DRAGONS’ SEASON ENDS IN REGION 6 TOURNAMENT LOSER’S BRACKET FINAL

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

DODGE CITY – Falling behind by as many as three runs to Butler on Sunday at Legends Park, the Hutchinson Community College softball team's late rally fell one run short and saw its 2026 season come to an end on Sunday.

The top-seeded Blue Dragons went 2 for 13 with runners in scoring position against Butler in the 2026  Region 6 Tournament Loser's Bracket Final and were eliminated after a 3-2 loss to the Grizzlies.

Hutchinson ends its season with a 42-14 record. The 42 wins tie for the third-most wins in program history. Head coach Jaime Rose completes her 22nd season with the Blue Dragons with 697 victories.

The Blue Dragons had baserunners in each of their seven at-bats, but left 11 runners on base. Butler scored single runs in the second, third and fifth innings to lead 3-0 after 4 1/2 innings. 

Hutchinson finally broke through in the fifth inning when Kaibryn Kruger singled, stole second and scored on a Gabby Stauffer RBI single to cut the Butler lead to 3-1. The Dragons loaded the bases in the sixth, but couldn't cash in.

In the seventh inning, Hadley Topping walked and pinch runner Lia Martinez moved to second on a Stauffer groundout. After Leyla O'Connor reached on an error, Emery Benson-Hladik cut the Butler lead to 3-2 on an RBI fielder's choice. Tailor Golly lined out to third to end the game.

Dreher went 3 for 3 with a double to lead the Blue Dragons, who out-hit Butler 9-7. The double was Dreher's school single-season record 30th of the season.

Benson-Hladik and Golly both had two hits. Benson-Hladik had a double and RBI. 

Hailey Ediger (7-6) pitched two-plus innings to suffer the loss. She allowed three hits and two runs. Jessica Schmidt pitched five innings in relief, striking out 6. She allowed four hits and one run.

SEASON NOTES – The 2026 Blue Dragons had a school single-season record four doubles with 130. Their 16 triples this season were fourth most in team history. The Dragons walked 209 times this season, which was second most in team history. The Dragons' 75 stolen bases ranked fifth in team history. The Dragon pitching staff posted the second-team team ERA in team history at 2.68 and the 11 saves were a single-season record.

PLAYER NOTES – Dreher finished with a .484 batting average, fourth best in Blue Dragon single-season history and No. 2 in career batting average. Kaibryn Kruger finished with 39 stolen bases for the season and 79 steals in her career, which are third in single-season and fourth in career teams in team history. Kruger also scored 142 career runs, which was third in team history. … Schmidt tied for the single-season saves record with nine and her 12 career saves are second most in team history.