Graphic courtesy of Blue Dragon Sports Information
By John Mesh
The Hutchinson Blue Dragon baseball team took on the Cloud County Thunderbirds in a Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference doubleheader Thursday afternoon at Hobart-Detter Field in Hutchinson’s Carey Park.
Hutchinson won the first game 2-1 and Cloud County took the second game 13-5 (snapping HutchCC’s eight-game winning streak).
Hutchinson is 26-9 overall (8-6 KJCCC and 18-4 in home games). Cloud County is 24-11 overall (first place in the KJCCC at 13-5 and 11-8 in road games).
Hutchinson won the first game behind the mound work of recent league Pitcher of the Week honoree Trenton Roehler and relief pitcher Colin Flores.
Roehler improved his record to 3-1. In six innings, he allowed one earned run, walked four and struck out six. Flores got the final three outs in the top of the seventh for his third save of the season.
Cloud County starting pitcher Stocton Timbrook (1-1) got the loss. In 5 2/3 innings, he allowed two earned runs, walked four and struck out six. Hayden Malaise recorded one out for 1/3 of an inning.
Hutchinson took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI single by Quinn Maher. After Cloud tied the score 1-1 in the top of the third inning, Hutchinson scored a run on CJ Reid’s RBI single and took the lead for good at 2-1.
Reid had two of the Blue Dragons’ six hits. Taber Stokes and Anthony Mazza scored the runs. Stokes, Mazza and A.J. Mustow added singles. Stokes and Jarrett Herrmann had stolen bases.
Austin Coyle had two of the Thunderbirds’ three hits, including an RBI triple. Nolan Freund singled. Easton Mould scored the team’s run.
The Thunderbirds made three errors and Hutchinson two.
In the second game, Cloud County scored one run in the top of the first inning for a 1-0 lead.
However, the Blue Dragons with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Stokes, batting leadoff, doubled to left field and stole third base. Mazza belted a two-run homer to straightaway center field.
The Thunderbirds scored two runs in the top of the second inning take a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the third inning, Mazza walked and stole second base. Maher walked and they pulled off a double steal. Mazza went to third base and Maher to second base. Reid’s two-run triple scored Mazza and Maher and Hutchinson was back on top 4-3.
Cloud County plated six runs in the top of the fifth inning and four in the sixth to take a 13-4 lead.
Hutchinson scored a run in the bottom of the eighth to make the score 13-5. Mustow doubled to lead off the inning, moved to third base on a flyout and scored on a balk call.
Noah McCombs got the start on the mound for the Blue Dragons. Hutchinson used seven pitchers against the Thunderbirds, with Gabe Perry (4-2) taking the loss. Cole Linton and Noah Bourgeois shared pitching duties for Cloud County, with Bourgeois (4-1) getting the win.
Hutchinson picked up eight hits, including two from Mazza. Reid and Mazza each drove in two runs and Mazza scored two runs. Reid tripled. Stokes, Mustow and Leo Griffin doubled.
The Thunderbirds collected 10 hits, including two each from Matthew Evans, Noah Konigs and Mould. Konica had two doubles. Evans, Freund and Mould each had a double. Mould had three RBIs, Konigs two and Joey Marino two. Mould also had a sacrifice bunt.
Hutchinson plays the Thunderbirds again on Sunday in a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Lee Doyen Field in Concordia. The date was changed from Saturday.
The Blue Dragons play a four-game series (two doubleheaders) against Butler Community College next Thursday (1 p.m. at McDonald Stadium in El Dorado) and April 12 (1 p.m. at Hobart-Detter Field).
Cloud plays back-to-back 1 p.m. road doubleheaders next Thursday and Friday against Highland Community College at Highland Community Ball Park.
Thursday’s area high school baseball, softball, soccer scores
• The Hutchinson High School Salthawk softball team defeated Buhler 7-1 in the first game of a doubleheader at Buhler. The Crusaders gained a twinbill split with a 6-3 victory in the nightcap.
• The Buhler High School varsity baseball team lost to Wichita Collegiate 5-2 in the first game of a home doubleheader Thursday. The Crusaders fell 18-5 in the second game.
• The Buhler High School varsity girls soccer team defeated Mulvane 2-1 Thursday night.
• The Nickerson junior varsity baseball split a doubleheader Thursday at Larned. The Panthers won the first game 11-3 and lost in the second game 7-1. The Nickerson varsity baseball team plays a doubleheader Friday against Smoky Valley in Lindsborg.
• The Haven High School baseball team defeated Hillsboro 12-3 in the first game of a home doubleheader Thursday and won the second game 9-2.
• The Haven High School softball team defeated Hillsboro 12-0 in the first game of a home doubleheader Thursday. The Wildcats won the second game 15-2 to complete the sweep.
• The Haven junior varsity softball game against Pratt Thursday was postponed because of weather.
• The Haven JV baseball team swept a doubleheader against Moundridge 18-5 and 4-3 on Tuesday.
• The Halstead varsity baseball team lost to Pratt 15-1 in the first game of a home doubleheader Thursday and fell in the second game 13-1.
• The Halstead varsity softball team shut out Pratt 1-0 in the first game of a home doubleheader Thursday, and completed the sweep in the second game 7-6.
• The Inman High School baseball team played a home doubleheader Thursday against Bennington. The host Teutons won the first game 16-1 and lost the second game 6-4.
HutchCC’s sports schedules changed because of weather
The Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragon softball team’s scheduled Friday doubleheader at Butler has been moved to Monday at 2 p.m. at East Park in El Dorado.
Tuesday’s games at Labette Community College in Parsons have been cancelled.
