BLUE DRAGON SOFTBALL PICKED 2ND IN KJCCC COACHES’ POLL
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
The Hutchinson Community College softball team was picked to finish second in the 2026 Jayhawk Conference Division I Preseason Coaches' Poll released on Monday.
The Blue Dragons were actually picked to finished tied for second with Barton. Butler is the 2026 preseason pick.
Beginning her 22nd season at Hutchinson, head coach Jaime Rose returns five starters and seven overall players from the 2025 Jayhawk Conference co-championship team. The 2025 Blue Dragons went 37-11 last season, including a 27-5 KJCCC record that netted the second conference title in three seasons for the Blue Dragons.
The 2026 Blue Dragons return four full-time position starters.
Center fielder Kaibryn Kruger was a second-team all-KJCCC performer who hit .451 (74 hits), 75 runs scores, seven homers, 50 RBIs and 41 stolen bases.
All-KJCCC honorable mention catcher Tailor Golly is back. Golly hit .444 (71 hits) with 11 home runs and 71 RBIs. Honorable mention outfielder Gabby Stauffer returns after a freshman season where she hit .400 (68 hits) with give homers and 62 RBIs. Designated player/catcher Addi Lutz hit .333 (44 hits) with a pair of homers, 22 RBIs and a key walk-off single to defeat Butler at Fun Valley.
Freshman all-conference honorable mention pitcher Aubree Thomas was the No. 2 starter last season. Thomas posted a record of 13-3 with a 4.11 earned-run average. She pitched five complete games and struck out 72 in 90 1-3 innings.
Mia Williams saw spot duty as a freshman, pitching in eight games with one start and an ERA of 6.84.
The Blue Dragons were not selected to be in the NJCAA Division I preseason Top 25.
Hutchinson opens the 2026 season at home on the weekend of February 7 and 8 at Fun Valley. The Blue Dragons take on Southeast Community College at 2 and 4 p.m. on February 7 and Neosho County at 1 and 3 p.m. on February 8.
2026 KJCCC COACHES PRESEASON SOFTBALL POLL
1. Butler (7) 79
T2. Hutchinson (1) 66
T2. Barton (1) 66
4. Garden City 49
5. Dodge City 46
6. Colby 43
7. Pratt 25
8. Seward County 21
9. Fort Hays Tech Northwest 10