HUTCHINSON, Kan. — While the No. 18 Hutchinson Community College baseball team took care of business at home on Saturday to open the Central District Tournament, the Blue Dragons’ first-round opponent in Wichita had a much tougher time punching its ticket.
The Blue Dragons will square off against Jayhawk West rival Seward County in the fourth of four opening-round contests on Friday at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in Wichita. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Hutchinson (42-15), the tournament’s second overall seed swept Allen in an opening-round series on Saturday at Hobart-Detter Field 3-0 and 4-1. It’s the first time since the World Series year of 2010 that the Blue Dragons have advanced to Wichita.
Tenth-seeded Seward County was on the road at Neosho County in the most intriguing of all eight opening-round matchups. The Saints (31-27) won the series opener 9-8 in 10 innings and appeared headed for a sweep, but Neosho County rallied for a 5-4 walk-off victory in Game 2. Seward County dominated Game 3, winning in a 12-2 seven-inning run rule on Sunday.
Friday’s opening-round matchups of the eight-team double-elimination tournament are:
10 a.m. – No. 1 Johnson County (44-11) vs. No. 9 Kansas City (36-20)
1 p.m. – No. 4 Garden City (36-21) vs. No. 5 Coffeyville (37-17)
4 p.m. – No. 3 Cowley (36-15) vs. No. 6 Butler (36-21)
7 p.m. – No. 2 Hutchinson (42-15) vs. No. 10 Seward County (31-27)
The Blue Dragons earned a first-ever series sweep of Seward County on March 22-23 at Hobart-Detter Field. HCC won the first two games 5-0 and 5-4, and then won the Sunday games 4-2 and 18-13.
The Blue Dragon/Saints winner will play the Cowley/Butler winner at 7 p.m. on Saturday. The losers’ will play at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Hutchinson is looking for its fourth overall Region VI championship, previously winning in 1975, 2005 and 2010. HCC has previously gone to the NJCAA World Series twice, finishing 1-2 in 2005 and took third place in 2010.
All games will be videostreamed by the Blue Dragon Sports Network.
(HCC Sports Information)