Because of poor weather conditions forecast for Friday, the Blue Dragon men’s and women’s track and field teams will not compete at the Emporia State Mid-State Classic on Friday.
Hutchinson Quarterback Club announces 2025 Hall of Fame Class
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
The Hutchinson Quarterback Club announced its Hall of Fame Class of 2025 on Thursday.
The induction ceremony is Saturday, May 17, at the NJCAA national track and field championships. The track meet will take place at Gowans Stadium.
The class includes:
• The 1954 Blue Dragon national champion men’s track team: This team won Hutchinson Community College’s first team national championship, doing so at Gowans Stadium. The Blue Dragons edged Victoria 76.5-72 in the final team standings. A total of 15 different Blue Dragons earned All-America honors in the 1954 Championships.
• The 1959 Blue Dragon national champion men’s track team: When the 1959 Blue Dragons lifted the NJCAA national championship trophy at Gowans Stadium, sprinter Larry McCue and distance runner Ray Schmitz scored more than half of the Blue Dragons’ team points by themselves.
Only six Blue Dragons scored in 1959 as Hutchinson racked up 55 team points to claim the program’s second national championship. Arlington Junior College was second with 45 and Tarleton Junior College was third with 35 points.
• Randy Bryant (track and field 1985-86 national champion pole vault): Bryant was the 1986 NJCAA national pole vault champion and tied for sixth in 1985, earning two NJCAA All-America honors. Bryant continued to be the Blue Dragon outdoor pole vault record holder at 16 feet, 5 inches until 2024.
• John Talbert (track and field 2011 national champion discus, hammer): Talbert was a one-year Blue Dragon who won two national championships in the 2011 outdoor championships, which were held at Gowans Stadium. Talbert won the discus and hammer throw.
• Teddy Poole (track and field 2007-08 three-time national champion 200 meters): Pool was an eight-time Blue Dragon All-American, six on the first team, with three national championships and three more national runner-up finishes. The 200 meters was Poole’s specialty.
At the indoor championships, Poole won the 2007 national title and was fourth in 2008. He was the back-to-back outdoor 200-meter national champion.
Poole was national runner-up in 2007 and 2008 in the outdoor 100 and was national runner-up in the 2008 indoor 60-meters and seventh in the 2007 national indoor 55 meters.
• Kristi Rinehart [Roper] (track and field 1996-97 national champion women’s high jump): Rinehart was the 1997 NJCAA National Outdoor High jump with a height of 5 feet, 8 inches in 1997. That still ranks third on the all-time outdoor chart. She didn’t compete in the indoor season because she also played women’s basketball.
• Cassie Wiley (track and field 2011-12 national champion women’s high jump): Wiley became the third Blue Dragon women’s athlete to win a national high jump championship, winning the 2012 indoor national title. She still ranks in the Top 5 on the Blue Dragon charts.
Blue Dragon Spirit Squad Nationals Showcase slated for Saturday
The Hutchinson Blue Dragon Spirit Squad Squad Nationals Showcase will take place at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.
Admission is free. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Enter through the East doors.
Haven boys tennis team 4th, Hutchinson Trinity 7th at Swather Invitational
The Haven High School boys tennis team placed fourth and Hutchinson Trinity Catholic placed seventh at the Swather Invitational Monday at the Bethel College tennis courts in North Newton and at Hesston High School.
Hesston Red won the team title with 38 points. Wichita Trinity Academy and Smoky Valley tied for second with 34 points, followed by Haven with 26, Kansas City Christian 17, Hesston Black 8, Hutchinson Trinity 7, Goddard 6 and Wichita Independent 2.
Haven’s Noah Miller paced second at No. 1 singles, the No. 2 doubles team of Gatlin Rinehart and Maguire Jacques placed third, the No. 1 doubles team of Brady Peterson and Devin Boice placed fourth and No. 1 singles player Brennan William placed sixth.
Trinity’s Sam Pennycuff placed fifth at No. 1 singles, Ethan Harvey placed sixth at No. 2 singles and the No. 1 doubles team of Vincent Wuertz and Sam Madden placed seventh.
The Celtics did not enter a No. 2 doubles team because there are just four players on the roster.
The Hutchinson Trinity squad competed at the Conway Springs Invitational Thursday. The Celtics compete at Buhler Tuesday and Hillsboro next Thursday.
Hutchinson, Buhler girls swimmers make KSHSAA Top 25 list in Class 5-1A
Hutchinson High School girls swim team members have posted Top 25 performances in Kansas Class 5-1A as of March 31.
The 400-yard freestyle relay team has the sixth best time (4 minutes, 14.65 seconds) and the 200 free relay (1:55.41) is 12th.
Members of the relay teams are Julianna Stivers, AJ Gooch, Alayna Wiggins and Morgan.
Gooch is 12th in the 100 breaststroke (1:18.83) and 13th in the 200 free (2:19.73). Wiggins is 14th in the 200 IM (2:29.84) and 15th in the 100 butterfly (1:09.32).
Emma Buller is 15th in the 500 freestyle (6:43.63). Stivers is 19th in the 100 backstroke (1:11.6).
The Buhler 400 free relay is 12th (4:28.75), the 200 medley relay is 24th (2:18.45) and the 200 free relay 24th (2:04.01).
Buhler’s Hannah Swain is eighth in the 500 free (6:05.43). Reyne Kaufman is 21st in the 500 free (6:57.19) and 25th in the 200 free (2:29.7). Aivlynn Ehmke is 23rd in the 100 free (1:03.47).
Ellie Goering is 23rd in the diving competition with 127.25 points