2024 Kansas City Rays Ride Undefeated Season to ‘Back-to-Back Championships in 20+ Division of Kansas City MSBL
Kansas City MSBL, 20+ Division
Kansas City Rays 11, Kansas City Blues 8 (Game two in best-of-three Championship series sweep)
The 2024 Kansas City MSBL 20+ Division Championship Series was a repeat of the top two teams of the 2023 League Championship, pitting the KC Rays against the KC Blues. The best of three series in 2023 resulted in a two-game sweep by the KC Rays.
The Kansas City Rays entered the playoffs 15-0 and received a bye for the first two rounds. In their first game, Rays pitcher Brandon Womack was impressive on the mound and had a perfect game for 4 1/3 innings and finished it in short game fashion throwing five innings, allowing two hits, one run, one earned, walked none, and struck out five.
The Rays dominated their semifinal game over the 4-seed Phillies 19-1. In the championship series, the Rays won game one with a score of 5-1, behind pitcher Nikko Pablo’s pitching gem where he threw six innings, allowed seven hits, one run, one earned, walked one, and struck out seven.
In game two, the Rays jumped out to a 6-1 lead behind pitcher Luke Rattenne. Unfortunately, he ran out of gas in the sixth and the Blues took advantage of it and tied the game in the sixth inning.
In the seventh inning, the Rays put up two runs to take the lead. The Blues followed that by tying the game in the bottom of the inning. Ian Kietzman came in relief for 1 1/3 innings (also getting the win) to keep the game close and the Rays rewarded him with the lead in extra innings by scoring three runs. Pitcher Brandon Womack closed out the eighth inning for a save and helped clinch the championship with a game-ending strikeout.
During the 2024 season, MJ Sellers led Rays hitters with a .500 average, followed by Garrett Fort (.475) and Luke Rattenne (.469). Sean Kirby led the team in extra-base hits (12) followed by MJ Sellers (10). MJ Sellers led the team in RBIs (29) followed by Ian Kietzman (22). MJ Sellers (16) led the team in stolen bases followed by Luke Rattenne (15).
The KC Rays pitching staff was led in wins by Ian Kietzman and Nikko Pablo, who tied with four apiece. Ian Kietzman led the team in ERA with (0.00) followed by Brandon Womack (0.38 ERA) and Nikko Pablo (1.05). Nikko Pablo led the team in strikouts (35) followed by Luke Rattenne (31) and Brandon Womack (20). Luke Rattenne led the team in innings pitched (22.1), followed by Nikko Pablo (20), and Ian Kietzman (19.1).
The Kansas City Rays have been in the championship game in four of the last five seasons. This was the third title for the Rays team. This was the first undefeated season ever for the Rays.