It was almost a nightmare scenario for Dylan Dreiling. 

Primed for a huge senior season at Hays High, the University of Tennessee signee suffered a hamstring injury in the second series of the season against Topeka-Washburn Rural.  

At the time, the prognosis looked rather bleak for Dreiling, who was already battling tendinitis in his elbow, which prevented him from pitching at the start of the season. 

He was relegated to only hitting after the hamstring injury. 

"Coaches said I could jog the bases and try to hit the ball over the fence all the time, so I got to play," Dreiling said.  

That approach saw Dreiling produce a prolific season at the plate for the Indians, who open Class 5A regional play Tuesday at Topeka-Seaman.  

Dreiling hit .607 (37 of 61) in the regular season with 10 home runs, 11 doubles and 38 runs driven in. 

He's been eased back into his normal role, playing outfield and running the bases in the last few games. 

The left hander has also been exceptional in three starts on the mound, allowing just two runs in 21.2 innings.

Dreiling said he's feeling good heading into the postseason and was relieved the injuries didn't derail his senior season.

"Two pretty tough injuries," Dreiling said. "Hamstring, those are always tough no matter what. But I'm glad I got to play with my friends again for my last year." 

Hays coach Dustin Dreher gradually started to ramp up Dreiling's work load, starting with Hays' Western Plains Diamond Classic in the first week of May.  

"He's battling through it and we're kind of easing him through it, because he's a kid we really need in the lineup," Dreher said. "Offensively, he's been phenomenal this year. He's had a season that not many high school kids have had, the way he's hitting the ball. We need him on the mound, too, because when he's on the mound, we have a good chance to beat any team in the state. 

"I think he's almost back to full strength, and it's great to have him back because we need him in a lot of different spots in the game." 

Last year, Dreiling hit .430 and hit three home runs, leading the Indians to a third-place finish in 5A.  

"He's been a little bit more patient this year," Dreher said. "The kid has put a lot of time into getting better. He's a cage rat, he's a field rat. He's at the pit all the time hitting, and it's really paying off. And good for him because he's earned every bit he's gotten this year, and he's earned a chance to play at a premier D-I school in the SEC. He's earned it all." 

Dreiling was committed to Tennessee since the summer of 2018 before making it official and signing with the Volunteers last November.  

Tennessee is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation, owning a 45-7 record.  

"The coaching staff, they're just amazing -- all players' coaches for sure," Dreiling said. "I could have told you back when I committed that they'd be the No. 1 team, or close to it at least. It's no shock to me. 

"It was kind of just a gut feeling," he said of the decision to commit to the Volunteers. "I trusted coach (Tony) Vitello and thought he could get me to the next level." 

Last year, Dreiling had the best pitching season in program history, going 9-0 with an 0.50 ERA.  

Among other school records, he owns the most home runs in a single season with 10 this year. 

"Some of the records I've beat this year have stood for 25 years," said Dreiling, who played his freshman season under his grandfather Frank Leo, who was the head coach of the Indians for nearly 40 years and still manages the Hays Larks summer collegiate baseball team. "I didn't get a sophomore year (because of COVID-19), so to come in and get (records) in three years is cool." 

The plan is for Dreiling to play outfield at Tennessee, but he said the Volunteers also haven't ruled out using him as a pitcher.  

"Originally, when I committed, I was going to pitch," Dreiling said. "I talked to them a couple months ago and they said if I can get to 88 or 90 (miles per hour)  by the time I'm there, they'll throw me out there and see how it goes." 

Major League scouts have also been showing significant interest in Dreiling.  

"He's been getting attention for some time," Dreher said. "He's played at an elite level, not just at the high school level but in the offseason in summer ball and in the fall. He's played at some tournaments in Florida and the east coast and Arizona.  

"He's got a lot of looks. It's interesting and it's different, but it's fun to see these scouts come out to games to watch him. It's something that hasn't happened at this high of a level, I don't think, in years, or ever, at Hays High. It's kind of cool and it's fun to see him grow as a player and see how good he's made himself." 

Dreiling is one of six seniors for the Indians, along with Garrett Wellbrock, Dalton Dale, Jack Fields, Noah Weimer and Keatyn Barnett.  

The Indians enter the postseason with a 12-8 record against one of the toughest schedules in the state, facing the likes of Washburn Rural, Blue Valley West, Manhattan, Life Prep Academy and De Soto. They shared the Western Athletic Conference title with Great Bend.  

Hays will play Maize (13-7) at 2 p.m. on Tuesday in the regional opener in Topeka. With a win, they will meet the winner of top-seeded Seaman (18-2) and Emporia (5-15) on Tuesday evening.  

"You usually don't get as many (close) games as we have had this year, and I think that really helps you as a team," Dreiling said. 

Dreher agreed.  

"I think the level of pitching we've seen this year only helps us (in the postseason)," Dreher said.