[ By STEVE CARPENTER ]

[ BLUE DRAGON SPORTS INFORMATION ]

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Will Reetz and the Hutchinson Community College baseball team had a flare for the dramatic on Sunday.

Reetz hit an extra-inning three-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the eighth inning in Game 1 at Hobart-Detter Field to give the Blue Dragons a 6-3 victory.

Then with the Blue Dragons clinging to a one-run lead in the top of the seventh of the series finale, Reetz caught a fly ball and threw out the potential game-tying run at the plate for a game-ending double play in a 2-1 Hutchinson victory.

The Blue Dragons win their third Jayhawk West series 3-1 over Pratt. The Dragons are now 3-0-2 in conference series this season. Hutchinson is now 27-15 overall and 13-7 in the Jayhawk West. Pratt falls to 18-24 and 5-19.

Tied at 3-all through seven innings in Game 1, pinch hitter Christophe Noble walked with one out and was pinch-ran for by Ethan White. Two batters later, Jeremiah Ceasar worked a two-out walk. Going through a 1 for 10 slump, Reetz launched a 2-1 pitch over the scoreboard in left-center field for a walk-off, three-run home run – Reetz’s second of the series and ninth of the season.

With the Dragons looking for the series victory in the final game of the series, Hutch led 2-1 entering the seventh inning. The top of the seventh had an ominous start with a walk and hit batsman. Pinch-hitter Brody Hanna had a sacrifice bunt and Raymond Urrutia walked to load the bases with one out.

Brenden Tauber then hit a 1-0 pitch to medium-depth right field. Reetz came up to make the catch and then threw a one-hop strike to catcher Zach Baxley, who tagged out Sean Johnson at the plate for the final out of the game, Hutchinson’s third double play of the game.