BLUE DRAGON SOFTBALL LOOKS TO FIND OWN IDENTITY IN 2026
By Billy Watson, Blue Dragon Athletics Coordinator of Events
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
There have been significant milestones reached in the last three seasons for Hutchinson Community College softball – in 2024 reaching the NJCAA D1 Softball World Series in Alabama and winning the program's first Region 6 title since 1987, and winning an outright Jayhawk conference title in 2023 and sharing another in 2025.
Now, the Blue Dragons look for find their own identity in 2026.
For 2026, the Blue Dragons look to build on the last three seasons and get back on top of Region 6 glory. Hutchinson was picked second in the KJCCC coaches' predicted order-of-finish and open its season at 2 p.m. Saturday, February 7th at the Fun Valley Sports Complex with a doubleheader against Southeast Community College.
Opening weekend will continue 1 p.m. Sunday, February 8th with another doubleheader against Neosho County.
All home games will be available and streamed live on the Blue Dragon Sports Network.
BLUE DRAGON SOFTBALL
Hutchinson vs. Southeast CC
2025 Season Opener
When: Saturday, February 7, 2025
Where: Fun Valley Sports Complex
Times: 12 and 2 p.m.
Video: Blue Dragon Sports Network
X: @bluedragonsport
"We're just looking to continue the run," Rose said. "The last three years, we've been able to walk away with either a conference championship or a region championship. At the end of the day, we'd love to take both, but we're just looking to keep progressing forward and hopefully get back to Alabama."
Head coach Jaime Rose enters her 22nd season at the helm and will need to do something she has not done, at least in recent memory, and that's replace an entire infield, including NJCAA 1st Team All-American shortstop and winner of the Golden Shoe Award Bailey Backhaus.
A slew of freshmen provide a lot of depth at every position for Rose's squad. Reese Goetz serves as the lone returner on the infield. Goetz returns after sitting out last season due to injury. Along with Goetz, freshmen Riley Dreher, Lia Martinez, Katelyn Pegram, Leyla O'Connor, and Macey Stephenson add to the depth and are interchangeable at various positions in the infield.
"I really like how our freshmen have come along," Rose said. "We took our bangs this fall, but I really like where we're at right now as far as our infield. This team, I feel our biggest strength honestly is our depth."
The Blue Dragons will benefit off depth in the circle. Hutchinson has an assortment of pitchers, including returners and sophomores Jessica Schmidt, Aubree Thomas and Mia Williams. Last season, Schmidt threw 52 innings and had 38 strikeouts, allowed 50 hits, and sported a 2-1 record and 2.96 earned-run-average and was a KJCCC second-team honoree. Thomas pitched 90.1 innings last year with 72 strikeouts and tallied a 13-3 record and 4.18 ERA. Thomas also got some time in left field last season. Williams pitched 12.2 innings in seven appearances with 13 strikeouts and one start. She also earned all-conference honorable mention.
Freshmen pitchers include Kaci Young (Halstead, Kan.), Alyssa Rogers (Waxahachie, Tex.), and Hailey Ediger (Columbus, Neb.).
"I don't know that we've ever been this deep on the mound," Rose said. "Both me and (assistant coach and pitching coach Ray Aguirre) feel like we could put any six kids out on the mound in any position to start a game or to come in relief and get the job done. The few times we've been able to scrimmage this spring and in the fall, I've had nothing but great things to say about our pitchers."
The outfield brings the most experience. Sophomore Kaibryn Kruger was an NFCA All-Region and KJCCC second-team selection last season. Second in the lineup and playing centerfield last year, Kruger started all 48 games last year, slammed seven home runs, hit .456, scored 76 runs, had 73 hits and 51 runs batted in while slugging .744. In right field, sophomore Gabby Stauffer returns as a 2025 KJCCC honorable mention. Stauffer also started all 48 games and hit .406 with 69 hits, 46 runs scored, five home runs and 64 RBIs.
Freshman Desiray Segura comes in adding to the experienced outfielding core.
Behind the plate, Tailor Golly returns at the catching position. Last year's three-hole in the lineup, Golly led the team in RBIs with 71 and was third on the team with 71 hits. She also hit a team-leading 11 home runs and scored 55 runs.
Sophomore Addi Lutz and freshman Emery Benson-Hladik are listed as utility players. Last season, Lutz jumped onto the season with a walk-off RBI single to lead the Blue Dragons to splitting last season's doubleheader against Butler in the first meeting. Benson-Hladik is out of Andale, Kansas.
"I think we've got a very good core of kids with lots of experience," Rose said, "and they know what it takes to win in this conference."
Following the four games played at Fun Valley this weekend, the Blue Dragons continue their non-conference homestand at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13 with a doubleheader hosting Northeast CC. The two teams will go right back at it again at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14 with another doubleheader. The Blue Dragons will then hit the road to North Texas the following weekend Feb. 20-21 to play NJCAA Div. II power Murray State College and North Central Texas College.
Hutchinson also added a stop in Waco, Texas the weekend of Feb. 27-28 to play in the Lander Jamboree, which includes preseason 4th-ranked McLennan, Alvin College and Snow College.
The Blue Dragons open conference play against Butler on Wednesday, March 4th at 2 p.m. at Fun Valley.