By Steve Carpenter
Hutchinson CC Sports Information Director

For the first time in four seasons, the Hutchinson Community College baseball team wasn't the preseason pick to win the Jayhawk West.

That fact means nothing to 10th-year head coach Ryan Schmidt, who has high expectations for his ball club every season to contend for a conference title.

The journey toward a potential league crown this season begins on Thursday against Southeast Community College in a 1 p.m. doubleheader in Beatrice, Nebraska. The Blue Dragons and Storm were supposed to play a three-game series on Thursday and Friday at Hobart-Detter Field, but the Blue Dragons' home field still wasn't ready for play after last week's winter storm.

"We lost a lot of really good players," said Schmidt who is 318-169 with four Jayhawk West titles in his first nine seasons. "With this group, we have a lot of hunger, a lot of desire and we have a lot of inexperience.

These guys are going to be thrown in the fire and they are going to get that experience really quickly."

The 2021 Blue Dragons went 37-17 and won the Jayhawk West championship before falling to Colby in the Region VI sub-regional final.

Gone from that team are All-American and MLB draft pick Austin Callahan, a three-year starter at shortstop in Mason Lowe and the big bats of Jenner Steele and Cole Cosman. Schmidt will also have to replace and a pretty good chunk of the starting pitching rotation.

Schmidt does bring his entire outfield back and a solid foundation of pitchers who mostly worked out of the bullpen last season.

The first month of the season will be important for the Blue Dragons as they try to fill roles on the 2022 pitching staff.

"We've got a lot of guys vying for those positions," Schmidt said. "We've got a lot of new faces and we had a good fall and productive spring. Our guys are getting stronger every time they touch the ball and I think we are trending in the right direction. We just have to solidify roles."

A couple of transfer players will draw the starts in the first two games on Thursday at Southeast. Jack Whitlock is slated to be the Game 1 starter vs. the Storm and Jackson Blue will be the Game 2 starters.

Others in line to work as a starter is returning pitcher Ryan Schlotzhauer (2-3, 7.93 ERA in 2021). Right-handed Ben Dandelet has been in the program, but is finally healthy and ready to contribute.

As far as other returning pitchers, Zane Covey (3-2, 5.91 ERA) threw 42 2-3 innings out of the bullpen. He did have three starters last season. Luke Hornberger (1-2, 13.19 ERA) and Chase Torkelson (2-0, 6.75 ERA) also returns.

The 2021 Blue Dragon pitching staff posted a team 6.21 ERA and opponents hit .280 last season.

As far as the everyday line-up, a majority of Schmidt's returning experience lies in the outfield with Jack Torosian, Jon Jenkins and Sterling Sutcliffe. Ben McLaughlin and P.J. Loucks also patrolled the outfield. Loucks missed the final 37 games with an injury, while McLaughlin was relegated to designated hitting duties because of his injury.

Jenkins hit .367 with three homers and 14 RBIs in the final 20 games. Torosian hit .353 and had an on-base percentage of .630 with 22 extra-base hits and six homers. Sutcliffe was stellar defensively in center and right field and hit .254. McLaughlin hit .366 with 13 homers and 58 RBIs. Loucks was hitting .308 at the time of his injury.

Also in the mix in the outfield is freshman Kael Babin

"We have some interesting pieces in the outfield," Schmidt said.

Behind the plate, returning catchers Daniel Bebee (.206) and Cade Baker (.316) are back.

McLaughlin is slated to take over at first base, which leads Schmidt with an outstanding, but untested group of players to fill the spots at second, third and shortstop.

Hunter Gotreaux has battled injuries throughout his Blue Dragon career. Reno County product Ryan Henderson (Buhler) is expected to battle for an infield position. Freshman Booga de la Garza can play multiple infield positions.

Schmidt is high on shortstop Bryce Logan, who was spectacular with the glove in the fall.

"We have guys on this team who can play, but we just have a lot of inexperience right now," Schmidt said. "We have good players and I think that can be fun. They just need to get between the white lines and we can see who can handle it."

The Dragons will now start the season on the road for the first nine games before playing Coffeyville in the new 2022 home opener on March 3 at Hobart-Detter Field. One week later, the Dragon open the Jayhawk West season with Butler.