SEASON PREVIEW: 2011 BASEBALL BLUE DRAGONS MUST FIND OWN WAY AFTER SPECIAL

One would certainly find it easy to fondly look back at the 2010 baseball season and remember what the Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragons accomplished.

There was a third Region VI championship and a trek in Grand Junction, Colo., that brought the Blue Dragons within one game of playing for a national championship.

But as the 2011 season opens on Saturday in Texas, seventh-year HCC head coach Kyle Crookes doesn't want this team to constantly dwell on 2010. He wants this group of Blue Dragons to find what works for them to have a chance to compete in a tough Jayhawk West and return to the NJCAA World Series.

"I have certain focuses for what I want this team to be," said Crookes, who guided the 2010 Blue Dragons to its best postseason finish in program history, placing third at the 2010 World Series. "I want this team to be its own team. I don't want them to try to emulate last year's team.

"I don't think it will be difficult, but you could fall under that things are going to happen like last year's team. Last year's team wasn't a bed of roses and it was pretty rocky right up until tournament time. I want this team to find its own identity and play hard."

While the look of the 2011 Blue Dragons should be similar to last season - Crookes is a devotee of small ball - the personnel will be vastly different.

A good chuck of last year's starting line-up wound up in NCAA Division I programs such as Oregon State, Purdue, Cincinnati, Northwestern State, Kansas State and Nichols State.

The 2011 Blue Dragons will be heavily dependent on freshmen, both in the line-up and on the mound.

"We could go true freshman at every spot and four deep in the rotation," Crookes said. "We may do that at times.

"I feel like there is going to be not the same lineup ever. I'm OK with that at this point. There is still a lot of competition for a lot of spots.

"We tied (national champion) Iowa Western 2-2 and beat some good teams in the fall, but I don't want to use being young as an excuse. We aren't trying to build for next year. The results in the fall were OK and it gives us stuff to build on."

POSITION BREAKDOWN

PITCHERS

The starting rotation and middle relief will have to be tough early on to get games to perhaps the best closing duo in the Jayhawk Conference and in the NJCAA.

Sophomore pitchers Andy Urban and Morgan Cirbo give Crookes and second-year pitching coach Craig Frydendall a major advantage late in games.

Urban (RHP, 6-foot, 175 pounds, sophomore, Lawrence) posted 11 saves last season and is just two saves away from behind the program's career leader. Urban was 1-2 with a 1.12 earned-run average allowed only four earned runs in 32 innings. He struck out 22, walked 18 and hit 10 batters. Urban had three saves in the postseason, including one against Temple College in the World Series

Cirbo (RHP, 6-1, 185, Littleton Co) is a versatile set-up guy who can close games or go as many as seven innings in relief. Cirbo got the victories in both the Region VI winner's bracket final and Region VI championship game. He went 3-2 with three saves and a 3.15 earned-run average. Cirbo struck out 34 and walked only seven in 40 innings pitches.

Freshmen will make up the bulk if not all the starting rotation this season.

Battling for those rotation spots are right-handers Devon Brogan (6-1, 195, Winfield), Jake Heissler (6-1, 185, Atlanta, Mo.), Tucker Cross (5-10, 165, Highlands Ranch, Co.) and Emerson Savage (6-2, 200, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) and redshirt left-hander Joe Richards (6-2, 200, Tulsa, Okla.)

Several other freshmen or sophomores with little or no playing time last season will have to step up to fill mid-week starting spots and create depth in the bullpen.

"I don't know what to expect," said Crookes, who is 219-124 in his first six seasons at HCC. "I don't know what they are going to do when the lights are on and they get their first taste of a game. It's been a while since we played in October.

"We are so, so young."

CATCHER

Redshirt freshman Todd Schultz (6-2, 195, Hutchinson) and sophomore Joey Goodwin (5-11, 190, Overland Park) will replace all-conference catcher Dan Klein, who is now at Kansas State.

Schultz returns from a season lost to injury, while Goodwin played in 12 games last season (eight starts) and hit .105 with one RBI. One of his two season hits came in the World Series.

FIRST BASE

A sophomore and two freshmen will battle for time at first and they will have to replace record-setting Shaun Hoover, who set single-season records for putouts and was second in career putouts last season.

Sophomore Daron Schulties (6-1, 205, Littleton, Co.) is a tremendous defensive player at both first and third base. Schulties, who hit a World Series home run last season, hit .281 in 16 games with two homers, six extra base hits and eight RBIs. He also had a .983 fielding percentage.

