By John Mesh
The Hutchinson High School softball team won both of its games at the Salthawk Varsity Triangular Monday at Fun Valley.
The Salthawks defeated Andover Central 7-3 and Kapaun Mount-Carmel 13-8.
Hutchinson improved to 5-13.
In Hutchinson’s victory over Andover Central, Hutchinson’s Brooke Hogan drove in four runs on three hits to lead the Salthawks past the Jaguars 7-3.
Hogan hit a home run to center field in the fourth inning, scoring three runs. She also doubled in the first inning, scoring one.
Six more Salthawk runs crossed the plate in the fourth inning to extend the lead to 7-0. Hutchinson’s Kohlbie Craft to hit into a fielder’s choice, but two runs scored.
Hogan belted her three-run homer and Alaina Borders hit into a fielder’s choice to score the other run.
Craft stepped into the pitcher’s circle first for the Salthawks. She surrendered seven hits and three runs (two earned) over seven innings. She struck out three and walked two.
The Salthawks tallied 12 hits in the game. Borders, Mauree Garland and Baylee Pickering each collected multiple hits. Hutchinson walked five times.
Taylen Tabor, Aiyana Anthony and Payton Converse each drove in one run for Andover Central. Converse led the Jaguars with three hits in four at-bats. Andover Central fielders didn’t commit any errors.
In the 13-8 victory over Kapaun, Craft collected four hits in five at-bats. She doubled in the fourth inning, singled in the third inning, doubled in the fifth inning and singled in the sixth inning.
The Salthawks got on the board in the first inning after Kapaun pitcher Lena Ramsey induced Brooke Hogan to hit into a fielder’s choice, but one run scored.
The Crusaders took a 4-1 lead in the top of the third inning. Gracie Bezdek grounded out, Lucie Glover doubled to center field, Hutchinson committed an error and Ramsey singled down the left field line.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Salthawks scored seven runs on eight hits to take the lead 10-4. Jaden Durant singled in a run.
Kierah Sterling started on the mound for Hutchinson. She allowed four hits and four runs (one earned) over three innings. Sterling struck out none and walked one.
Craft threw one inning of scoreless ball for Hutchinson High Lady Salthawks in relief. She allowed zero hits, struck out one and walked none.
Ramsey surrendered 18 hits and 13 runs (seven earned) over six innings for the Crusaders. She struck out three and walked four.
Alaina Borders led Hutchinson High Lady Salthawks with three RBIs from the No. 7 spot in the lineup. The shortstop went 3-for-4. Durant, Jayanna Cornejo and Sadie Marciano each collected multiple hits for Kapaun.
Other Monday night scores:
• The Buhler High School softball team split a doubleheader with Clearwater. Clearwater won the first game 3-1 and won the second game 8-2. The Buhler softball team is 14-4.
• The Buhler High School baseball team swept a doubleheader from Clearwater Monday night. The Crusaders won the first game 11-2 and the second game 4-3. The Buhler baseball team improved to 14-4.
• The Halstead High School softball team swept Douglass in a doubleheader. Halstead defeated Douglass 29-1 in the first game and 14-0 in the second game. The Dragons are 18-0.
• The Halstead High School baseball team swept a doubleheader from Douglass Monday night. The Dragons (5-13) won the first game 14-0 and the second game 12-8.
Blue Dragon baseball team drops road game to Cowley College
The Hutchinson Blue Dragon baseball team lost 17-3 (7 innings, run rule) Monday afternoon to Cowley College at Tiger Ballpark in Arkansas City.
The Cowley College Tigers are ranked No. 3 in the NJCAA Division I poll.
The Blue Dragons (34-17 overall) stranded five runners in the first two innings. Cowley College (39-8 overall, 22-1 at home) scored two runs on two hits in the bottom of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead.
Reece Usselman pitched for Hutchinson in the bottom of the second inning and worked a 1-2-3 frame.
The Blue Dragons surged to a 3-2 lead in the top of the third inning. Taber Stokes hit a sacrifice fly, Finn Hochstein drove in a run with a groundout and Leo Griffin had an RBI double. The Dragons scored their three runs on four hits.
Cowley got six runs on four hits in the bottom of the third inning, added five in the fourth and four in the fifth for a 17-3 lead.
Quinn Maher had two of Hutchinson’s six hits. The Cowley College Tigers had 15 hits off seven Blue Dragon pitchers, including a home run by Logan Groh and doubles by Seth Dandridge, Weston Thomas and Dax McCaskill.
The Blue Dragons (15-13 in the Jayhawk West) and the Pratt Beavers play a 1 p.m. doubleheader Thursday at Hobart-Detter Field.
Hutchinson and Pratt play a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday at Stanion Field in Pratt.
