Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The Hutchinson Community College baseball team was picked to finish third in the annual Jayhawk Conference Preseason coaches' poll.

This was the first time in four seasons the Blue Dragons weren't the preseason pick to win the league. Hutchinson claimed league titles in 2019 and 2021. The 2020 season wasn't completed because of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Head coach Ryan Schmidt starts his 10th season, which opens at Hobart-Detter Field on February 10 and 11 with a three-game series against Southeast Nebraska. Schmidt is 318-169 in his first nine seasons in the Blue Dragon dugout. He is 425-340 in 14 seasons as a head coach.

Schmidt has five returning pitchers and 10 returning position players returning from a 37-17 Jayhawk West championship team and lost to Colby in the sub-regional finals last season.

Among the top returnees in the field is centerfielder Jack Torosian (Omaha, NE), who hit .353 with six homers, 50 RBIS and 45 runs scored. Jon Jenkins moved into the starting leftfield spot over the second half of the season. Jenkins hit .367 with three homers and 114 RBIs. Also back is designated hitter/outfielder Ben McLaughlin (Golden, CO), who hit .366 with 13 homers and 58 RBIs. Infielder P.J. Loucks (Omaha, NE) also returns after hitting .308 as a freshman.

The Blue Dragons will have an entirely new starting rotation. Sophomore left-hander Zane Covey (Golden, CO) is the top returning pitcher. Covey made a team-high 21 appearances and was 3-2 with a 5.91 ERA.

Colby is the preseason pick to win the Jayhawk West this season. Barton is second and the Blue Dragons are third. Butler, Cloud County and Seward County are picks four through 6, while Garden City, Dodge City and Pratt round out the poll.