Platte County softball starts Blue Division play with wins

ROSS MARTIN/Citizen photo Platte County third baseman Lou Menninger makes the throw across the diamond during Platte County’s game against Blue Springs South on Wednesday, Sept. 2 at Platte County High School. Pirates shortstop Tori Farr drove in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth, part of a three-run rally to avoid a costly Suburban Conference Blue Division loss on Thursday, Sept. 3 at Platte County High School.

Platte County managed only three hits but also drew five walks in a 3-1 win against Grandview. Alexis Ray reached base all three times, including a pair of walks, and scored one of the runs. Lauren Magee recorded an RBI single in the decisive half inning.

No. 2 pitcher Linley Weiken allowed a run in the top of the fourth but ended up with the win, striking out six and walking three in seven innings.

Blue Springs South 6, Platte County 3

A lead slipped away from the Pirates with two outs in the top of the sixth inning Wednesday, Sept. 2 at Platte County High School.

The Jaguars scored three times against Platte County pitcher Mallory Stoner, including a two-RBI triple for Bailey Fowler. Of the six runs allowed, only one was earned against Stoner.

Platte County senior pitcher Mallory Stoner delivers a pitch Wednesday, Aug. 2 against Blue Springs South at Platte County High School.

Blue Springs South took a 1-0 lead in the second when Stoner hit Madi Heckler in the side of the head with a pitch. She came around to score on a sacrifice, a bloop hit and a wild pitch. From there, Stoner retired 11 straight to give the Pirates a chance to comeback.

Platte County tied the score in the bottom of the third with Mekenzie Wright’s double to right-center field. Leadoff hitter and centerfielder Alexis Ray scored her with a well-place two-out single to center. The Pirates then took the lead in the fourth with another leadoff hit.

Brittany Whitt reached with a single, went to second on a sacrifice and to third on a wild pitch. Blue Springs South catcher Mel Roberts threw down to third to try and catch Whitt, but the ball struck Whitt in the ankle and flew into the Jaguars’ dugout for an error, allowing the go-ahead run to score.

Tori Farr added an RBI single for Platte County in the bottom of the sixth, but Blue Springs South scored twice more in the seventh.

Platte County 19, Raytown South 1

The Pirates scored 11 in the top of the fourth inning to win by run rule in the Suburban Conference Blue Division opener Tuesday, Sept. 1 in Raytown, Mo.

Tori Farr collected a double, a triple and four RBIs to lead the offense, which put up at least two runs in every inning. Stoner and Lindsey Bogart also doubled, and Stoner finished 3-for-3 with five RBIs. Lauren Magee and Bogart scored three runs apiece.

Weiken earned the win for Platte County, allowing only one unearned run and striking out eight in the four-inning complete game.

Park Hill South 10, Truman 0

The Panthers scored a walkoff win on Taylor Johnson’s RBI single in the bottom of the sixth Thursday, Sept. 3 at Park Hill South High School.

Park Hill South scored in each of the final four innings to back pitcher Olivia Kinsey’s three-hit shutout. The Panthers put up four in the third and fourth inning with center fielder Kylie DeClue’s three-run double in the fourth providing the biggest blow.

Kinsey struck out 15 total, mowing down the side in the second, fourth, fifth and sixth innings. She also walked three and worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth.

North Platte 5, Lathrop 3

North Platte senior shortstop Kaycee Hodgson hit her fifth home run of the season Thursday, Sept. 3 to help the Panthers move to 7-0 on the season.

Sophomore Alley Rickel collected two hits and one RBI while senior Victoria Haugsness continued her good season with a two-hit three-RBI game in addition to a 12-strikeout performance in the pitching circle.

Gracie Roach also went 2-for-3 in the win.