DRAGONS’ SEASON ENDS WITH GAME 2 LOSS AT FORT SCOTT

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

FORT SCOTT – The Hutchinson Community College baseball team saw its 2023 season come to an end on Thursday after Fort Scott rallied with six runs in its final three at-bats to defeat the Blue Dragons 10-6 in Game 2 of the Region VI Tournament opening-round series at Lions Field.

The Blue Dragons finished 2023 with a 30-28 record, the ninth 30-win season in head coach Ryan Schmidt's tenure.

The Blue Dragons jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning after an A.J. Mustow two-run double, Cooper Wesslund sacrifice fly and a Max Childress RBI single.

Fort Scott scored a single run in the first and three in the third to tie the game at 4-4.

Hutchinson immediately grabbed the lead right back when Childress led off the fourth with a walk and later scored on a wild pitch to give the Dragons a 5-4 lead. The Dragons then parlayed a one-out walk to Christian Powell and two more wild pitches into a 6-5 lead in the sixth.

Fort Scott rallied with one in the sixth, four runs in the seven and one more in the eighth to take command of the game.

The Blue Dragons were limited to just four hits, but had plenty of baserunners as Fort Scott pitchers walked 10 in the game. The Dragons stranded 10 runners on base.

Mustow led the Dragon offense, going 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs. Will Edmunson was 1 for 3 with two walks and a run scored. Childress was 1 of 3 with a run and RBI.

Sam Ojeda started and worked the first 2 1-3 innings for Hutchinson. He allowed five hits and four runs with three strikeouts. Reed Scott (3-5) suffered the loss after allowing five hits and three runs in 3 2-3 innings. Kaden Wickersham pitched 2-3 inning and Brady Beverman worked 1 1-3 innings.

Fort Scott pounded out 16 hits.