Freshmen Grant Dunnegan (6-1, 2-5, Clearwater) and Brad Law (6-2, 205, Lee's Summit, Mo.) are also slated for time at first base.

SECOND BASE

The Blue Dragons will have a new starting second baseman with the departure to Oregon State of two-year starter Luke Acosta.

When not pitching Cross could see time at second and when not playing shortstop freshman Seth Floyd (5-8, 155, Enid, Okla.) could be at second base. Redshirt sophomore Chad Duling (6-0, 175, Wichita) will also be in the mix at second.

SHORTSTOP

Along with Floyd, Mesa Community College transfer Tyler Klouser (5-11, 175, Littleton, Colo.) will also bid for playing time after sophomore Toby Cornejo was lost for the season to injury.

THIRD BASE

The hot corner could be very deep this season.

Sophomore Jory Goldstrom (5-10, 165, Omaha, Neb.) played in 33 games last season, starting in 24. He hit .286 with a pair of home runs and eight RBIs. He also scored 24 runs and stole nine bases. Goldstrom also had a .906 fielding percentage.

Schulties and Indiana State transfer Connor McClain (6-1, 185, Waterloo, Iowa) will also see time at third base.

OUTFIELD

The outfield appears a little more settled and also has more experience back from last season.

Speedy sophomore Tanner Vinson (6-1, 185, Salina) will see most of the time in center field. Vinson hit .204 in 24 games with a homer and three RBIs. Figuring to hit high in the order, Vinson stole 9 of 11 bases last season.

In left field, freshmen Mike Scott (6-0, 185, Colorado Springs, Co.) and Jordan Miller (6-0, 160, Spring Hill, KS) will battle for time along with sophomore Ryan Mayfield (5-8, 165, Owasso, Okla.). Mayfield was the 2010 designated hitter who had his average at .400 for a time last season and had a huge World Series opener against Chattanooga State. Mayfield hit .311 with four homers, 19 extra base hits and 40 RBIs to go along with 15 stolen bases.

Redshirt sophomore Chase Loudenback (6-1, 200, Buhler) returns after missing the final series of the regular season and all the postseason with an injury. Loudenback platooned with David Longmore and hit .325 in 20 games with four doubles and 16 RBIs. Freshman Mike Morales (6-1, 180, Highlands Ranch, Co.) will also bid for playing time.

"We don't have a player who played regularly back," Crookes said. "Mayfield never touched the field (as a designated hitter). Our experience is lacking. I want to maximize our ability and get the most out of them whatever the talent level may be. If we do that, we will have an opportunity to compete for championships."

The Blue Dragons, who were 39-24 last season overall and 18-14 in the Jayhawk West, open the season on Saturday in Waco, Texas, against McLennan Community College. On Monday, HCC will play a pair with 2010 World Series foe Temple College on Monday.

Hutchinson will open at home next weekend when the Dragons open Jayhawk West play with defending co-champion Butler on Feb. 26 and 27 at Hobart-Detter Field.

