Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The Hutchinson Community College softball team was picked to finish third this season in the annual Jayhawk Conference preseason coaches' poll released on Monday.

The Blue Dragons come off a 29-17 season and a third-place finish in the Region VI Tournament. The 2021 Blue Dragons advanced to the winner's bracket final before dropping games to Butler and Barton in the loser's bracket final.

Starting her 18th season, head coach Jaime Rose returns six position players and one pitcher for the 2022 season, which opens on Saturday at Fun Valley against the Ottawa University Junior Varsity.

The Blue Dragons return their top three hitters from last season in Madison Grimes, Natalie Bevan and Haley Miller.

Grimes was the 2021 Jayhawk East Player and Freshman of the Year in 2021. Grimes shattered the Blue Dragon single-season batting average record of by 98 points after hitting .562 (82 for 156) with 11 home runs, 78 RBIs and 71 runs scored. The sophomore from Andale moved from third base to shortstop about one-third of the way through the 2021 season.

Bevan, a super-sophomore from Augusta, hit .426 (58 for 136) with nine homers and 58 RBIs. Miller, a sophomore outfielder from Buhler, hit .401 (59 for 147) with 42 runs scored and 28 stolen bases.

The Blue Dragons also return left-handed pitcher Sadie Loney. The super-sophomore from Oak Grove, Missouri, was 5-1 through an injury-plagued 2021 season with a 3.37 ERA. She had 45 strikeouts in 43 2-3 innings. She also had three saves last season, making 19 total appearances.

Butler, Barton and Hutchinson are the Top 3 picks in the KJCCC this season. Colby, Garden City and Seward County are picked 4 through 7. Dodge City, Pratt and Northwest Tech round up the remainder of the poll.

The NJCAA Division Preseason rankings were also released on Monday. The Blue Dragons are not mentioned in that poll, but on their schedule are the Nos. 2 and 3 teams in the rankings – No. 2 Grayson and No. 3 Butler.