Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Coming off a 39-win season and third-place Region VI Tournament finish, the Hutchinson Community College baseball team was tapped as the preseason favorite to win the 2019 Jayhawk West Championship.

The Jayhawk Conference's Predicted Order of Finish was released by the league office on Monday.

The Blue Dragons edged defending Jayhawk west champion Barton for the top spot in the preseason rankings. Seward County was picked third, Colby fourth and Butler fifth.

The remaining teams in the Jayhawk West are Cloud County, Garden City, Dodge City and Pratt.

The Blue Dragons will open the 2019 season on February 2 at Coffeyville and play their first home game on February 8 as part of a weekend series with Highland and Indian Hills. The Dragons play Highland on the eighth and Indian Hills on Feb. 9 and 10.

Hutchinson head coach Ryan Schmidt enters his seventh season, posing a Blue Dragon record of 223-124.

Schmidt returns 13 total pitchers, including a pair of starters, and eight total position players from a 39-22 team of a year ago.

The Blue Dragons return starting infielders Logan Sartori, Dylan Nedved, Zion Bowlin and Ryan Moritz as well as catcher Zach Baxley. Riley Metzger and Conor Craig are outfielders returning.

On the mound, a pair of starting right-handers are back in Mike Brown and Miguel Reyes. Matt Hopkins was a key right-hander out of the bullpen last season

Cowley is the preseason favorite to win the Jayhawk East in 2019.