a two-RBI single, sending McCullough and Grotjohn home. Casey Gillaspie walked, filling the bases yet again, setting up Ibandel Isabel to hit a two-RBI single.

Colin Willis followed with an RBI single to score Gillaspie, and Alexis Olmeda also hit an RBI single to score Isabel, towering over the RedHawks early, 6-0.

Kansas City kept Fargo-Moorhead quiet in the bottom of the first, then struck again in the top of the second with an RBI single by Ibandel Isabel to score Darnell Sweeney.

In the top of the second, the RedHawks’ Sam Dexter cranked a two-run homer, and a sacrifice fly by Correlle Prime scored Alex Boxwell, making the score 7-3 off Monarch’s starter Justin Shafer. Shafer left the game after three innings after meeting with Athletic Trainer Jared Bashaw on the mound. The Monarchs turned to Carson LaRue who retired seven straight into the sixth inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, Fargo scored two more runs after a solo home run by John Silviano off LaRue. The RedHawks then got back-to-back singles from Dexter and Alex Boxwell to put runners at the corners.

Carlos Diaz came into the game and surrendered an RBI double to Nick Novak, inching the score to 7-5 and making the rest of the game a defensive pitching nail biter. Diaz then struck out Prime, then issued a walk to Manuel Boscan to load the bases. Diaz then struck out Jordan George to preserve the Monarchs lead.

Diaz worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning for Kansas City. The left-hander gave the ball to right-hander Jeremey Rhodes, who also held Fargo-Moorhead scoreless in the eighth.

Jameson McGrane came in the game in the ninth inning to work a three-up and three-down inning to pick up the save and send the Monarchs home with a 2-0 lead in the series. The Monarchs are one win away from claiming the American Association Championship.

The Monarchs have won all five post-season games they have played and are riding a nine game winning streak that dates back to the last series of the regular season.

The series now shifts to Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas, for game three of the championship series at 7:05 p.m. Monday.

The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pregame beginning at 6:35 p.m. and the video stream airing on aabaseball.tv.

The Monarchs’ games four and five (if necessary) are Sept. 21 and 22 at Legends Field.

Tickets to all Monarchs post-season games can be purchased by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting monarchsbaseball.com.

• Story by Emerson Peavey and Dan Vaughan

by Kaitlyn Sanders, Kansas City Monarchs

The Kansas City Monarchs did not know 24 hours ago who they would face in the American Association Finals Friday night. That short notice did not hurt the Monarchs as they won game one 8-4 away at Newman Outdoor Field against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.

The scoring started early as Ryan Grotjohn shot a two-run home run, bringing in Morgan McCullough, who had reached first base on a walk.

Darnell Sweeney then launched a solo home run, giving the Monarchs their third run of the inning. The Monarchs have scored in the first inning of their previous three playoff games this post season.

The RedHawks grabbed two runs on an RBI single and fielder’s choice, courtesy of Leobaldo Pina and Dylan Kelly, cutting into the Monarchs lead 3-2.

The second and third innings were scoreless for the Monarchs, but a double from Dylan Kelly brought in his second and third RBI of the night, and the RedHawks took the lead for the first time, 4-3, heading into the fourth. It was the first post-season deficit KC had faced this season.

The fifth was another multi-run inning for the Monarchs with an RBI double from Colin Willis and an RBI single from Casey Gillaspie, who scored a run off another wild pitch, taking back the lead, 6-4.

The Monarchs produced back-to-back scoring innings as Grotjohn ran in off a wild pitch before a sacrifice fly from Gillaspie brought the score to 8-4 going into the seventh.

Starting left-handed pitcher Matt Hall went six innings, giving up seven hits, four runs and getting seven strikeouts. Right-handed pitcher Jeremy Rhoades went two innings, allowing no hits but striking out four. Right-hander Jameson McGrane pitched the ninth, allowing one hit, no runs and two strikeouts.

Game two of the championship series will continue at 6:30 p.m.Saturday in Fargo. The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pregame beginning at 6 p.m. and the video stream airing on aabaseball.tv.

The Monarchs are set to host games three through five (if necessary) Monday Sept. 20, 21 and 22 at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas.

Tickets to all Monarchs post season games can be purchased by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting monarchsbaseball.com.

The Kansas City Monarchs have had one incredible year on the field and off, adding another accomplishment to “Reign Reborn” as the American Association has named Monarchs president and general manager, Jay Hinrichs, the league’s executive of the year.

“This is certainly the definition of a team award – it belongs to our associates and interns, media team, the ballclub, our manager and coaches along with our third-party support organizations and event staff. I could not be more proud of this organization or grateful for the opportunity to be part of the team. I also appreciate all the help and guidance from the American Association leadership and the general managers across the league, especially during this inaugural year of the Monarchs,” Hinrichs said.

Hinrichs took over the Monarchs’ day-to-day operations on Sept. 23, 2020, after the team did not play because of the global pandemic during the 2020 season. The franchise then re-branded as the Monarchs in January of 2021, and Hinrichs has successfully guided the franchise through the first season under the new name.

The American Association Executive of the Year is voted on by the other league members, Managers, broadcast-media representatives and front office personnel. The Monarchs set numerous on-field records, but the ballpark, communication and hospitality drew rave reviews from visiting teams, broadcasters and fellow executives.

The Monarchs continue their post-season march this Friday in game 1 of the American Association Championship Series against either Fargo-Moorhead or Chicago. It will be an away game for the Monarchs.

Fargo-Moorhead and Chicago will play game five of their North Division Championship Series Thursday night with the teams tied in the series, 2-2.

The Monarchs will return to Legends Field on Monday, Sept. 20, to play games three through five, with game four and five to be played if necessary.

All post-season games can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning 30-minutes prior to first pitch and the video stream airing on aabaseball.tv.

Postseason tickets can be purchased by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting monarchsbaseball.com/tickets.

• Story from Kansas City Monarchs