HUTCHINSON  — When Rich Krol coached baseball at Nickerson High School, he emphasized a no-nonsense approach.

Make the routine defensive play.

Throw strikes.

Hit the baseball into play.

Hit-and-run.

Bunt-and-run.

Baseball is life.

Coach Krol, who has passed on, earned an induction into the 2022 Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame after winning four KSHSAA state titles.

His legacy will officially be passed on when his three sons Andale baseball coach Adam Krol, Haven baseball coach Noah Krol and Hutchinson High baseball coach Mace Krol match wits Friday at Hobart-Detter Field.

It's safe to say nothing like this has ever happened in KSHSAA baseball history.

Mace's third year at Hutchinson High has shown records of 4-17, 18-10 and 10-9 during the current season. The 2013 Fort Hays State graduate delivered his best baseball memory competing for the Hutchinson Blue Dragons in the 2010 NJCAA College World Series at Grand Junction, Colo.

The Blue Dragons placed third and lost to eventual champion San Jacinto, Texas twice.

"The NJCAA World Series is my highlight because of the dudes I played with and the coaches I played for," Mace said. "That's the only baseball season that I remember that has a banner hanging somewhere. We watched Bryce Harper at Southern Nevada that year. There were a lot of people watching Harper that year."

Mace and Noah agreed they have no clue what will happen with 9-8 Hutchinson, 14-6 Haven and 10-8 Andale tangle.

However, their answers sound identical.

MACE—"It’s baseball. Anyone can beat anyone on any given day. The team that makes the most routine plays and has a few timely hits usually wins." 

NOAH—"Whoever throws the most strikes and plays the best defense will have an advantage.  I have no clue who that will be."

Rich Krol and longtime Nickerson assistant coach Jim Walker often frustrated opposing teams with "Texas Mau Mau," a way of verbally passing hitting and bunting signals.

"I'm not sure talking 'Mau Mau' will do much good," Mace said. "But I’m sure coach Walker will be though!" 

Noah Krol played baseball two years as a two-way player at Wichita State after also competing in the NJCAA College World Series. He led Nickerson to the 2002 state baseball title.

Noah played five seasons of minor-league baseball.

Noah said the addition of six games made the dream series possible.

"A 26 game regular season has allowed schools to schedule games that we otherwise wouldn't have been able to do."

"Our Dad would be proud to see his three boys following in his footsteps being high school teachers and coaches," Noah said. "It's a good measuring stick to see where we are at this point."

Adam Krol played two baseball seasons at Barton Community College. He served six years as an assistant coach at Hutchinson High before head coaching stints at Hutchinson and Republic, Mo. prior to Andale.

The voice of Krol's wife Diana will be part of the proceedings.

"It'll be cool for my mom," Mace said. "She will still be yelling at the umpires… but I'm just not sure for which team yet."

Noah knows his mom will be rooting for all three sons.

"If you ask our Mom, I'm guessing she'd she's pulling for each of us the same," Noah said. "But .... Mace is the baby of the family. We all know she will be pulling for Hutch a bit more than everyone else."

Coach Rich Krol's kindred spirit will be at Hobart-Detter Field Friday.

Krol's response would be a deep-throated belly laugh you'd hear from here to heaven.