In a baseball season that started with six losses in the first seven games ended in the first North Platte winning season in more than a decade a year ago, and the Panthers are looking to build off that this spring.
Kaden Mullendore was a key contributor last year when the Panthers finished 11-10 and the senior is looking to do the same this season.
With a strong second half to the season in 2022, North Platte has eight returning starters. Led by the senior duo of short stop Kaden Mullendore and outfielder Wesley Meadows – along with sophomore Ben Jaycox – there are a slew of juniors that were key contributors last spring.
“We’re returning a large number of key players from last year’s squad,” North Platte head coach Daniel Atkinson said. “They have shown great leadership in the first few weeks, and they performed well in a recent Jamboree with Mid-Buchanan and West Platte.”
Along with the experienced players coming back, there are three freshmen who have had success in other sports so far this school year and are looking to end it on a high note with baseball. Hunter Palmer, Dylan Armstrong and Grady Coons will be fighting for playing time in both the infield and the outfield.
“We have some talented newcomers that are doing well in our preseason practices. We’re looking forward to building on last season and reaching new milestones in our program,” Atkinson said.
The Panthers will have depth on the mound with Colton Kirkham, Jaxson Carpenter, John Winkler, Creek Johnson and Mullendore. Many of these players earned time on the field as underclassmen and will use that to their advantage now that they’re upperclassmen.
“I think the key to our successful season is going to be in the little details of the game that are easy to take for granted. If we can stay focused on putting the team first and individual achievements second, we will be able to achieve our goals,” Atkinson said.
North Platte nearly had as many wins last year as its previous two seasons combined – not counting the COVID-19 year in 2020 – as the Panthers posted an 11-10 record in 2022 after being 12-27 in 2019 and 2021. North Platte also hasn’t won a postseason game since 2018 and will look to snap the 5-game losing streak in districts this go-round.