The NBC World Series kicks off on Thursday night, with 16 summer collegiate teams from across the country vying for a National Championship. Here’s a preview of each team’s first matchup.
Thursday, July 25th:
6:00 Pm TPA Texas vs Hutchinson Monarchs
The opening game for the 2024 NBC World Series features the defending champions Hutchinson Monarchs taking on Top Prospects Academy Texas. The Monarchs are from the Jayhawk Collegiate League in Kansas and earned an at-large bid for being the defending champions. This is the Monarch’s 13th appearance in the NBC World Series, their record is 28-21. Some key players to watch for the Monarchs are Cooper Wesslund, INF, #35, Hutchinson CC, Jaden Gustafson, OF, #24, Wichita State, and Ian Regal, P, #37.
Top Prospects Academy is making their first NBC World Series appearance, they earned their way to Wichita after winning the AABC Stan Musial Texas World Series held in Richardson, Texas.
8:30 PM Sandlot Tulsa vs Seattle Cheney Studs
The night-cap features an NBC World Series staple in the Seattle Cheney Studs going against the Tulsa Sandlot. The Studs have won 3 championships and hold a record of 83-44. In 2023, the Studs went 3-2 and tied for 3rd place. The Studs are from the Pacific International League and were the league champions this year. Some key players to watch on the Studs are Ben Schnurman, INF, #35, Big Bend CC, Isiah Afework, OF, #23, Tacoma CC, Brice Foster, P, #25, University of Jamestown.
Sandlot Tulsa is making their 2nd consecutive NBC WS appearance after winning the AABC Stan Musial Oklahoma World Series in 2023 and 2024. In 2023, they finished 0-3. Players to watch for Sandlot Tulsa are Brody Green, SS, #26, TCU, Brennan Phillips LHP, #17, Oklahoma State, David Dean, P, #9, Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
Friday, July 26th:
12 pm Lonestar Baseball Club vs Kansas Cannons
The day slate on Friday gets started with a great matchup between the Lonestar Baseball Club vs Kansas Cannons. Lonestar is making their 7th appearance in the NBC WS, in 2023 they tied for 5th with a 3-2 record. Lonestar is from the Centex Collegiate Baseball League, and they were the champions in 2024. Players to watch for Lonestar are Rod Black, INF, #8, West Texas A&M, JJ Garcia, INF, #10, Stephen F. Austin, Chris Perez, P, #30, University of Houston.
The Kansas Cannons are located in Augusta, KS and earned their bid after having the second-best overall record in the Jayhawk Collegiate League. This is the Cannons 9th appearance in the NBC WS, and a third-place finish in 2019 represents the club’s best finish. Players to watch for the Cannons are Zeb Henry, INF, #1, Eastern Oklahoma State, Cooper Combs, OF, #25, Johnson County Community College/University of Kansas, Rugar Bravo, P, #28, Eastern New Mexico University.
3 PM Seattle Blackfins vs Haysville Aviators
The 3 pm game will feature another representative from the Pacific International League in the Seattle Blackfins. The Blackfins are an expansion team in the PIL and are back in the NBC in back-to-back years. In 2023, they made it out of pool play but were eliminated in the first round of bracket play. Players to watch on the Blackfins are Jordan Singleton, C, #25, University of Jamestown, Austin Santiago, INF, #16, Shoreline CC, Kaden Wetzel, P, #48, Shoreline CC.
6 PM GPS Legends vs Santa Barbara Foresters
The GPS Legends finished second in the Centex Collegiate League; they have made two appearances in the NBC World Series with a 1-5 all-time record. Players to watch for GPS are Dayton Tockey, 1B/OF, #58, University of Oklahoma, Tanner Jackson, P, #14, Temple, Drew Woodcox, OF, Texas Tech.
The Santa Barbara Foresters are in an NBC staple and have won the most NBC WS championships and hold an all-time record of 125-42. They won the California Collegiate League but also got an at-large bid for finishing second in 2023. Players to watch on the Foresters are Jack Holman, C/1B, #18, UCSB, Will Rogers, P, #7, University of Michigan, Frank Camarillo, RHP, #35, UCSB.
8:30 PM Air Capital Flyers vs Hays Larks
The late game on Friday will feature the all high school team, the Air Capital Flyers. The Flyers are made up of all 2024 High School graduates or younger and they are the winners of the Hap Dumont League. It is the Flyers first appearance in the NBC World Series. Players to watch on the Flyers are Jack Martens, SS, #1, Coffeyville CC, Ronin Vicenti, P, #15, Johnson County CC, Luke Youngdahl, 1B/RHP, #14, Fort Scott CC.
They will take on the Hays Larks who finished first in the Rocky Moutain League. The Larks are another popular NBC team and boast an all-time record of 119-74. The Larks have finished runner-up six times most recently in 2022 and in 2023 they finished 9th. Some players to watch on the Larks are Garrett Gruell, LF, #22, Murray State, Taylor Stokes, SS, #6, Butler CC, Aidan Schmiegal, RHP, #19.
Saturday July 27th
12 PM Boulder Collegians vs San Diego Stars
Saturday kicks off with the Boulder Collegians against the San Diego Stars. The Collegians are set to make their 19th appearance in the NBC World Series after a 13th place finish in 2021. The Collegians have won 4 championships and have a 79-32 record in the NBC WS. Some players to watch on the Collegians are CJ Pino, RHP, #15, Adams State, Hunter Hirayama, INF, #2, St Mary’s College, and Zain Zinicola, OF, #11, Nothern Colorado.
The San Diego Stars represent the Western Baseball Association and will make their 27th appearance in the NBC World Series. Their last appearance was 2022, where they finished 9th, the highest finish for the Stars was third in 2019.
3 pm Liberal Bee JAYS vs Derby Twins
The first slate of games is wrapped up by the in-state matchup between the Liberal Bee Jays of the Rocky Moutain Baseball League and the Derby Twins of the Jayhawk League. The Bee Jays have the record for total tournament appearances, making their 55th this year and total tournament wins with 202. They have five championships with the most recent being in 2002. Players to watch on the Bee Jays are Ben Merriman, OF, #6, Texas State, Robert Orr, SS/RHP, #24, San Joaquin Delta, and Luke Steward, RHP, #23, McNeese State.
The Derby Twins are the 4th representative of the Jayhawk league, the Twins most recent appearance was in 2021 where they finished 5th. The Twins best finish was in 2007, the year they re-located to Derby, when they finished second. Players to watch on the Twins are Holden Painter, INF, #14, Walters State, Owen Reynolds, LHP, #33, Kade Sheldon, OF, #7, Cowley CC.
To follow all the action, visit nbcbaseball.com and bookmark Tournament Central for scores, stats, schedules and more. It will be updated after every game. Games can be livestreamed at NBC World Series – YouTube.
