Hutchinson CC Sports Information

DODGE CITY – The No. 14-ranked and top-seeded Hutchinson Community College softball team tied the program's all-time record for wins in a season on Friday in a Region VI Tournament opening-round victory over Pratt at Legends Park.

The top five batters in Hutchinson's order combined to go 11 for 17 with 13 RBIs as the Blue Dragons run-ruled eighth-seeded Pratt 15-4 in the opening game of the tournament.

The Blue Dragons will play fourth-seeded Barton in a winner's bracket semifinal on Field 4 at Noon on Saturday. The Blue Dragons will play a second game on Saturday, either at 2 p.m. or 4 p.m. on Field 4.

Now 42-6 after Friday's victory, the Blue Dragons tie the 1987 Blue Dragons for the program's all-time season record for wins. The 2023 Blue Dragons are just the fourth team in Blue Dragon program history to reach the 40-win plateau, the third time under head coach Jaime Rose.

The Blue Dragons extended their season-high winning streak to 13 games.

Blue Dragon freshman third baseman Olivia Sandoval broke a single-season Blue Dragon record for doubles. With two doubles on Friday, Sandoval now has 22 doubles and moved past Stephanie Balthazor (2007) and Kelcee Thompson (2016) for that season record.

Hutchinson broke the game open with a seven-run second inning and put the game away with a five-run fourth inning. The Blue Dragons out-hit Pratt 13-7.

Sophomore Aspen Goetz drove in four runs – she now has a total of 94 for the season – going 2 for 4 with a double. Goetz had an RBI single in the first inning and had a three-run double in the second. Now with 78 hits for the season, Goetz ranks No. 3 on the single-season hits list.

Sophomore Madison Grimes went 2 for 3 with a double, triple and three RBIs. She also drove in a run with a bases-loaded walk in the second. Grimes now has 211 career hits.

Sandoval was 2 for 4 with two doubles, three runs scored and two RBIs. Now with 73 hits, Sandoval is fourth on the Dragon single-season hits list.

Sophomore Ella Dougherty went 2 for 3 with a double, three RBIs and three runs. She had an RBI single in the second and a two-run double in the fourth. Now with 130 career hits, Dougherty tied Jenn Tanno (2006-07) for third on the career hits list.

Freshman Alexis Mastin went 2 for 3 with two doubles and an RBI.

Sophomore pitcher Kierstan Weitze earned her 10th win of the season and 19th of her career with 1 2-3 innings of relief work. She allowed two hits and two runs with three strikeouts. Weitze is now seventh on the career pitching wins list.

Delaney Blakesley went 2 1-3 innings in her first postseason start. She allowed four hits and two earned runs with two strikeouts. Riley Wertz pitched a scoreless fifth inning with two strikeouts to close out the game in the fifth inning.