In the two years since winning the 2022 State championship, the Platte County baseball team hasn’t made it out of districts.
The Pirates would like to change that this year and make a statement. Expectations are always to make a deep postseason run, but making it out of districts is only one step toward the ultimate goal of another state championship.
Platte County returns three all-state standouts to the infield, including seniors Dayton Doll and Taylor Stambersky as well as junior Brennan McLaughlin. Doll was named Conference Player of the Year last year while Stambersky led the team with a .402 batting average, and McLaughlin brings a remarkable skillset as last year’s leader in home runs and RBIs.
The Pirates will also have football standout Rocco Marriott, who was named 2024 MHSFCA Offensive Player of the Year. Sipes expects big things from the state champion quarterback in Platte County’s outfield this season.
“Rocco’s athletic ability is hard to match,” Sipes said. “Just as his mental approach to never getting too high or too low. He will be an impactful bat for us in the middle of the lineup this year.”
Sipes is in his seventh season as head coach, getting assistance from Todd Jaros, Neil O’Brien and Jesse Smallwood. After they dropped under .500 in 2023, the Pirates improved offensively and defensively with a 20-12 record last year before losing to Kearney in the district championship.
Platte County opened the season at home against Winnetonka before a trip to Alabama as they participated in the Gulf Shores Invitational. The Pirates are back home to face local competition, which includes a doubleheader against Ruskin on April 7.
After a dreadful start in the previous two seasons, the Pirates want to get off to a good start this year and ride that momentum through to the playoffs.