2025 Kansas City Rays Claim ‘Three-Peat’ Title in 18+ Federal Division of Kansas City MSBL
Kansas City MSBL, 18+ Federal League Division
Kansas City Rays 3, Kansas City Blues 1 (Game two in Best-of-three Championship series sweep)
‘Kietzman and Pablo Shutdown Blues on the Bump’
The 2025 Kansas City MSBL 18+ Division Championship Series was a repeat of the last two championship series, pitting the KC Rays against the KC Blues. But it was no easy journey for the Rays as the quarterfinal matchup was a battle.
Quarterfinal Round Game 1: Phillies 8, Rays 7
The Kansas City Rays entered the playoffs 14-2 and as the top seed. The top seed meant nothing for the 8-seeded Phillies, who were looking to dethrone the champs. The Rays were the first to get on board when Sean Kirby doubled, scoring one run. The Phillies flipped the game on its head in the top of the second, scoring seven runs on seven hits to take the lead 7-1.
The Rays tied the game up in the bottom of the seventh thanks to a single by Matt Malott. The game went into extras, and the Phillies took the lead 8-7 in the top of the 10th inning on an error for the game one win.
Game 2: Rays 15, Phillies 2
In the game two nightcap, the Rays showed their championship resilience by dominating their second game over the Phillies by putting up three runs in the second inning, nine in the third, and three in the fourth, as the Rays cruised to a 15-2 win to send the series to a third and final Game three.
Luke Rattene pitched well, throwing four innings, allowing four hits, two runs, two earned, one walk, and struck out three for his third win of the season.
Game 3: Rays 8, Phillies 7
In Game three, the Phillies got out to a 2-0 lead, but that didn’t last because Luke Rattenne doubled, scoring one run, and Ivory Thomas hit a 2-run home run to right center to give the Rays a 3-2 lead. The Phillies added on four more runs in the second and lead the Rays, 7-3, until the sixth inning when the Rays cut the lead to 7-5.
The bottom of the seventh inning brought the drama, though. The Rays took the lead after Luke Rattenne doubled down the right field line to trim the score to 7-6, then MJ Sellers doubled down the left field line to tie the game 7-7. The Phillies intentionally walked Ivory Thomas to set up the double play, but it also led to the #5 hitter, Sean Kirby, being walked on five pitches.
Nikko Pablo hit the first pitch he saw on a line drive to center field that won the game in walk-off fashion and sent the Rays to the semifinal round.
Rays pitcher Nikko Pablo not only got the walk-off hit but he also got the win on the mound in relief of Luke Rattenne. Pablo threw five innings, allowed one hit, one run, 0 earned, two walks, one hit by pitch, and struck out four to earn his fourth win of the season.
Semifinal round Game 1: Rays 8, Gamblers 3
In Game one of the semifinal series, the Rays faced newcomers to the league, the #5-seeded Gamblers. The Gamblers got out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but that didn’t last long as the Rays’ MJ Sellers tripled to right center to tie the game 1-1.
Ivory Thomas walked on five pitches and initiated a delayed steal of second that allowed Sellers to steal home and take a 2-1 lead. Sean Kirby followed that up with a double to left center to extend the lead to 3-1.
The Rays extended the lead further after the Gamblers walked the bases loaded and Ian Kietzman grounded into a fielder’s choice, then James Grahovac drew another walk to extend the lead to 5-1. John Riggins hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring the lead to 6-1 after one inning.
The Gamblers fought back in the second inning, cutting into the Rays’ lead 6-3, but that was as close as they could get. In the fourth inning the Rays got some insurance runs when Ivory Thomas hit a 2-run single to center to extend the lead to 8-3, which was the final score.
Ian Kietzman pitched well, throwing six innings, allowing nine hits, three runs, one earned, 0 walks, and striking out five for his sixth win of the season.
Game 2: Rays 6, Gamblers 2
In Game two, the Rays jumped out to the lead in the first on Ian Kietzman’s 2-run single and Matt Malott’s ground out to lead 3-0. The score remained that way until the sixth inning, when the Rays added to their lead on a sac fly by James Grahovac to extend the lead to 4-0.
The Gamblers finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth, scoring on a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded to cut into the lead 4-1. In the top of the seventh, the Rays would strike back with a run on an RBI single by Luke Rattenne. After loading the bases on back-to-back walks, Rattenne stole home on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 6-1.
The Gamblers scored one run in the seventh on a fielder’s choice to cut the lead to 6-2, but reliever Rattenne closed the door with a strikeout to end the game and send the Rays to their fifth consecutive championship series.
Championship Series Game 1: Rays 10, Blues 0
In Game One of the championship series, the Rays opened the scoring in the first after Ivory Thomas singled, scoring two runs to lead 2-0. The Rays added to their early lead at the bottom of the second inning after John Riggins doubled to left field and Garrett Fort singled to right field, each scoring a run to extend the lead 4-0.
The Rays added to their lead again in the bottom of the third inning after Thomas singled down the left field line, Nathan Skaggs singled to center field, Ian Kietzman grounded out, and James Grahovac walked, each scoring one run, making it 8-0.
The Rays added to their lead once more in the fourth inning as Sean Kirby singled to left field and Skaggs walked with the bases loaded to bring the lead to 10-0. Nikko Pablo earned his fifth win of the season, pitching a gem where he threw five innings, allowed one hit, 0 runs, one earned, walked one, and struck out five.
Game 2: Rays 3, Blues 1
In Game two, the Blues jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first, and they kept that lead in a true pitcher’s duel in the nightcap. In the top of the fifth inning, Nikko Pablo hit a sacrifice fly, Nathan Skaggs tripled to right center, and Ian Kietzman grounded out, each scoring a run, giving the Rays a 3-1 lead.
The Blues got runners on third in the bottom of the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings but could not capitalize on them. Brandon Womack closed out the sixth and seventh innings for the save and helped clinch the championship with a game-ending strikeout.
Ian Kietzman got his seventh win of the season, where he threw five innings, allowed five hits, 0 runs, one run, one earned, walked none, and struck out four.
During the 2025 season, the Rays hit .318 as a team and had eight hitters that hit .300 or above, and 10 hitters that drove in 10+ RBIs.
Sean Kirby led the team in extra base hits (12), followed by MJ Sellers (11). MJ Sellers led the team in RBIs (21), followed by Sean Kirby (19), Ivory Thomas (18, and Ian Kietzman (18). Garrett Fort (17) led the team in stolen bases, followed by Luke Rattenne (11).
The KC Rays pitching staff combined for an impressive team ERA of 1.98 in 151.1 innings
Ian Kietzman led the Rays in wins at 7-0, followed by Nikko Pablo, 5-1, and Brandon Womack, 5-2. Nikko Pablo led the team in ERA with (0.25), followed by Ian Kietzman (1.90), and Brandon Womack (2.07).
Luke Rattenne led the team in strikeouts (42), followed by Nikko Pablo (32), and Ian Kietzman (32). Brandon Womack led the team in innings pitched (45.1), followed by Ian Kietzman (33), and Luke Rattenne (31.1).
The Kansas City Rays have been in the championship game in five of the last six seasons. This was the fourth title for the Rays team, and MJ Sellers reached the 100-win milestone in the clinching game. In six years at the helm, he is 100-18 overall with four championships and zero losing seasons.