BLUE DRAGONS UP TO 18TH IN NJCAA SOFTBALL RANKINGS

Blue Dragon Softball is ranked No. 18 in this week's NJCAA Rankings after a 5-1 week last week. (Andrew Carpenter/Blue Dragons Sports Information)
Blue Dragon Softball is ranked No. 18 in this week's NJCAA Rankings after a 5-1 week last week. (Andrew Carpenter/Blue Dragons Sports Information)
March 6, 2023

NJCAA DIVISION I SOFTBALL RANKINGS
  Record Points Last Poll
1. Grayson (8)
2. Northwest Florida State
3. Florida SouthWestern
4. Odessa
5. Wallace State
6. Walters State
7. McLennan
8. Central Florida
9. Seminole State (OK)
10. Chattanooga State
11. Lake Land
12. Southern Idaho
13. Galveston
14. Seminole State (FL)
15. Butler
16. San Jacinto
17. Indian Hills
18. Hutchinson
19. Volunteer State
20. Indian River		 19-3
30-2
17-3
18-3
15-3
16-0
17-5
25-5
12-2
12-3
12-4
10-5
19-3
22-6
11-5
14-8
5-3
15-4
9-3
22-7		 160
133
126
119
112
105
98
91
84
77
70
63
56
49
42
35
28
21
14
2		 1
2
3
5
4
6
7
9
8
10
14
13
18
11
17
12
15
20
RV
RV
     Receiving Votes: Weatherford, Utah State Eastern, Salt Lake, Pensacola State, Crowder

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

After a 5-1 seek and two scintillating games in a national matchup on Saturday with its conference rival, the Hutchinson Community College softball team moved up two spots to 18th in the latest NJCAA Division I Softball Rankings of the season on Monday.

The Blue Dragons swept the Sterling College JV in a pair of run-rule games (12-0, 12-4), swept Colby in the KJCCC opener (9-1, 5-1) and split with the Butler Grizzles, which moved from No. 18 to No. 15 this week.

Aspen Goetz hit a walk-off two-run home run to help Hutchinson defeat Butler 5-4 in Game 1 on Saturday at Fun Valley. The Grizzlies took the second game 6-5 in 10 innings.

The Blue Dragons are now 15-4 overall and 3-1 in the Jayhawk Conference.

Hutchinson is scheduled to play Dodge City on Wednesday at Fun Valley and will travel to Great Bend to play Barton on Saturday.

The Blue Dragons have been ranked in nine consecutive polls dating back to last season.

Grayson remains the No. 1 team in the rankings. Northwest Florida State is no. 2 and Florida SouthWestern is No. 3.

Former Dragon opponents who are ranked are: Murray State, still No. 1 in Division II, Weatherford, receiving votes in Division I and Butler at No. 15.