BLUE DRAGON SOFTBALL OPENS AT NO. 22 IN NJCAA RANKINGS

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Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The defending Region 6 Tournament champion Hutchinson Community College softball team opens the new season ranked No. 22 in the NJCAA Division I Softball preseason rankings, which were released on Tuesday.

This is the third-straight season the Blue Dragons start a season ranked in the preseason Top 25. Before the 2023 season, Hutchinson softball went through a 35-year drought of being named in a preseason poll.

The Blue Dragons posted a school-record 47 wins last season, going 47-12. The Dragons finished second in the KJCCC behind Butler by two games. Hutchinson then defeated Butler twice in the Region 6 championship game to win its first regional title since 1987 and qualify for the NJCAA National Tournament for the first time in program history.

Beginning her 21st season at Hutchinson, head coach Jaime Rose has one returning starting pitcher and three returning position players from last season.

Sophomore Morgan Tomlinson is the top returning pitcher. She went 16-3 with a 3.08 ERA. She led a Blue Dragon team that posted a 2.77 ERA. Tomlinson was a first-team all-KJCCC performer last season.

All-Conference shortstop Bailey Backhaus is of three returning starters back from last season. Bailey Backhaus had a Blue Dragon single-season record 104 hits last season and hit .479 with 25 stolen bases.

Sister Brooke Backhaus, Hutchinson's starting first baseman last season hit .374 with 54 RBIs. Outfielder Brie Brawner hit .371 with 37 RBIs.

Hutchinson opens the 2025 season on the road on Friday, January 31 with a doubleheader at Western Oklahoma State in Altus, Oklahoma. The Dragons open at Fun Valley on February 7 and 8 with a two-day triangular with Iowa Western and Neosho County. The Dragons play at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day. Hutchinson opens KJCCC play on February 26 against Pratt at Fun Valley.