#17 Haley Miller | Hutchinson
#11 Natalie Bevan | Augusta
#16 Allie Stipsits | Olathe
no place like home base The Blue Dragon softball team is enjoying a strong season so far.
Photos & Design | Kaitlyn Seiwert Story | Aubreigh Heck
Prior to the start of the softball season, the Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragons were picked to
finish in third place in the Jayhawk Conference. After just completing a 13-game winning streak, the Blue Dragons have proven themselves worthy of fighting for first place. HutchCC currently holds a 25-5 record overall, and boast a 16-2 record in Jayhawk Conference play. Blue Dragons Head Coach Jaime
Rose knows that her team has a shared goal, which helps drive her team to work to earn these victories. “Every team in this conference is capable of winning, so we just try to keep getting better,” Rose said. Riley Wertz, a freshman pitcher from Wichita, just earned her fourth Jayhawk Conference Pitcher of the Week honors this season. Not only does Wertz have 0.64 ERA in 43.2 innings pitched, she is also hitting .305 in 59 at-bats. Wertz’s ERA is the second-best in the Jayhawk Conference, and her eight wins have her in fifth best for the Jayhawk Conference. While Wertz is making a name for herself, she recognizes that a lot of her team’s success can be attributed to their on-the-field chemistry. “We’re just a big family,” Wertz said. “I credit our chemistry towards always hanging out with each other, always being around each other. We’re a very close-knit group of playCompleting a home run, #19 Riley Wertz is greeted by her teammates at home plate. Wertz has five home runs this season.
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