HutchCC football team ranked No. 1 in Gridiron JC ‘Dirty Thirty’
The Hutchinson Blue Dragon football team is ranked No. 1 in the JCGridiron.com “Dirty Thirty” National Junior College preseason poll.
HutchCC lost to East Mississippi in the NJCAA Division I semifinals last year, posted a 10-1 record and placed fourth in the final JCGridiron Poll.
Iowa Western is the preseason No. 2 team, followed by San Matero, Calif., East Mississippi and Mount San Antonio, Calif.
The HutchCC Blue Dragons open the season Thursday, Aug. 29, at home at Gowans Stadium against New Mexico Military Institute. Kickoff is 6 p.m.
No. 1 Hutchinson and No. 2 Iowa Western will meet on Saturday, Sept. 7, at Titan Stadium in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Kickoff is 1 p.m.
“The bullseye to start the season is on Hutchinson, who seems to have all the necessary pieces to make another run at a title,” said JCGridiron publisher Brad Holseth about the rankings. JCGridiron is part of Rivals, a college football and basketball scouting service. “The Blue Dragons last won a title during the COVID-19 season (2020-2021) and have been knocking on the door for a second title ever since.
“Head coach Drew Dallas is 38-4 since taking over the reigns and was in a great spot to win the title last season before falling in a tight battle to East Mississippi in the NJCAA semifinals.
“They should be the favorites for a third straight Jayhawk Conference title. Hutch should be very good on both sides of the ball, but particularly gritty on defense.”
Highland Community College is ranked No. 23. The Scotties are the only other Jayhawk Conference and Kansas team in the Gridiron JC Top 25.
Dodge City Community College and Butler Community College are listed as “Others on the Bubble” teams.
Dodge City finished 8-3 in 2023. Highland and Butler posted 5-5 records. HutchCC plays all three teams at home this season (Dodge City Oct. 5, Butler Oct. 26 and Highland Nov. 9).
Hutchinson Monarchs blow past Wichita Black Sox
The defending NBC World Series champion Hutchinson Monarchs blasted the Wichita Black Sox 11-1 (seven innings run rule) at Hobart-Detter Field in Carey Park Monday night.
Hutchinson scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning, highlighted by a three-run homer by Jarrett Flaggert (Cowley County CC/Choctaw, Okla.).
The Monarchs added three runs in the bottom of the second inning for an 8-0 lead. Jaden Gustafson (Wichita State/Wichita) and Flaggert stroked back-to-back doubles and Blake Bradford (Hutchinson CC/Kansas State/Sylvania, Ohio) tripled.
After one out in the top of the third, the Black Sox got three straight singles to score one run. Camden Cornelius (Nickerson High School/Hutchinson), who started on the mound for the Monarchs, forced a 4-6-3 double play and a fly out to left field.
The Monarchs added three runs in the top of the fifth inning to lead 11-1.
Ian Lanik (Emporia State University/Wavery High School/Eagle, Neb.) took the mound for Hutchinson in the top of the sixth inning. Lanik retired the Black Sox in order in the sixth and seventh innings.
The Monarchs improved to 25-6 overall and the Black Sox fell to 5-18.
Hutchinson has three regular-season games left this summer before competing in the National Baseball Congress Tournament July 25-Aug. 3 at Wichita State University’s Eck Stadium.
Remaining Hutchinson Monarchs 2024 Schedule
Tuesday — Wellington Heat, Hibbs Hooton Stadium, Wellington, 7 p.m.
Thursday — Kansas Cannons, Hobart-Detter Field, Carey Park, 7 p.m.
Friday — Kingman Islanders, Hobart-Detter Field, Carey Park, 7 p.m.
Saturday — Hutchinson Monarchs NBC Autograph Session, 11 a.m. Scheel’s Sporting Goods Store, Wichita.
Saturday — Kingman Islanders, Hobart-Detter Field, Carey Park, 7 p.m.
July 25-Aug. 3 — 90th National Baseball Congress Tournament, Wichita State University’s Eck Stadium (‘Round the Clock Baseball July 27).
NBC Tournament Schedule:
Thursday, July 25: 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Friday, July 26: Noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 27 (Baseball ‘Round the Clock): Noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., 9 p.m., midnight.
Sunday, July 28 (Baseball ‘Round the Clock): 3 a.m., 6 a.m., 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m. (Military Exhibition Game, McConnell AFB vs Seattle Studs, BRTC ends)
Monday, July 29: Noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 30: Noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 31: Noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 1: Noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., 8:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 2 (Semifinals): 6 p.m., 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 3 (Finals): 7 p.m.
HutchCC’s Ben McLaughlin drafted by Diamondbacks
Former Hutchinson Community College All-American baseball player Ben McLaughlin became the 41st Blue Dragon selected in the MLB Draft on Monday.
McLaughlin was chosen in the ninth round with the 284th overall selection by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Day 2 of the three-day draft in Dallas. McLaughlin is the ninth Blue Dragon to be selected within in the Top 10 rounds.
The former Blue Dragon from Golden, Colo., is the first Dragon drafted since Dylan Nedved in 2022 by the San Diego Padres. He is the second player selected by the Diamondbacks in Hutchinson's history.
Quarterback Club Hall of Famer Tim Olson was drafted by Arizona in the seventh round in 2000.
Playing for the Blue Dragons in 2021 and 2022, McLaughlin was the first Blue Dragons to be named Region VI Defensive Player of the Year. He was a first-team All-Jayhawk Conference Western Division and first-team All-Region VI selection as well in 2022.
In 108 games as a Blue Dragon, McLaughlin hit .392 with 148 total hits (8th most in team history). He also ranks second in RBIs (141), second in home runs (32), fifth in doubles (36) and eighth in runs scored (122).
McLaughlin played for two seasons at the University of Arkansas.
McLaughlin hit .302 in his senior season and was named to the Fayetteville Regional all-tournament team. McLaughlin socked nine home runs and drove in 42 runs.
As a junior, McLaughlin hit .346 with two homers and 14 RBIs.
Central Kansas Crushers 18U 3rd at national tournament
The Central Kansas Crushers fast pitch softball team placed third at the USA 18 and under National Championships Thursday through Sunday in Wichita.
The season came to an end Saturday with a third-place finish at nationals,” said Central Kansas Crushers coach John Young. “The girls went 9-2 over the four days with a five-game run on Saturday in the heat.
“The girls had a great year winning several tournaments and a state championship along the way. So much fun to show up and coach everyday. So proud of the team and teammates they all became and how they played for each other. That is what it is all about in the end.”
2024-25 KSHSAA Coaching School Aug. 5-6 in Salina
The 2024-25 Kansas State High School Activities Association Coaches School will take place Aug. 5-6 at the Salina Fieldhouse.
School administrators can register their coaches online by logging in to the KSHSAA website and selecting the Coaching School Registration option at the top of the page. Coaches also can register themselves.
The KSHSAA Coaching School is one of the most comprehensive coaching clinics in Kansas.
“Whether you coach one sport or multiple sports, whether you’re from a small school or a large school, there is something for you,” said the KSHAAA. “Learn and network with your coaching peers and connect with friends from across the state.”
Coaches can view the conference schedule online.
Coaching sessions will be offered for basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, softball, spirit/dance, track and field, volleyball and wrestling.
Rules meetings will be offered for spirit, football and volleyball. CPR/AED certification classes also are available.
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