By STEVE CARPENTER - Hutchinson CC Sports Information
The Hutchinson Community College softball team is picked to finish third in the 2021 Jayhawk East championship race, according the league's annual Coaches' Poll released on Tuesday.
All signs pointed to a special season unfolding in 2020 for Blue Dragon Softball.
The Blue Dragons were 18-6 overall and in first place in the Jayhawk East with a 7-1 record when the season abruptly ended after a March 12 doubleheader sweep at Garden City. The season was halted and eventually canceled because of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Seventeenth-year head coach Jaime Rose has nine players – six position players and three pitchers – returning for the 2021 season, which opens on Wednesday, February 10 against the Oklahoma Wesleyan JV at Fun Valley.
Sophomore shortstop Caitlin Schmacher has started all 66 games in her Blue Dragon career. She brings a .271 career batting average into the new season. Catcher Lexi Williams hit .473 last season and had a single-season record 29 stolen bases.
The Dragons return a pair of starting outfielders in Kylee Dunn and Bailey Pennycuff. Dunn hit .473 with 14 extra-base hits, including nine doubles. Pennycuff hit .444 with 23 runs scored and 23 RBIs.
Left-handed pitcher Sadie Loney was 5-3 last season with a 4.46 ERA and Jordan Galliher was 302 with 4.70 ERA. She threw a perfect game in her first Blue Dragon game.
Butler is the preseason No. 1 pick in the Jayhawk East. The perennial power Grizzlies are the only nationally ranked team in NJCAA Division at No. 11. Barton is second, followed by Hutchinson, Independence and Pratt.
Seward County is the Jayhawk West preseason pick. Colby, Dodge City, Garden City and Northwest Tech are picks 2 through 5.
Last season, Hutchinson was picked fourth in the league preseason coaches' poll.
Information Box
2021 KJCCC SOFTBALL PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
JAYHAWK EAST
1. Butler
2. Barton
3. Hutchinson
4. Independence
5. Pratt
JAYHAWK WEST
1. Seward County
2. Colby
3. Dodge City
4. Garden City
5. Northwest Tech
CLICK HERE to download the HutchPost mobile app.
CLICK HERE to sign up for the daily HutchPost email news update.