Cowley College hosts Kansas City Kansas Community College in a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Thursday and play a 1 p.m. twinbill at KCK on Saturday.
The Region VI Playoffs begin on May 8-9, the Central District Championships are slated for May 13-16 and the NJCAA Division I Baseball World Series is May 24-30 in Grand Junction, Colo.
Hutchinson Trinity, Central Christian golfers place 2nd, 3rd at Inman Invitational
The Hutchinson Trinity Catholic and Hutchinson Central Christian boys golf teams placed second and third at the Inman Invitational Monday at the par-72 Crazy Horse Sports Club and Golf Course in Hutchinson.
Berean Academy won the team title with a 283 score, followed by Trinity 340, Central Christian 341, Russell 392, Lyons 414, Sedgwick 425, Inman 440 and Goessel 482.
Trinity placed five golfers in the Top 12 and Central Christian four.
Central Christian’s Ryland Kooiman claimed first-pace medalist honors with a 5-over-par 77.
Trinity’s Tyler Casebolt and Ian Shaw placed second and third with scores of 80 and 83, followed by Central Christian’s Nathan Reed, fourth, 86; Sedgwick’s Keighan Earles, fifth, 87; and Trinity’s Lincoln Barnes, sixth, 88.
Berean Academy’s Luke Friesen, Central Christian’s Tyler Reed and Cael Kooiman and Trinity’s Seamus Hogan placed seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th with 89s.
Trinity’s Miles Blaylock tied for 12th with a 94, followed by Matt Armour, tied for 16th, 99.
Central Christian’s Brady Froese, tied for 19th, 101; and Tanner Scripsick, tied for 29th, 111.
Lyons’ top golfer was Lyons’ Noah Geeves, 11th place, 93; followed by Easten Benavidez, tied for 19th, 101; Elijah Lyon, tied 27th, 109; Landon Ankerhol, tied 29th, 111; Diego Cabral, tied for 37th, 125; and Derek Valerio, tied for 39th, 126.
Inman’s top golfer was Creighton Fries, tied for 21st, 103; Braeden Stutzman, tied for 21st, 103; Keetan McEuen, 25th, 107; Brett Jerrick, tied for 37th, 125; and Paul Funk, 42nd, 144.
Buhler varsity, JV soccer teams post shutouts over Circle
The Buhler High School varsity and junior varsity girls soccer teams posted shutouts Monday night at home against Towanda-Circle.
The Buhler Crusader varsity posted a 2-0 victory over the Circle Thunderbirds. Juliette Shank and Mikaela Jarrett scored the goals on assists from Sydney Lehl and Madi McCool.
“Not sure if we gave up a shot tonight,” said Buhler girls soccer coach Randall Rank on the BHS Girls Soccer Facebook page. “Clean sheet (shutout) by Sammie Brooks and the defense.”
The Buhler JV posted a 1-0 win on a 30-yard free kick penalty by Josie Cummins.
“Clean sheet by the Cummins sisters (Josie and Abigail) and the defense,” Rank said.
The Buhler junior varsity soccer team plays Wichita Southeast on Wednesday and the varsity squad plays Wichita Independent on Friday.
Hutchinson boys golf team 8th at Derby Invitational
The Hutchinson High School boys golf team placed eighth with a 361 score at the Derby Invitational Monday at the par-71 Derby Golf and Country Club.
Hutchinson’s Mitchell Rice tied for sixth with an 81, followed by Landyn Powell, tied for 22nd, 91; Maks Dreiling, tied for 29th, 92; Tate England, tied for 45th, 97; Alex Haas, tied for 64th, 108; Kevin Wilson, 68th, 111.
Garden City’s Maddix Shook was the first-place medalist with a 75, edging out Goddard’s Boston Arnold and Cohen Museousky who placed second and third with 76 and 77.
Valley Center’s Jacob Kline placed fourth with a 78 and Derby’s Michael Willey was fifth with an 80.
Goddard won the tournament title with a 317 score, followed by Valley Center 341, Garden City 348, Derby 351, Salina Central 355, Winfield 355 and McPherson 360.
Rose Hill placed ninth with 369, Haysville-Campus 394, Arkansas City 399 and Newton 407.
Halstead golfers 5th at Southeast of Saline tournament
The Halstead High School boys golf team placed fifth at the Southeast of Saline Invite Monday on the par-70 Salina Municipal Golf Course.
The Dragons posted a 374 score in the tournament, led by a ninth-place individual effort by Maxx Linton, who posted a 17-over-par 87.
Halstead’s Jacob Rose finished 20th with a 92, followed by Wesley Parks, tied for 24th, 94; and Lance Anderson, tied for 35th, 101.
