Morgan Cirbo worked the final 3 1-3 innings to pick up the victory in Hutchinson's 12-inning 8-6 victory over Seward County in the Region VI Super-Regional championship game on May 18, 2010 at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in Wichita.
	The 2010 Region VI champion Blue Dragons pose for photos after winning another extra-inning game in the 2010 postseason.

2010 Region VI Super-Regional - Championship
Hutchinson 8, Seward County 6 (12 inn.)
May 18, 2010 - Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, Wichita

BLUE DRAGONS
TOP SEWARD COUNTY TO WIN
REGION VI BASEBALL CROWN

CLICK FOR BOXSCORE
FULL RADIO BROADCAST

WICHITA – Call them the Cardiac Kids or Comeback Kids, one thing is for certain, the 2010 Hutchinson Community College baseball team can now be called Region VI champions.

Losing a ninth-inning lead for the third time in eight postseason games, the Blue Dragons showed its trademark resiliency once again to defeat Jayhawk West rival Seward County 8-6 in 12 innings in the Region VI championship game on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.

Going deep into extra innings for the second-straight day, the Blue Dragons captured their third regional title in program history.

Hutchinson advances to its second NJCAA World Series in program history with a 37-22 record. The Blue Dragons will open play at Suplezio Field in Grand Junction, Colo., on Saturday, May 29.

HCC’s other Region VI baseball championships came in 1975 and 2005. The 1975 team didn’t advance to the World Series, losing to the Colorado champion in a district showdown. The 2005 Blue Dragons went 1-2 in their first World Series appearance in school history.

“The way we win games probably gives who’s watching grey hairs,” sophomore Luke Acosta said. “There’s no certain way to win a game, but we pull it out in the end. We try so hard. We all have the same mindset and that’s to get the W in the end. This is a great group of guys.”

Playing in its first regional title game since 2005, HCC was within one strike of punching its ticket to Grand Junction in the ninth inning after exploding for five runs in the eighth and ninth innings. HCC starter Matt Williams retired the first two Saints hitters of the inning.

But Seward County rallied and when Todd Glime rolled a single through the middle to score two runs, the Saints tied the game at 6-all.

“It was tough because you get two out and it’s almost impossible not to think about the dog pile,” sophomore Andrew Dixon said. “It slips your mind pretty quick when it turns around and you don’t know how many innings you have left and you have to keep playing.”

Playing in their third extra-inning game of the 2010 postseason, the Blue Dragons finally broke through in the 12th inning. HCC loaded the bases against Seward reliever Ty Jacobs. Dixon slapped a single to left to score Dan Klein with the go-ahead run. Ryan Mayfield’s RBI fielder’s choice them gave HCC an 8-6 lead.

Freshman pitcher Morgan Cirbo (3-2) then closed the door on the Saints, retiring the final eight batters he faced to earn the win for the second-consecutive game. Cirbo struck out Jace Moore, who fouled tipped strike three into the glove of catcher Dan Klein and set off a Blue Dragon dog pile.

“It was amazing. There were no words to describe the feeling,” Cirbo said of the final out. “I’m just glad Dan caught the ball.”

HCC is now 3-0 in the postseason in extra-inning games. The Blue Dragons let ninth-inning leads evaporate against Allen County, Cowley and Seward County, only to win in extra innings. HCC also nearly lost a six-run ninth-inning lead in a 9-8 win over Butler in the opening round.

“The end result is what matters,” HCC head coach Kyle Crookes said. “There are certainly easier ways to go about it, but every team has to have its own identity and if that’s the identity that they have and are able to success, then that’s what they are. A leopard can’t change its spots. They are doing it the way they know how.”

Acosta went 3 for 3 with his fifth home run of the season, two runs scored and one RBI to lead Hutchinson’s 14-hit attack against four Seward County pitchers. Dixon, Mayfield, Shaun Hoover and Klein had two hits each. The Dragons had six more stolen bases, three from Mayfield.

“We are a speed team,” Hoover said. “We believe in each other and we rely on our speed. Whenever we get guys on second base, we feel like we are going to score.”

Williams tossed 8 2-3 innings and got a no decision. Williams allowed seven hits, six runs, three earned runs and four walks while striking out one. But Williams made huge pitches all game long. He worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the second inning allowing only one run. He allowed two runs and five hits through eight innings.

Cirbo went 3 1-3 innings with three strikeouts and two hits.

“Morgan is exactly what he is,” Crookes said of Cirbo. “He’s been a rubber-band man. He was our closer early and then our set-up guy.

He pitched well against Seward and that factored in our decision who to pitch today. He’s been so resilient and mature about what his role is without freaking out. He’s such a consistent personality and consistent performer. That’s hard to find.”

Seward County led 2-0 after four innings and HCC finally broke through with an unearned run by Toby Cornejo.

The Dragons finally chased Saints starter Paul Pulley in the eighth when Mayfield single and Mace Krol had a bunt single to start the eighth. Quay Grant, Seward’s closer allowed an RBI single to Hoover to tie the game and David Longmore walked with the bases loaded to give Hutch the lead. Klein’s sacrifice fly scored Acosta to give HCC a 4-2 lead.

HCC took a 6-2 lead in the top of the ninth. Mayfield singled, stole second and third and scored on a Seward County throwing error. Two batters later, Acosta hit a solo homer to left for a 6-2 HCC lead.

GAME NOTES – The Blue Dragons have stolen 46 bases in eight postseason games. … The Blue Dragons’ 38 wins tied for ninth most in program history. HCC’s 398 runs are tied for ninth. The team’s 531 his are fifth most. … HCC extended it school record total for stolen bases to 179. … HCC pitchers have struck out 362 this season, fourth most. … Andrew Dixon is now tied for sixth with Matt Rebout (2001-02) in hits with 134. His 77 hits for the season are fourth most. … Against Seward County, Dixon broke the school career record for singles with 106. He also set the single-season record for singles with 62. … Dixon also became the fourth HCC player to reach 60 career steals.