CAPTION: The season came to an end Thursday for the Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragon baseball team at the Region 6 Plains District Tournament as Hutchinson fell to KCK 11-3 in seven innings. Hutchinson finished with a 40-21 record, the 11th 40-win season in program history. CREDIT BLUE DRAGON SPORTS/HUTCHINSON CC SPORTS INFORMATION
By John Mesh
The 2025 season came to an end for the Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragons with an 11-3 loss (7 innings) to Kansas City Kansas.
Hutchinson and KCK played the early Thursday elimination game at the Region 6 Plains District at Salina’s Dean Evans Stadium.
The Blue Dragons finished the season with a 40-21 record — the 11th 40-win season in program history. KCK improved to 39-21.
KCK scored a run in the top of the first inning on a solo homer by Colton Kirkham and added an RBI double by Freddie Nolen IV in the top of the second inning to lead 2-0.
Hutchinson loaded the bases in the bottom of the second inning but did not score.
KCK loaded the bases at the top of the third inning. Nolen grounded into a double play to score KCK’s third run to make the score 3-0.
Hutchinson got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning on a bases-loaded walk to AJ Mustow. Quinn Maher’s RBI fielder’s choice scored HutchCC’s second run.
Hutchinson’s Taber Stokes was hit by a pitch to re-load the bases. Scotty Fegen’s sacrifice fly tied the score at 3-3.
KCK scored five runs in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI double by Tanner Pachorek, a two-run homer by Nolen and a two-run single by Spenser Smock to make the score 8-3.
In the top of the sixth inning, KCK scored three more runs on a sacrifice fly and a two-run double to push the lead to 11-3.
Hutchinson failed to score in the bottom of the sixth and KCK did not score in the top of the seventh. Hutchinson put a runner on base in the bottom of the seventh inning but went scoreless.
Hutchinson used four pitchers in the game — Seth Ainsworth pitched the first 4 2/3 innings to get the loss. He allowed eight runs (all earned) on 11 hits, struck out three, walked none and gave up two home runs. Noah McCombs, Brandt Phillips and Sean Combs also pitched.
KCK’s Caleb Deer was the starter and picked up the victory. He allowed three hits, three runs (all earned), struck out three and walked two. Carter Beach pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowed no runs, struck out three and walked two.
Fegen picked up two of HutchCC’s four hits and drove in a run. Mustow and Maher had the other RBIs. CJ Reid, Anthony Mazza and Cael Hamrick scored the Blue Dragon runs. Hamrick drew two walks.
HutchCC baseball players receive KJCCC All-Conference recognition
The Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference released its All-Conference teams for the 2025 season Thursday.
Ten Hutchinson Community College players were honored.
Hutchinson CC finished with one First Team honoree, four Second Team winners and five honorable mentions.
Relief pitcher Colin Flores made the First Team.
Second Team honorees were outfielder A.J. Mustow, designated hitter Elias Duncan and starting pitchers Lachlan Rosser and Seth Ainsworth.
Honorable Mention selections were outfielder Leo Griffin, first baseman Quinn Maher, catcher Anthony Mazza, second baseman C.J. Reid and starting pitcher Trenton Roehler.
Trinity Celtic baseball team will play Little River in 2-1A Marion regional semifinals
The Hutchinson Trinity Catholic Celtics baseball team (14-7) will play Little River (20-3) in the 4 p.m. semifinal game Monday at Marion.
The 2 p.m. semifinals will feature No. 1 seed Sedgwick (25-0) vs. Remington (14-8).
The semifinal winners play at 6 p.m. for a regional title and a state tournament berth.
In the first round of regional play, Trinity defeated Inman 5-4, Little River defeated Marion 4-3, Sedgwick defeated Rosalia-Flinthills 8-0 and Remington defeated Moundridge 8-6.
Moundridge finished the season with a 13-10 record, Marion 11-14 and Inman 10-11 and Rosalia-Flinthills 9-15 record.
Halstead to play Hesston in 3A Sylvan-Lucas regional semifinals
Central Kansas League teams Hesston and Halstead will play in the semifinals Monday at the Kansas Class 3A baseball regional, hosted by Sylvan-Lucas.
Halstead defeated Sylvan-Lucas/Lincoln 12-6 Wednesday at Lincoln. No. 1 seed Hesston defeated No. 8 Minneapolis 11-0 Wednesday at Hesston. Halstead and Hesston play at 2 p.m. Monday.
The 4 p.m. semifinal will feature No. 2 seed Beloit (10-8) vs. No. 3 seed Ellsworth (9-12). On Wednesday, Beloit defeated Nickerson 5-1 and Ellsworth defeated Smoky Valley 10-0.
The semifinals will be played at Lucas, followed by the 6 p.m. championship game.