West Platte’s season came to an end on a walk-off loss on Monday, May 13 in the semifinals of the Class 2 District 12 Tournament at Benner Park in Weston.
The Mules opened up the bottom of the seventh with singles by Addison Richards and Hunter Ward.
That led to a pitching change by West Platte coach Tanner Lawson, as the winning run stood at third base with no outs.
West Platte chose to walk Joe Keener, was 2-for-3 at that point, to load the bases and set up an out at home on a ground ball.
West Platte’s Noah Johnson swings at a pitch against Kansas City Lutheran on Friday, May 10 at Benner Park in Weston.
It never happened as Gaven Mooney hit a RBI single to left field to end the game and move Lone Jack into the district finals.
The Bluejays rallied with two runs in the sixth to force a tie after Lone Jack took a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
Phillip Pattison opened the sixth by reaching on an error and moved to second on a single by Dublin Carnahan with one out. Trevin Stringer singled to center field to bring home Pattison to make it 2-1, while an error on the play brought home Trent Taylor — who was running for Carnahan — to tie the game.
The go-ahead run was stranded at second base and West Platte was retired in order in the top of the seventh.
West Platte ended the season with a 10-8 record.
West Platte 16, KC Lutheran 0
The Bluejays made quick work of the Knights with a four-inning victory on Friday, May 10 at Benner Park.
Third-seeded West Platte scored 14 of the runs in the first two innings. In the six-run first inning, the first seven batters reached safely and there was only one hit in that span. Four walks and an error played a factor in the first four runs. Phillip Pattison had an RBI single before Dublin Carnahan (walk), Gavin Davis (walk) and Quinn Eagan (hit by pitch) forced in runs. Noah Johnson had a two-run double to cap the scoring in the first.
Two walks set up an RBI single by Davis to start the scoring in an 8-run second inning. Johnson (walk), Luke Heili (walk), Pattison (single), Jasper Basel (single), Carnahan (hit by pitch) and Davis (hit by pitch) all had RBIs.
Trevin Stringer’s two-run single capped the scoring and ended the game early.
Stringer and Wyatt Kleman combined to throw a 1-hitter against Lutheran. Kleman started and went 2 1/3 innings, while Stringer threw the final 1 2/3 innings.
Pattison and Basel each had two hits to lead the Bluejays offense.
Plattsburg 10, North Platte 5
The Tigers continued to have the Panthers’ number, more than anyone else, in a rough season.
Plattsburg overcame a 5-0 deficit to pick up a win on Friday, May 10 in the second game of the day at Benner Park on May 10. The win was the third of the season for Plattsburg (3-15) and two of those have come against the Panthers.
The teams split a doubleheader late month — April 29 — and the only other win this year up to that point was a victory over South Harrison on April 6.
North Platte (6-12) put itself in a position to advance by scoring five runs early, but the offense dried up and set the stage for the fifth-seeded Tigers to win behind a six-run fifth inning.
Blake Gibson’s RBI triple in the bottom of the first got the scoring started for the Panthers. Jesse Martin singled to bring Gibson home. Later in the inning, Dayne Carpenter had a two-run single before Truman Byergo’s sac fly made it 5-0.
The 5-0 score remained until Plattsburg got three runs in the top of the fourth. Gannon Steggall brought home two of the runs on a single.
The next inning saw the Tigers take lead. A two bases-loaded walk helped Plattsburg tie it, before a double steal saw Kayden Carter take home for the eventual game-winning run. Steggall added another RBI single and scored on JT Hull’s RBI double. Brock Steggall scored on a passed ball in the top of the seventh to account for the final run.
Caine Huffman had two of North Platte’s seven hits.