By Greta Klein
Sports Editor
X: @gmklein
New season, same sport, same drive, different team.
While the academic year may have changed, along with some of the players, this Hutchinson Community College softball team has continued the momentum from last season and added to it.
Last season the Blue Dragons won the Region 6 championship for the first time since 1987, beating Butler 16-4. That took them to the 2024 NJCAA Division I Softball World Series.
“We’ve been climbing for a long time,” Blue Dragon coach Jaime Rose said. “That’s the first time when we were able to win the region and go to the World Series, so definitely a big stepping stone for our program.”
During the World Series, the team had the determination to show others why they were there. The Blue Dragons did just that after defeating Connors State 8-0 in the first round. Advancing to the second round against Indian River State, the Blue Dragons fell short 2-0. Having one more chance to work their way back, HutchCC lost 5-2 against Lake Land during the elimination round. While losing was not the Blue Dragons’ ambition, getting into the World Series and making it to the second round were impressive moments for the Blue Dragons.
“It was incredible,” sophomore infielder Brie Brawner said. “One of the best feelings in the world. We all worked so hard to get there, and it just felt so good for it to pay off.”
Despite losing, the Blue Dragons used that experience and opportunity to motivate this year’s team.
“I think everybody saw what we did last year and they want to carry that on,” Sophomore infielder Bailey Backhaus said. “I also think that this team has their own want to win and their own drive.”
The Blue Dragons are 30-6 overall, 22-2 in the Jayhawk Conference, and are in first place. This team is dominating at the plate and defensively, with 10 games only going to five innings because of run rules. The team has a batting average of .403 and a slugging percentage of .576. Backhaus is the Blue Dragons leading hitter, batting an average of .544 along with the most stolen bases with 44.
No matter if it’s a freshman or sophomore who steps on the field, they are all in this together.
“They all bought in,” Rose said. “They have each other’s backs every day, and I think that’s huge. They want to play for each other and I think that’s been a key to our success as well this year.
Playing together instead of as individuals is important, but this team plays like they are even closer than a team..
“It’s amazing,” Freshman catcher Tailor Golly said. “It’s a family. We are sisters, and we have parents with Rose and Ray (Aguirre, pitching coach). It’s just amazing, couldn’t ask for anything better.”
While the energy and momentum started from last year’s team and their goals, Rose had some specific goals for this year’s team.
“This year’s team is winning in a different way,” Rose said. “Last year’s team, we were very much smash the ball over the fence. This year, we have a lot of team speed. I told them way back in the fall that I thought this team could break the team stolen base record for the season, and we’re on pace to do that.
There may be some differences between teams but this season, some disorder from the offensive side has helped this year’s team excel.
“I think that team speed just brought different havoc from an offensive standpoint,” Rose said. “I think they’re as good a hitting team as we were last year. It’s just a different style.”
