TOP-SEEDED DRAGONS OPEN REGION VI PLAY ON FRIDAY

Riley Wertz has the lowest ERA of 1.62 on a Blue Dragon staff that has posted a league-best 2.53 ERA. The Blue Dragons open the Region VI Tournament on Friday against Pratt in Dodge City. (Andrew Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)
Riley Wertz has the lowest ERA of 1.62 on a Blue Dragon staff that has posted a league-best 2.53 ERA. The Blue Dragons open the Region VI Tournament on Friday against Pratt in Dodge City. (Andrew Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

BLUE DRAGON SOFTBALL

Region VI Tournament

When: Friday-Sunday, May 5-7, 2023
Where: Legends Park (600 W Ross Blvd.), Dodge City, KS
Format: 8 teams-double elimination
Video: KJCCC Network (pay-per-view) - Hutchinson's Game 1 Link
Tickets: $8 pre-sale; $10 at gate
First-Round Matchups – Friday, May 5
1 p.m. – No. 1 Hutchinson (41-6) vs. No. 8 Pratt (5-43)
3 p.m. – No. 4 Barton (29-20) vs. No. 5 Garden City (22-31)
5 p.m. – No . 2 Butler (39-10) vs. No. 7 Seward County (21-31)
7 p.m. – No. 3 Colby (36-12) vs. No. 6 Dodge City (17-28)
CLICK FOR REGION VI TOURNAMENT INFORMATION INCLUDING TICKETS

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The 2023 Jayhawk Conference champion Hutchinson Community College softball team begins its quest for a Region VI Tournament title on Friday in Dodge City.

The No. 14-ranked and top-seeded Blue Dragons (41-6) play the Pratt Beavers (5-43) in the opening round at 1 p.m. at Legends Park.

All games will be streamed on the KJCCC Network. All games are pay-per-view. Tickets can be purchased online at https://goconqs.com/sports/2023/4/21/region-vi-softball-tournament.aspx in advance for $8. Tickets are $10 at the gate.

The Blue Dragons on their first conference title since 1992 on Saturday, clinching the title with a doubleheader sweep of Pratt. Hutchinson looks for its first Region VI Tournament championship since 1987.

The Blue Dragons enter Friday riding a season-high-tying 12-game winning streak.

The Dragons have been impressive with a .392 team batting are averaging 10.1 runs per game. The 2023 Blue Dragons have already broken the school season record for runs score in a season.

Five different Blue Dragon starters are averaging better than .400.

Sophomore first baseman Aspen Goetz is hitting .484 with season school records of 19 home runs and 90 RBIs. Goetz is slugging .943 for the season.

Freshman third baseman Olivia Sandoval is hitting .444 with 20 doubles and 53 RBIs. Sophomore shortstop Madison Grimes is hitting .423 with 49 RBIs. Freshman outfielder Jaeleigh Darnell is hitting, 409, sophomore second baseman Ella Dougherty is batting .404 and sophomore designated player Riley Wertz is hitting .396 with 10 homers.

The Blue Dragon pitching staff leads the KJCCC and is 17th in the nation in team earned-run average at 2.53. Opposing teams are hitting .217 off the Hutchinson pitching staff this season.

Wertz has a team-low 1.62 ERA and is 3-2 with six saves and 105 strikeouts in 56 1-3 innings. Morgan Pennycuff has a record of 15-2 with a 3.07 ERA.

Sophomore Kierstan Weitze has posted a 9-1 record with a 2.50 ERA. Sophomore starter Emily Munson is 7-0 with a 3.34 ERA. Freshmen pitcher Korri Lies is 3-1 with a 1.87 ERA and Delaney Blakesley is 4-0 with a 2.15 ERA.

Blue Dragon pitchers have 16 shutouts and four combined no-hitters this season.