Softball Stays Alive After Wild Opening Day in Dodge City
The Colby Trojans softball team opened postseason play in thrilling fashion Friday afternoon, storming back from an early six-run deficit to defeat Barton16-8 in the opening round of the NJCAA Region 6 DI Softball Tournament at Legends Park. Colby later fell to top-seeded Hutchinson in the winners bracket Friday evening but remains alive in the double-elimination tournament format. The Trojans will continue their postseason run Saturday in the elimination bracket, needing a win to keep their season alive.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H | E |
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3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 1 |
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2 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 16 | 1 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
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2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 1 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
DODGE CITY, Kan. - The Colby Trojans softball team opened postseason play in thrilling fashion Friday (May 8) afternoon, storming back from an early six-run deficit to defeat Barton 16-8 in the opening round of the 2026 NJCAA Region 6 Division I Softball Tournament at Legends Park.
After falling behind 8-2 through the first two innings, the Trojans responded with one of their most explosive offensive innings of the season, erupting for 10 runs in the bottom of the second to completely flip the game and take control of the tournament opener.
Barton wasted little time jumping ahead. The Cougars plated three runs in the top of the first inning behind RBI efforts from Carly Erpelding, Peyton McCormick and Addison Crockett to grab an early lead.
The second inning only added to Barton's momentum. The Cougars scored five more runs while taking advantage of walks and timely hitting, including a three-run double from McCormick that pushed the advantage to 8-2 and appeared to put Colby in an early hole.
Instead, the Trojans answered immediately, exploding for 10 runs on eight hits in the bottom of the second inning in one of the biggest offensive frames of the season. The lineup batted around while consistently delivering clutch hits all over the field. Briley Christensen delivered the biggest swing of the inning with a bases-clearing double that drove in three runs and ignited the comeback. The Trojans continued piling on from there, stringing together hit after hit to completely erase the deficit and turn it into a commanding lead.
From that point on, Colby never looked back. After the wild opening two innings, Cheyenne Cramer settled the game down in the circle and delivered a dominant relief performance. Entering after 1.2 innings, the freshman right-hander shut down Barton over the final 4.1 innings, allowing just four hits and no runs while striking out six to earn her 14th victory of the season.
The Trojans added four more insurance runs in the sixth inning to officially close out the run-rule victory and advance in the winner's bracket. Colby piled up 16 hits in the victory, showcasing the offensive depth that has powered the team all season long. Christensen led the charge in the middle of the lineup, going 3-for-4 with six RBIs and a double in one of the top postseason performances of her career.
Leadoff hitter Ava Pezely was electric from the start, finishing 4-for-5 with four runs scored, an RBI, and two stolen bases. Brooke Zinken continued her outstanding season with a 3-for-4 performance that included a double, two RBIs, four runs scored, and two stolen bases. Ella McDonald added two hits and an RBI, while Aly Richardson drove in two runs.
With the win, the Trojans advanced to the winners bracket and faced off against No. 1 seeded Hutchinson.
The Colby Trojans ran into the top seed in the tournament Friday evening, falling 9-1 to Hutchinson in the winners bracket of the 2026 NJCAA Region 6 Division I Softball Tournament at Legends Park.
The Blue Dragons, who entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed after winning the KJCCC regular season title, pulled away from the Trojans and remained unbeaten in the first day of the tournament.
Colby actually struck first in the opening inning and briefly grabbed momentum early. After reaching base and creating pressure offensively, Kylan Sorenson delivered an RBI single to give the Trojans a 1-0 lead.
Hutchinson answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning. Kaibryn Kruger changed the game with one swing, blasting a two-run home run to left field to quickly put the Blue Dragons in front 2-1. Hutchinson continued building momentum throughout the game while capitalizing on walks and key RBI hits.
The Blue Dragons extended the lead in the third inning behind RBI singles from Hadley Topping and Emery Benson-Hladik before adding more insurance runs in the fourth and fifth innings to eventually secure the run-rule victory.
Sorenson finished 1-for-3 with the Trojans' lone RBI, while Zinken also added a stolen base.
Hutchinson finished with seven hits but consistently created opportunities by drawing nine walks throughout the game. Kruger led the Blue Dragons offensively with a home run, double, three RBIs, and two stolen bases, while Gabby Stauffer went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate.
Despite the loss, the Trojans remain alive in the double-elimination tournament format and face off against No. 7 seeded Seward County Saturday (May 9) afternoon at 2 PM. The winner of that game will then face off later that night with a 6 PM first pitch.