DRAGON PITCHERS HANDCUFF COLBY IN JAYHAWK WEST OPENER
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
Five Hutchinson Community College pitchers combined to limit the Colby Trojans' offense to one run and seven total hits in a Jayhawk West doubleheader sweep at Hobart-Detter Field.
Wes Lyerly allowed just one run and two hits in a complete game in the 2026 Jayhawk West opener as the No. 18-ranked Blue Dragons rolled to a 12-1 run-rule victory over Colby in Game 1. Then the combination of Merek Yeager, Kolby Heskett, Lincoln Muller and Jeffrey Neill combined for a four-hit shutout as the Blue Dragons won the second-game 9-0.
The Blue Dragons improved to 16-3 overall and 2-0 in the Jayhawk West. Colby is 5-9 overall and 0-2 in the league. Games 3 and 4 will be at 1 and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at Young Memorial Field in Colby.
With the two victories on Thursday, the Blue Dragons extended their Hobart-Detter winning streak to 14 games. Hutchinson is 14-1 at Hobart-Detter Field.
GAME 1 RECAP – Hutchinson 12, Colby 1 (5 innings)
Lyerly threw the first Blue Dragon complete game of the season on Thursday. He pitched a season-high five innings, allowing just two hits and one earned run with two strikeouts and two walks. He also hit two Colby batters.
The Trojans had Lyerly (3-0) on the ropes in the first inning, loading the with one out. Lyerly got out of the jam with a fielder's choice force at home and a strikeout. Colby scored their only run without the benefit of a hit. Lyerly needed only 62 pitches in his complete game.
Hutchinson 6 through 9 hitters did most of the damage in Game 1 combining to go 6 for 9 with seven runs scored, nine RBIs and four extra-base hits – two home runs and two doubles.
Sophomore third baseman Finn Hochstein led the Blue Dragons' eight-hit attack going 3 for 3 with his fourth home run of the season and three RBIs. Hochstein had an RBI single in the second and a two-run home run in the third inning. Hochstein drove in three runs and score twice.
Tye Wilson was 1 for 2 with his first career home run. Wilson's two run home run to left put the game into a run rule in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Sophomore Anthony Mazza went 2 for 2 with a double and two runs to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. Sophomore Eli Duncan had a three-run double as part of the Blue Dragons' six-run third inning.
The Blue Dragons were 5 of 7 in stolen bases, which included two double steals. Hochstein has two steals.
GAME 2 RECAP – Hutchinson 9, Colby 0
The Blue Dragons posted their third shutout of the season in Game 2.
Yeager threw a season-long six innings on Thursday. Yeager (1-0) allowed two hits and one walk while striking out six. Colby loaded the bases with two outs in the third inning, but Yeager got out of the jam unscored upon.
Heskett had three strikeouts in a scoreless seventh inning. Muller had one strikeout in a scoreless eighth inning. Neill worked a scoreless ninth inning.
The Blue Dragons rolled up 10 hits, including three extra-base hits in Game 2.
Mazza extended his hitting streak to 13 games after going 3 of 4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored.
Jackson Schanuel had his second three-hit game of the season going 3 for 5 with a two-run triple in a four-run fifth inning.
Jordan Kuhnau hit a two-run home run, his sixth of the season, in the third inning. He was 1 for 4 with two runs and two RBIs.
Cru Huenfield was 1 for 3 with two RBIs – an RBI single in the first and an RBI fielder's choice in the fifth.
The Blue Dragons reached double figures in hits for the 11th time this season.
This was the first time that Hutchinson and Colby opened a Jayhawk West season since 2018.