For the second-straight season, the Hutchinson Community College softball team start a season as a nationally ranked team.
Coming off a Jayhawk Conference championship and Region VI runner-up season that netted a school-record 44 wins, the 2024 Blue Dragons open the season ranked No. 17 in the preseason rankings, which were released on Monday.
Hutchinson started last season off as the No. 17 team, which broke a 35-year drought of being ranked in the preseason poll. Hutchinson has now been ranked in 15 consecutive national polls dating back to April 18, 2022. That’s the longest consecutive run in the national rankings since being ranked in 14-straight polls in 2018.
The Blue Dragons return 11 total players from last year’s KJCCC championship team that went 44-8.
Among the returnees are all-Jayhawk second-team performers Olivia Sandoval and Jaleigh Darnell and honorable mention selections Korri Lies and Alexis Mastin.
Only two Jayhawk Conference teams are represented in the preseason rankings. Defending Region VI Champion Butler is No. 14 to start the season.
Hutchinson’s season opener is scheduled for Saturday against the Ottawa University JV at Fun Valley. A decision will be made on the status of that game because of field conditions will be made later in the week.
2024 NJCAA DIV. I SOFTBALL PRESEASON RANKINGS
Points
1. Florida Southwestern State College (7) 140
2. Northwest Florida State 133
3. Wallace State 126
4. Odessa 119
5. Grayson 112
6. McLennan 105
7. College of Central Florida 98
8. Walters State 91
9. Seminole State (OK) 84
10. Indian River State 77
11. Chattanooga State 70
12. Salt Lake 63
13. Seminole State (FL) 56
14. Indian Hills 49
15. Butler 42
16. Lake Land 35
17. Hutchinson 28
18. Bossier Parish 21
19. Galveston 14
20. Weatherford 7