By RANDY GONZALES

rgonzales@dailynews.net

Hays Indians baseball coach Matt Hutchison missed last weekend's K-18 West Regional because he was in Arizona for training for his new job.

But Hutchison expected to be back in time if his team made state. He told his players to win the regional, and they would be together at state for a chance at the title that eluded them last summer.

The Indians (38-8), who already qualified with a first-round win on Saturday, beat Ellis 11-1 in Sunday's regional title game.

Mission accomplished.

Or so Hutchison thought, until the state bracket came out. Last year, Hays' first-round game at Lucas was on a Saturday. This year, it's Friday at 6:30 p.m. against Beloit. And Hutchison's flight from Arizona doesn't touch down in Hays until late Friday night.

So Hutchison needs his players to win the opener, so he will be with them for Sunday's semifinals.

"Now, I've gotta hope again," Hutchison said.

Having a team with many of its players getting experience at state last year, helps.

"Fair nucleus from the group that played last year," Hutchison said. "Experience always helps."

Having a strong group of hitters helps, too. Hays is batting .381 as a team, led by Hayden Hutchison and Chandler Rule. Hutchison is batting .504 with Rule at .503. Hutchison has four homers and 70 RBIs, while Rule has two homers and a team-high 82 RBIs.

Clayton Basgall is at .422 with two homers and 38 RBIs, and Jake Sedbrook is batting .409 with 32 RBIs. Layne Downing, the tourney MVP at the regional, is batting .348 with three homers and 50 RBIs. John Griffith is hitting .368 with 33 RBIs.

"I think our pitching and defense need to be up to snuff," Hutchison said. "Offensively, we're a pretty strong unit. Offensively, we should be one of the better ones at state."

Coach Hutchison said his son, Hayden, will be Friday's probable starter.

"He's arguably our most consistent pitcher, with the most experience," Coach Hutchison said. "You can't play for the state championship in this tournament if you don't win the first game."

Last year, the Indians lost to Concordia F & A in the title game.

"Last year was a pretty bitter taste in our mouths," Hutchison said.

Concordia F & A also is back this year, on the other side of the bracket. The Indians' goal is to win one more game this year.

"It would be reaching a goal from Day One," Hutchison said of winning the state title.