By Steve Carpenter
Blue Dragon Sports Information Director

When the Hutchinson Community College softball team raised the 2023 Jayhawk Conference championship trophy last season at Fun Valley, it marked a significant achievement in the program's climb up the league's hierarchy.

That championship was the first conference title in 32 years for the Blue Dragons. Now the 2024 Blue Dragons look to take the next step into erasing another one of those long, overdue team accomplishments.

"Our returning players definitely feel like there is more business to take care of," Blue Dragon head coach Jaime Rose said. "Last year was a huge step forward and this year we are looking to take one more step."

In addition to the first conference title since 1992, the 2023 Blue Dragons produced a program record number of wins in a 44-8 season. Hutchinson reached the Region VI Tournament championship game for the first time since returning to Division I before the 2019 season.

While repeating as conference champions is among the list of goals for 2024, winning the program's second Region VI championship, the first since 1987, is the next step forward for Rose and the Blue Dragons.

Rose's team begins that process on Thursday as Hutchinson moved its season opener from last Saturday because of field conditions at Fun Valley to Thursday in Ottawa against the Ottawa University JV at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

The 2024 Blue Dragons will have some big holes left by graduation to fill. Those of those holes include record-setting All-American shortstop Madison Grimes, two-year starters in first baseman All-American Aspen Goetz, second baseman Ella Dougherty and catcher Allie Stipsits and pitchers Riley Wertz (All-American), Emily Munson and Morgan Pennycuff.

Rose returns eight players from last season's conference champions. She adds seven freshmen and two transfers to the roster for 2024.

The Blue Dragons return two pitchers from last year's staff that posted a 2.80 team earned-run average.

Korri Lies was 3-1 with a 1.87 ERA in 11 appearances and Delaney Blakesley was 4-0 with a 2.87 ERA in 13 appearances.

Rose adds sophomore Jaala Nowlin (10-3, 4.20 ERA, 80 IP at Cowley) and freshmen Dakota Lake and Morgan Tomlinson to the staff this season.

One of the biggest questions for Blue Dragon staff is how the roles will be filled. The 2022 and 2023 seasons didn't depend on consistent deep runs into games by the starters, but depended on Wertz and her record 19 career saves to shut down teams sometimes as early as the fifth inning.

"All five of our pitchers can get the job done," Rose said. "All five pitchers are going to be put into different situations early in the season. We will see who stands out to determine who will start or pitch in relief or have the mentality to be the closer."

Handling the pitching staff will be sophomore Alexis Mastin, who returns to her natural position after seeing a lot of action in the outfield as a freshman. Mastin hit .372 last season with 10 home runs and 50 RBIs.

"Alexis has a great understanding of each of our pitchers' strengths," said Rose, who is 571-398 in her first 19 seasons with the Blue Dragons.

The only returning starter on the infield is third baseman Olivia Sandoval, who is a prototypical No. 2 hitter in the batting order and a steady glove defensively. Sandoval hit .435 as a freshman with 77 total hits, 22 doubles, two home runs and 59 RBIs.

Sandoval will be the anchor for an inexperienced overall infield in 2024.

Slated to start at first base this season is freshman Brooke Backhaus. Sophomore transfer Madi Divis will be at second base and Bailey Backhaus will start at shortstop.

"I really love the group of middle infielders that we have," Rose said. "We have five kids on the roster who can play middle infield. It's been a long time since we have had a new middle infield.

Rose will have four sophomores rotating in the outfield and as the designated player.

Lies, Tamara Lozoya, Preslee Irwin and Jaeleigh Darnell will rotate in the outfield. Lies hit .301 with 11 doubles, 20 RBIs and 34 runs last season. Darnell hit .394 with four homers and 34 RBIs. Irwin hit .246 with 23 runs scored and Lozoya was primarily a late-inning pinch runner, but hit .631 in 18 at-bats last season.

"We feel very good with any of those kids out there," Rose said. "They all have experience from last year."

The Blue Dragons open the season ranked No. 17 in the NJCAA Division I preseason rankings, but are picked to finish second in the KJCCC preseason coaches poll.

After Thursday, the Blue Dragons will play next weekend at Neosho County and NEO and won't have its home opener until the Jayhawk Conference opener against Colby on February 22.