By Steve Carpenter
Blue Dragon Sports Information Director

Like climbing mountains such as Mt. Everest or Mt. Kilimanjaro, the last final 1,000 feet before the summit is often the hardest to climb of all.

Since returning to the NJCAA Division I level, the Hutchinson Community College softball team has made that slow, but steady accent up the Jayhawk West mountain. Last season, the Blue Dragons had the peaks of the KJCCC and Region VI mountains in sight, but came up just short.

The 2023 climb for the top of the league and region begins Friday for the Blue Dragons when Hutchinson opens the season on Friday in Ottawa against the Ottawa University JV at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. in Ottawa.

The Blue Dragons open the season picked to finish second in the Jayhawk West and were No. 17 in the preseason NJCAA national rankings.

Beginning her 19th season, Blue Dragon head coach Jaime Rose has a tremendous nucleus returning from last season and a highly touted freshman class to make a run at Hutchinson's first league title since 1992 and first regional championship since 1987.

"This team is extremely ready to play," said Rose, who is 527-340 in her first 18 seasons with the Blue Dragons. "There is no doubt that we are capable of reaching the expectations and now we just have to go out and show it day in and day out."

The Blue Dragons come off one of the best seasons in program history, posting a 41-8 overall record with a second-place finish in the Jayhawk West, a third-place showing in the Region VI Tournament and a No. 15 finish in the final NJCAA Division I National Rankings. Mixed in all of that was the fact that the Blue Dragons split the season series with national power Butler, something that hasn't been done since 1992.

Rose was named the Jayhawk West Coach of the Year. Pitcher Riley Wertz was the Freshman of the Year and the Blue Dragons placed 10 players on the postseason all-conference team. Wertz was also named third-team NJCAA All-American.

Returning from that team is the core group that made that 2022 run, which includes 80 percent of one of the best pitching staffs in team history, a starting catcher and three starting infielders that helped the Blue Dragons post the best defensive fielding percentage (.964) in program history.

"It's the first time that we've had basically our entire pitching staff from the year before back intact," Rose said. "We add two really good kids to that staff as well.

"To have the heart of our pitching staff and all but one kid from last year's starting infield back is a huge nucleus to return and it's a good feeling to have going in."

Last season the Blue Dragons made a fundamental shift in usage of the pitching staff, going to what Rose described as a "baseball mentality," with a more pronounced role from the bullpen.

Historically, softball would ride starters deep into games with most Game 1 starters tossing numerous complete games.

Last season, Wertz made 36 appearances last season, all out of the bullpen. She led the NJCAA with nine saves and posted a 13-1 overall record with a scant 1.35 earned-run average. Wertz struck out 152 in 82 2-3 innings and allowed an opponent batting average of 1.44.

"We really liked how it evolved last season," Rose said of Wertz. "Riley really likes that role. We started her a game in the fall and she absolutely hated it. A closer has to embrace that mentality and Riley has definitely done that."

Sophomore left-hander Emily Munson was the Game 1 starter for the Blue Dragons throughout 2022. She had a 10-1 record in 28 overall appearances with 23 starts. Munson tossed 101 1-3 team-high innings with a 2.49 earned-run average. Opponents hit just .221 last season.

Also back are super-sophomore Kierstan Wietze, who was 9-2 and a 3.31 ERA last season. She figures to be middle relief. Sophomore Morgan Pennycuff (2-0, 4.81 ERA) is projected to start the season as the Game 2 starter.

Rose is also high on freshmen Delaney Blakesley and Korri Lies to add to the pitching depth this season.

Another plus for the 2023 Blue Dragons is that the catcher who handled the pitching staff that posted the third-lowest ERA in program history last season. Allie Stipsits was a first-team All-KJCCC player last season after throwing out 17 of 33 would-be basestealers and posing a .988 fielding percentage with just four errors in 324 defensive chances.

Stipsits also hit .364 with four homers and 23 RBIs last season.

"Allie is a staple behind the plate," Rose said. "She makes the pitchers look really good. Word got around pretty fast last season and teams didn't run on us a lot last season because she was so successful and throwing runners out. Just that thought of teams knowing that is a great advantage.

Anchoring the defense and offense is two-year starting shortstop Madison Grimes.

A freshman All-American in 2021 after hitting a single-season record .562 with 11 homers, 78 RBIs and 36 stolen bases, Grimes hit .370 with five home runs with 41 RBIs and 23 stolen bases last season.

"Anyone who watches her play can tell she is the energy of our team," Rose said of Grimes. "Last year she put a lot of pressure on herself to try and repeat the numbers she had as a freshman. This year, she is really enjoying her time and is much more relaxed."

Also back is the left side of the infield in second baseman Ella Dougherty and first baseman Aspen Goetz.

Dougherty batted in the leadoff spot and continually set the table with a .389 batting average and .466 on-base percentage. She drove in 31 runs while scoring 51 runs and fielded .985. Goetz hit .309 with seven home runs and 39 RBIs with a .994 fielding percentage.

Freshman Olivia Sandoval is slated to start at third base.

"Olivia had a terrific fall offensively," Rose said. "We have four kids we can play at third. All four are great defensive third basemen. Olivia just had a better fall offensively."

The outfield is the only true question mark after losing all three starters last season to graduation.

Leis and Preslee Irwin will be sharing time in center field and both are capable of playing all three outfield positions. Sophomore Grace Sykora will start the season left and freshman Annie Kealey will start in right field.

The Designated Player position could be the most productive in Rose's tenure this season.

Wertz hit .339 with a team-high eight home runs and 28 RBIs last season. Nebraska all-stater Jaeleigh Darnell and Alexis Mastin are also in the mix as the DP.

"Early in the season, those spot is going to be a rotating position," Rose said. "It's going to be up to use to use which kid is hot at any time."

Before the Blue Dragons open at home, they are scheduled for 12 games on the road, including four games at the THF Winter Blast in Denison, Texas and annual early-season battles with Murray State and North-Central Texas.

Hutchinson opens at Fun Valley on Tuesday, February 21 against Labette.