Pretty Prairie golfers 2nd, Nickerson 5th at Pretty Prairie
Pretty Prairie placed second and Nickerson fifth at the Pretty Prairie Invitational Monday at the par-72 The Links at Pretty Prairie golf course.
Pretty Prairie posted a 381 score and Nickerson 455.
Pretty Prairie was led by Dawson Dick and Eli Anderson, who tied for fourth with 89s, followed by Braden Woods, seventh, 94; Collin Weide, tied for 16th, 101; Wyatt Grilliot, tied for 18th, 102; Evan Young, 20th, 106; Matthew Rogers, tied for 21st, 107; and Eli Young, 28th, 115.
Nickerson was paced by Kyler Nikkel, tied for 21st, 107; Brayden Mathis, 26th, 109; Shamus Nugent, tied for 29th, 117; Jacob Myers, tied for 32nd, 122; and Alfonso Lozano, tied for 37th, 129.
Buhler boys tennis players compete at Salina Central meet
Members of the Buhler High School boys tennis team competed at the Salina Central Varsity Invitational Saturday.
In singles, Buhler’s Ty Campbell placed 14th and Shane Schroeder placed 16th.
The Buhler doubles team of Reece Ricker and Linus Duscher placed 15th.
The Crusaders’ doubles team of Tate Ricker and Cayden Davis placed 16th.
Delice Downing named volleyball coach at Hesston High School
The Hesston High School Swather volleyball program named former Hutchinson Community College coach Delice Downing as their new head coach Monday.
“The Hesston volleyball family would like to welcome Coach Delice Downing as our next head volleyball coach,” said the school in a press release Monday. “Please join us in welcoming coach Downing to the Swather family.”
Downing comes to Hesston with more than 20 years of coaching at the collegiate level with two NJCAA volleyball titles and 432 career wins.
Lester becomes 21st NJCAA championship qualifier for Blue Dragon men’s track team
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
Freshman Da’Shawn Lester earned his first career victory and punched his ticket to the NJCAA Outdoor Championships at Gowans Stadium to lead the Hutchinson Community College men’s track and field team on Friday at the Fort Hays State Alex Francis Classic.
Lester won the 400 meters with a personal-best and meet-winning time of 47.24 seconds.
In addition to becoming the 21st Blue Dragon national meet qualifier, Lester posted the fourth-fastest outdoor 400-meter time in Blue Dragon history.
Sophomore Ty’Rique Roland was Hutchinson’s next highest event placer with a runner-up finish in the high jump after clearing a height of 6 feet, 2.75 inches (1.90 meters). Teammate Richard College was third at 6-2.75. Jaydon Parkes was fifth in the high jump at 5-10.75 (1.80 meters).
Sophomore D’Antonio Warren placed fifth in the 100 meters with a time of 10.70 seconds. Rickyle Telemaque was eighth in a time of 10.96 seconds.
Taylor Zehr finished fifth in the hammer throw with a mark of 159-2 (48.52 meters) and was eighth in the javelin with a throw of 146-3 (44.57 meters).
Sophomore Grady Bare placed seventh in the discus with a throw of 133-5 (40.66 meters). Andrew Hildebrand was eighth in the discus with a throw of 125-7 (38.27).
The Blue Dragons will next compete in the Region 6 Outdoor Championships next Friday and Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Coffeyville.
Blue Dragon women’s track team wins three events at Alex Francis Classic
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
The Hutchinson Community College women’s track and field team won three events and posted four personal records on Friday at the Fort Hays State Alex Francis Classic.
Sidney Holt, Yaya Moreno and Alycea McCoy won individual events to lead the Blue Dragons in their final regular-season meet before next Week’s Region 6 Outdoor Championships in Coffeyville.
The Blue Dragons will take nine national qualifiers into the regional championship.
On Friday, Holt won the Alex Francis 100 meters with a time of 11.93 seconds.
For the second-straight meet, sophomore Yaya Moreno posted a personal record and earned her first collegiate event victory, winning the long jump with a mark of 18 feet, 0.25 inches (5.49 meters).
That mark tied for the 10th-best outdoor long jump in Blue Dragon history.
Freshman Alycea McCoy also earned her first collegiate event victory, winning the triple jump with a mark of 36-8.25 (11.18 meters). McCoy had a personal record with a height of 10-6.25 (3.21 meters) to finish fourth in the pole vault. That vault was the ninth-best in Blue Dragon outdoor history.
Two other Blue Dragon athletes posted PRs on Friday.
Sophomore Aiyanna Green placed second in the shot put with a PR of 40-6.5 (12.36 meters).
Azariah Dawes tied her career best in the long jump with a second-place mark of 17-9.5 (5.42 meters).