NBC World Series
Written by Paige Feikert | Photography by Ed Bailey
Hutchinson Monarchs Return as Reigning Champs
Written by Paige Feikert | Photography by Ed Bailey
Some of the most legendary teams in the National Baseball Congress World Series cemented their names in history through years of dominance in the tournament. Teams have built dynasties over the last nine decades of one of the most historic baseball tournaments in the country, from the Alaska Goldpanners’ four tournament titles in the 1970s — three of them earned consecutively — to the Santa Barbara Foresters’ 10 championship titles since 2006.
Now, a new dynasty is emerging, one that started to pick up steam in the 2023 tournament, halting what would have been a historic four-peat for Santa Barbara. That team is the Hutchinson Monarchs, who are playing this year for a chance to reach their fourth consecutive championship game in the NBC World Series.
“At the end of the day, it’s just play hard. I tell them ‘play as if your current coach or next coach is in the stands — don’t take anything for granted, play hard and have fun,’ ” said Hutchinson Monarchs coach Casey Lippoldt. “I want these guys to experience it to the fullest, but from a team standpoint we’re there to win.”
Kings of the Baseball Diamond
The Monarchs reached their first NBC World Series championship game in 2023, defeating one of the most prolific teams in modern-day history in the Santa Barbara Foresters. In 2024, the Monarchs earned a spot in their second-consecutive championship game but ultimately lost to the Hays Larks. The team bounced back last year, winning their second championship title after defeating the Lonestar Kraken in the championship game.
“We have a target on our backs. From a local standpoint, I’m sure our league is tired of seeing us at the top of the league — but now also at a national level,” Lippoldt said. “I know there’s motivation from a lot of other teams, but it’s a pretty good feeling being the ones who are getting chased.”
This year, the team is hoping to defend the NBC World Series title with another championship run. Lippoldt grew up in nearby Pratt, and attended NBC World Series games as a kid, eventually playing in the tournament and now coaching in the tournament. He understands the legacy and the difficult path for a team to reach four consecutive NBC World Series championship games.
“The level of baseball that you see at the tournament is top-notch,” Lippoldt said. “There’s a lot of really good baseball that comes through Wichita, so getting to be part of it as a player, as a fan and now as a coach is pretty important to me.”
“It’s pretty often that we play on the road and end up having more Monarchs fans in the stands than the home teams.” — Monarchs coach Casey Lippoldt.
Monarchs fans have created a home-field advantage for the team throughout the tournament, making the 50-mile drive for every game of the tournament. Just last year, attendance at the championship game was more than 3,200, many of those fans cheering for the eventual winners. It’s a testament to the Monarchs’ role in the community — participating in fundraisers and doing community outreach — plus, many of the players live with host families during the summer months.
“It’s pretty often that we play on the road and end up having more Monarchs fans in the stands than the home teams,” Lippoldt said. “It is something that I think is pretty unique — there’s not many programs that get that kind of support, so we’re very lucky to have the support that we do.”
The 92nd NBC World Series kicks off on July 23 at Eck Stadium on the Wichita State University campus. The first 1,000 fans will receive a spinning Ozzie Smith backflip bobblehead on opening night. The tournament will play all games at Eck Stadium except the championship game, which will be played at Equity Bank Park in downtown Wichita on August 1, with post-game fireworks for the second consecutive year.
The tournament will again host the infamous Baseball ’Round the Clock challenge, where fans can earn prizes and an “I survived” t-shirt by enduring 11 games in 33 hours. Baseball ’Round the Clock starts Saturday, July 25, and wraps up on Sunday, July 26.
NBC World Series
To find the full tournament schedule, sign up to volunteer, purchase tickets or a Baseball ’Round the Clock pass, visit the tournament website at nbcbaseball.com.
