Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The Hutchinson Community College baseball team was picked to finish third in the 2024 Jayhawk West championship chase.

The Jayhawk Conference released its annual preseason coaches' poll on Thursday. The Blue Dragons were picked behind Barton and Cloud County.

Blue Dragon baseball will be under new guidance this season as Brock Nehls takes over as Hutchinson's head coach.

Nehls has seven pitches and 12 position players returning from a 30-28 Blue Dragon team in 2023 that was eliminated in the opening round of the Region VI Tournament. The Blue Dragons finished fifth in the Jayhawk West last season.

Offensively, the Blue Dragons return both starting catchers from last season in Cody Gunderson and Collin Cymbalista and starting outfielder Blake Bradford.

Starting pitchers Sam Ojeda and Cole Toureau, Ethan Geisbrecht and Gus McKay lead the returning group of players on the mound.

After the Blue Dragons, Seward County was picked fourth, Butler was fifth and Dodge City was sixth. Colby were predicted to finish seventh, followed by Pratt and Garden City.

Johnson County was picked to win the 2024 Jayhawk East title, while Cowley is picked second and Kansas City is picked third. The rest of the Jayhawk East preseason poll has Fort Scott, Coffeyville, Neosho County, Allen, Highland and Labette.

The Blue Dragons are scheduled to open the season at Hobart-Detter Field on Tuesday, February 6 with a single nine-inning game against the Central Christian JV and a doubleheader against Southeast Community College on Thursday, February 8.

The Blue Dragons open Jayhawk West play on Thursday, March 7 against Garden City at Hobart-Detter Field.