2011 Hutchinson Community College Baseball Roster

No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Year B/T Hometown

1  Tucker Cross  RHP/IF 5'10  165  Fr.  R/R  Highlands Ranch, CO 

2  Kurtis Hoover  OF  5'10  175  R-Fr.  R/R  Clearwater, KS 

3 Todd Schultz C/RHP 6'2  195  R-Fr.  R/R  Hutchinson, KS 

4  Ryan Mayfield  UTL 5'8  165  So.  S/R  Owasso, OK 

5  Jory Goldstrom  IF  5'10  165  So.  R/R  Omaha, NE 

6  Chad Duling  IF  6'0  175  So.  R/R  Wichita, KS 

7 Morgan Cirbo  RHP  6'1  185  So.  R/R  Littleton, CO 

8 Seth Floyd  IF  5'8  155  Fr.  R/R  Enid, OK 

9  Andrew Urban  RHP  6'0  175  So.  R/R Lawrence, KS 

10  Joey Goodwin  C/OF  5'11  190  So.  S/R  Overland Park, KS 

11 Tyler Price RHP/IF 5'10 185 Fr. R/R Edmond, OK

13  Ethan Vinson  RHP  6'1  185  So.  R/R  Salina, KS 

14  Jordan Miller  OF  6'0  160  Fr.  R/R  Spring Hill, KS 

15  Tyler Klouser  IF  5'11  175  So.  R/R  Littleton, CO 

16 Nick Martinez LHP 5'11 150 R-Fr. L/L Winnetonka, MO

17 Michael Morales OF 6'1 180 Fr. R/R Highlands Ranch, CO

18  Tanner Vinson  OF  6'2  205  So.  R/R  Salina, KS 

19  Tyler Bailey OF 6'3 190 R-Fr. R/R Lawrence, KS

20  Paul Anderson  RHP  6'0  170  So.  R/R  Denver, CO 

21 Connor McClain UTL 6'1 185 Fr. L/R Waterloo, IA

22 Chase Loudenback OF 6'1 200 R-So. R/R Buhler, KS

24 Matt Meyer  RHP  6'1  180  Fr.  R/R  Ballwin, MO 

26  Nick White  RHP  6'0  205  So.  R/R  New Iberia, LA 

27 Kenny Herman LHP 6'5 215 R-So. L/L Edmond, OK

28  Jake Heissler  RHP  6'1 185  Fr.  L/R  Atlanta, MO 

30 Michael Scott OH/RHP 6'0 185 Fr. R/R Colorado Springs, CO

31 Tyler Meeks RHP 6'0 190 Fr. R/R Olathe, KS

32 Devon Brogan  RHP  6'1 195  Fr.  R/R  Winfield, KS 

33  Daron Schulties  1B/3B  6'1 205  So.  R/R  Littleton, CO 

34 Brad Law 1B 6'2 205 Fr. R/R Lee's Summitt, MO

35 Joe Richards LHP 6'2 200 R-Fr. L/L Tulsa, OK

36  Grant Dunnegan  1B  6'1 205  Fr.  L/L  Clearwater, KS 

37 Emerson Savage RHP 6'2 200 Fr. R/R Victoria, British Columbia

40 Bennett Ratzloff 1B 6'3 205 Fr. R/R Kansas City, KS

Head coach - Kyle Crookes

Assistants - Craig Frydendall, Nate Thompson, Daniel Dulin

2011 Hutchinson Community College Baseball Schedule

Feb. 19 McLennan College Waco, TX 1 p.m. (DH)

Feb. 21 Temple College Temple, TX 1 p.m. (DH)

Feb. 26 Butler Hobart-Detter Field 1 p.m. (DH)

Feb. 27 Butler Hobart-Detter Field 1 p.m. (DH)

March 5 Barton Great Bend, KS 1 p.m. (DH)

March 6 Barton Great Bend, KS 1 p.m. (DH)

March 9 Tabor College JV Hobart-Detter Field 3 p.m. (DH)

March 10 Brown Mackie Salina, KS 3 p.m. (1-9)

March 12 Iowa Western Hobart-Detter Field 1 p.m. (DH)

March 13 Iowa Western Hobart-Detter Field 1 p.m. (DH)

March 16 Rose State College Hobart-Detter Field 3 p.m. (DH)

March 19 Dodge City Hobart-Detter Field 1 p.m. (DH)

March 20 Dodge City Hobart-Detter Field 1 p.m. (DH)

March 22 Bossier Parish Bossier City, LA 1 p.m. (1-9)

March 23 Eastfield College Mesquite, TX 2 p.m. (1-9)

March 24 Eastfield College Mesquite, TX 2 p.m. (1-9)

March 26 Garden City Garden City, KS 1 p.m. (DH)

March 27 Garden City Garden City, KS 1 p.m. (DH)

March 30 Hesston College Hesston, KS 6 p.m. (1-9)

March 31 Longview College Hobart-Detter Field 3 p.m. (DH)

April 7 Brown Mackie Hobart-Detter Field 3 p.m. (1-9)

April 9 Pratt Hobart-Detter Field 1 p.m. (DH)

April 10 Pratt Hobart-Detter Field 1 p.m. (DH)

April 13 Tabor College JV Hillsboro, KS 3 p.m. (DH)

April 14 Hesston College Hobart-Detter Field 4 p.m. (1-9)

April 16 Seward County Liberal, KS 1 p.m. (DH)

April 17 Seward County Liberal, KS 1 p.m. (DH)

April 21 Longview College Lee's Summit, MO 2 p.m. (DH)

April 23 Colby Hobart-Detter Field 1 p.m. (DH)

April 24 Colby Hobart-Detter Field 1 p.m. (DH)

April 30 Cloud County Concordia, KS 1 p.m. (DH)

May 1 Cloud County Concordia, KS 1 p.m. (DH)

May 7-9 Region VI Sub-Regional TBA TBA

May 14-16 Region VI Championship Wichita TBA

May 28-June 4 NJCAA World Series Grand Junction, CO TBA